what are other uses of polonium
When it is mixed or alloyed with beryllium, polonium can be a neutron source: beryllium releases a neutron upon absorption of an alpha particle that is supplied by 210 Po. It has been used in this capacity as a neutron trigger or initiator for nuclear weapons.Other uses include.hen it is mixed or alloyed with beryllium, polonium can be a neutron source: beryllium releases a neutron upon absorption of an alpha particle that is supplied by 210 Po. It has been used in this capacity as a neutron trigger or initiator for nuclear weapons.
Appearance. A silvery-grey, radioactive semi-metal. Uses. Polonium is an alpha-emitter, and is used as an alpha-particle source in the form of a thin film on a stainless steel disc. These are used in antistatic devices and for research purposes.A single gram of polonium will reach a temperature of 500Â°C as a result of the alpha radiation emitted.ses. Polonium is an alpha-emitter, and is used as an alpha-particle source in the form of a thin film on a stainless steel disc. These are used in antistatic devices and for research purposes. A single gram of polonium will reach a temperature of 500Â°C as a result of the alpha radiation emitted.
Polonium-210 is a radioactive isotope that occurs in small amounts in nature and can be made in a nuclear reactor. It has limited uses, mainly in static eliminators. In recent years, polonium made the news because of its use as a poison.olonium-210 is used in manufacturing in devices that eliminate static. These devices are designed to meet tough NRC standards and pose no threat to public health or safety. The isotope is combined with silver or other metals in a foil mounted inside a protective cage.
However, beta decay sources are more commonly used as they are less dangerous. 210 Po can be used as an atomic heat source but because of the isotopeâs short half-life (138.4 days), it doesnât provide power for long-term uses. Polonium is also used in anti-static brushes to eliminate dust on photographic film.It is sealed in brushes to control the radioactive emissions.olonium was the first element Marie and Pierre Curie discovered. They discovered polonium and then radium in 1898, while working in Paris, investigating radioactivity in pitchblende (uranium oxide).