Polonium (Po) – element 84
Polonium is a chemical element with the symbol Po and atomic number 84. It is a post-transition metal in group 16 (chalcogens), period 6 of the periodic table (p-block), and is a solid at room temperature.
Polonium (Po) has atomic number 84, atomic mass [209] and electron configuration [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4.
Polonium facts
| Symbol | Po |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 84 |
| Atomic mass | [209] |
| Category | post-transition metal |
| Group | group 16 (chalcogens) |
| Period | 6 |
| Block | p-block |
| Phase at 20 °C | Solid |
| Electron configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p4 |
| Noble-gas notation | [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 6 |
| Valence electrons | 6 |
Bohr model and shells
Polonium has 84 electrons in 6 shells: 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 6. Full configuration and noble-gas notation are in the table; work out any element or ion with the electron configuration calculator.
Physical and atomic properties
| Melting point | 527 K (253.9 °C) |
|---|---|
| Boiling point | 1235 K (961.9 °C) |
| Density | 9.196 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 2 |
| Electron affinity | 136 kJ/mol |
| Ionization energies | 812.1 kJ/mol (1st) |
| Molar heat capacity | 26.4 J/(mol·K) |
| Discovered by | Pierre Curie |
Use the atomic mass in the molar mass calculator for any formula containing Po.
Position in the periodic table
Tap any element to open its page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the atomic mass of polonium?
The atomic mass of polonium is [209] (mass number of its longest-lived isotope, since it has no stable isotope).
What is the electron configuration of polonium?
Polonium has 84 electrons: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6p⁴, or [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁴ in noble-gas notation. Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 6.
How many valence electrons does polonium have?
Polonium has 6 valence electrons (group 16).
Is polonium a metal?
Yes. Polonium is a post-transition metal.
Where is polonium on the periodic table?
Polonium is in group 16 (chalcogens), period 6, in the p-block.
Data: Periodic-Table-JSON (CC BY-SA 3.0); standard atomic weights from IUPAC (abridged). Values in brackets are the mass number of the longest-lived isotope.