What is use of radon inert gas
Answers
An image based around the familiar radiation hazard symbol. The background image reflects the fact that detectable amounts of radon can build up in houses.
Appearance
Radon is a colourless and odourless gas. It is chemically inert, but radioactive.
Uses
Radon decays into radioactive polonium and alpha particles. This emitted radiation made radon useful in cancer therapy. Radon was used in some hospitals to treat tumours by sealing the gas in minute tubes, and implanting these into the tumour, treating the disease in situ. Other, safer treatments are now more commonly used.
In some places, high concentrations of radon can build up indoors, escaping from the ground or from granite buildings. Home testing kits are available which can be sent away for analysis.
Biological role
Radon has no known biological role. It is, however, thought that it may have had a significant role in evolution. This is because it is responsible for much of the Earth’s background radiation that can lead to genetic modifications.
Natural abundance
Radon is produced naturally from the decay of the isotope radium-226, which is found in rocks. It was first discovered as a radioactive gas produced from radium as it decayed. There is a detectable amount in the Earth’s atmosphere.
An inert gas is a gas that has extremely low reactivity with other substances. The noble gases—helium, argon, neon, xenon, krypton, radon, and element 118 (Uuo)—exist in their elemental form and are found in Group 18 of the periodic table.