* Polonium is a member of the semi-metals family:
____________________________________________________________________ POLONIUM / Po / 84 A reactive, silver-gray semi-metal. All isotopes of polonium are unstable, and it effectively doesn't occur in nature. The longest-lived isotope is Po<209/84>, with a half-life of 138 days. atomic weight: 209 abundance: negligible density: 9.32 gm/cc melting point: 254 C boiling point: 962 C valence: -2 2 3? <4> 6 ____________________________________________________________________
Polonium is used in small amounts as a radiation or thermal source. Russian agents notoriously used it as a poison.