🔹 Basic Information

• Element Name: Radon
• Discovered By: Friedrich Ernst Dorn
• Year of Discovery: 1900
• Category: Noble Gas
• Group: 18 (Noble gases)
• State at Room Temperature: Gas (colorless, odorless) 🌫️

Radon is a radioactive noble gas that forms naturally when uranium decays underground.

🔸 Chemical Properties

• Chemical Symbol: Rn
• Atomic Number: 86
• Atomic Mass: ~222 u (most stable isotope)
• Valency: 0 (noble gases are usually inert)
• Electronic Configuration: [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁶

Radon is chemically inert, but its radioactivity makes it dangerous in high amounts.

📘 Basic Things to Know

Radon gas can seep into homes from the soil below and is considered a major cause of lung cancer after smoking.

🤔 Interesting Facts

• Radon is invisible, odorless, and tasteless — you wouldn’t know it’s there without testing 🧪
• It comes from the natural radioactive decay of uranium in rocks and soil 🪨
• It is the heaviest known noble gas and can collect in basements and enclosed spaces 🏠
• Radon was once used in early cancer treatments, but it’s now seen as a health hazard
• It glows faintly blue when frozen ❄️✨

🔧 Common Uses

⚠️ Due to its radioactive nature, radon has very limited safe uses today.

• Medical Research: Previously used in radiation therapy for cancer (now outdated) 🏥
• Scientific Studies: Helps in studying radiation and environmental safety 🔬
• Earthquake Prediction (experimental): Radon levels can sometimes increase before earthquakes 🌍📈
• Geology & Uranium Exploration: Used as a tracer gas to locate underground uranium 🧭

📚 Conclusion

Radon is a natural but dangerous radioactive gas. While once used in medicine, it’s now mostly known as an indoor air hazard. For students, it’s a great example of how natural elements can have big effects on health and the environment! ☢️🏠