Radon (Rn)
"Invisible, heavy, and silently radiating energy, 'Radon' is the Noble Gas Ninja, a stealthy master of decay, lurking unseen but always leaving a trace!"
A memorable persona to anchor Rn in your mind.
9.73
Grams per cm³
-71
Celsius (°C)
220
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
Think of it as that invisible air in your basement, sometimes silently building up a hidden superpower from the ground below!
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1900
Discovered By
Friedrich Ernst Dorn
Origin of Name
"The name is derived from radium, as it was first detected as an emission from radium during radioactive decay."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
[222] u
Standard State
gas
Boiling Point
-61.7°C
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f145d106s26p6
1st Ionization Energy
10.745 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"Totally invisible, odorless, and tasteless – the ultimate stealth gas that's heavier than air."
Did You Know?
The Invisible Ninja: Radon is a noble gas, meaning it's super unreactive, and also completely colorless, odorless, and tasteless. You'd never know it's there without special detectors!
Born from Rock: Radon isn't created directly; it's a radioactive decay product of uranium and thorium, elements found naturally in rocks and soil all over the world.
The Heavyweight Champion: Radon is the heaviest known gas! Imagine a gas that's about 7.5 times denser than air – it literally sinks and can accumulate in lower areas like basements.
Basement Dweller: Because it's so heavy and seeps up from the ground, radon often accumulates in basements and crawl spaces, especially in older homes or areas with high uranium content.