ChemCom Reading Guide: Polonium-210
Notes based on the LA Times article.
Topic
Polonium-210
Marie Curie
210
Po
Litvinenko’s
Death
Questions
What does 210 mean? 210 represents the atomic mass (mass #) of the polonium
isotope.
# protons + # neutrons
Why is this isotope a current news item? This isotope is a current news item because
of the poisoning death of Alexander Litvinenko.
Describe her research which led to her receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
She extracted/discovered polonium from uranium ore. She isolated both polonium
and radium and is credited with the discovery of radioactivity.
Write the nuclear equation for the decay of this isotope to Pb, with the emission of an
210
206
4
alpha particle.
84
82
2
How was he poisoned? A dose of Po-210 that was smaller then a grain of salt was
dropped into his drink. Internal blisters…
Po 
Pb 
He
Why didn’t the killer(s) die? The killers did not die because Po=210 can be easily
blocked by a piece of paper or even a layer of dead skin cells.
Production of
210
Po
How much does Russia produce per year? 100 grams (3.5 ounces) annually.
The production involves two steps. Write the nuclear equation for each step.
1. 210Po is produced by bombarding Bi-209 with a neutron to form Bi-210.
209
1
210
83
0
83
210
2. The Bi-210 is radioactive and decays into Po by the release of an electron (Beta
210
210
0
particle).
83
84
-1
Explain why metallic 210Po is so difficult to control. Po-210 is difficult to control
because it naturally disintegrates into small pieces and it will usually disperse into
the air and travel around the room.
Where is 210Po found on earth? Po-210 is found in earth’s crust near uranium ore.
Describe the circumstances of the first recorded death by 210Po. When did this occur?
In 1924, Nobus Yamada was working with Curie’s daughter Irene Joliot-Curie to
prepare polonium sources in Marie Curie’s lab in France. Sadly, after returning
home the next year, he fell ill and died.
How was 210Po used by Firestone Tire and Rubber Company?
Used it as an automobile spark plug! (Activate combustion in cylinder)
What role did 210Po play in World War II? Po-210 was also used in textile mills and
printing plants to move sheets of fabric or paper. It was used as a power source for
satellites, and it was also used to counter static electricity that causes dust to stick to
photos.
Describe other attempts to use 210Po.
Po-210 was also used in textile mills and printing plants to move sheets of fabric or
paper, it was used as a power source for satellites, and it was also used to counter
static electricity that causes dust to stick to photos.
Power from fission of 210Po …. E=mc2 energy released. Energy also from energized
radiation particles.
Bi  n 
Bi 
Handling of 210Po
Location of 210Po
First Death
Spark Plugs
World War II
Use of 210Po
Anything Else???
Bi
Po 
e