Radon Research Paper

Radon, otherwise known as the element symbol Rn. It has an atomic number of 86 on the periodic table of elements and is located in the group of Noble Gases. Radon’s element classification is a non-metal, but it is a gas at room temperature. “Radon was discovered by Friedrich Ernst Dorn, a

German chemist, in 1900 while studying radium’s decay chain” (Facts About Radon). It was originally named niton before it became radon officially known as radon in 1923. “Radon is still primarily obtained through the decay of radium” (Facts About Radon).

“At normal room temperatures, radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas” (Facts About

Radon). With radon being a gas, it can easily be inhaled and living tissue can be directly exposed to the radiation causing harm to the human body. I’m sure many people have heard of testing for radon in

It is a major health concern to have radon gas getting into the home. “Radon seeps into houses as a result of the decay of radium, thorium, or uranium ores underground and varies greatly from location to location” (Facts About Radon). The earth’s atmosphere is composed of about

0.0000000000000000001% radon. When radon is cooled into a solid state it glows yellow and becomes orange-red as the temperature is lowered. “Radon’s most stable isotope, radon-22, has a half-life of about 3.8 days. It decays into polonium-218 through alpha decay” (It’s Elemental).

Radon is important to us in the funeral business when we are embalming bodies. “Radon is sometimes used by hospitals to treat cancer and other diseases. Hospitals use to produce it themselves by pumping radon from a radium source and sealing it in small tubes called seeds or needles. This is no longer a widespread practice because hospital can get the seeds directly from suppliers, who