polonium astatine radon I At U us

85At

85At

Appearance

black solid

General properties

Name, symbol,number

astatine, At, 85

Pronunciation

/sttin/ AS-t-teen or /sttn/ AS-tt-in

Element category

halogens

Group, period, block

17, 6, p

Standard atomic weight

(210)

Electron configuration

[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p5

Electrons per shell

2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 7 (Image)

Physical properties

Phase

solid

Melting point

575 K,302 C,576 F

Boiling point

610 K,337 C,639 F

Heat of vaporization

40 kJmol1

Vapor pressure

P (Pa)

10

100

1k

10 k

100 k

at T (K)

361

392

429

475

531

607

Atomic properties

Oxidation states

1, 3, 5, 7

Electronegativity

2.2 (Pauling scale)

Ionization energies

1st: 89040 kJmol1

Covalent radius

150 pm

Van der Waals radius

202 pm

Miscellanea

Magnetic ordering

no data

Thermal conductivity

1.7 Wm1K1

CAS registry number

7440-68-8

Most stable isotopes

Main article: Isotopes of astatine

iso

NA

half-life

DM

DE (MeV)

DP

210

At

trace

8.1 h

, +

3.981

210

Po

5.631

206

Bi

211

At

syn

7.2 h

vder

Periodic Table
Gro up Peri od 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

IA

IIA

IIIA

IVA

VA

VIA

VIIA

VIII

VIII

VIII

IB

IIB

IIIB

IVB

VB

VIB

VIIB

IA

IIA

IIIB

IVB

VB

VIB

VIIB

VIIIB

VIIIB

VIIIB

IB

IIB

IIIA

IVA

VA

VIA

VIIA

VIIIA

Hydr ogen
1

1 H

Chemical symbol
Relative atomic mass

Atomic number

Name of element

Heliu m

1.007 9

2 He

4.0026

Lithiu Berylli m um
2

Boron

3 Li

6.941 9.0122 (2) Sodiu Magne m sium

3

4 Be

5 B

Carbon

10.811 12.011 14.006 15.999 20.180 (7) 18.998 7 4 Alumi Phosph Sulfur Chlorin Argon Silicon nium orus e 16 18 32.066 Cl 39.948 28.086 26.982 30.974 (6) 35.453 (1)

6 C

Nitroge Oxyge Fluorin n n Neon e

7 N

8 O

9 F

10 Ne

11 12 Na Mg 22.99

13 Al

14 Si

15 P

17

Ar

24.305 0 Potas Calciu Titaniu Vanadiu Galliu German Seleniu Bromin Krypto Scandi Chromi Manga Iron Copper Zinc sium m m m Cobalt Nickel m ium Arsenic m e n um um nese 26 29 30

19 K

20 Ca

39.09 40.078 47.867( 50.942( 44.956 51.996 54.938 5(2) 3) 2) 8 (4) 1) 1) (1) Rubid Stronti Zirconi Molyb Techn Ruthe Rhodi Palladiu Cadmi Indiu Yttriu Niobiu Silver ium um um denum etium nium um m um m m m 47
5

21 Sc

22 Ti

23 V

24 Cr

33 34 35 36 25 Fe 27 28 Cu Zn 31 32 Co Ni 63.546( 65.39( Ga Ge As Se Br Kr Mn 55.84 58.933 58.693 69.723 72.61(2 74.922 78.96( 79.904( 83.80(
)

37 38 Rb Sr

85.46 87.62( 91.224( 95.94(1 [97.90 88.906 92.906 8 1) 2) ) 7] Caesi Bariu Lutetiu Hafniu Tantalu Tungst Rheniu um m m m m en m

39 Y

40 Zr

41 Nb

42 Mo

43 Tc

55

56

71

72

73

74

75

107.86 118.710 126.90 131.29 101.0 102.90 106.42( 112.41 114.81 121.76 127.60 8 (7) 4 (2) 7(2) 6 1) 1(8) 8(3) 0(1) (3) Osmi Iridiu Platinu Gold Mercur Thalli Lead Bismut Poloni Astatin Radon um m m y um h um e 79 82 86

44 45 Ru Rh

46 Pd

Ag

48 Cd

49 In

50 Sn

Tin

3) 1) 1) Antimo Telluri Iodine Xenon ny um

51 Sb

52 Te

53 I

54 Xe

76

77

78

Au

80

81

Pb

83

84

85

Rn

Cs Ba

Lu

Hf

132.9 137.32 174.96 178.49( 183.84( 186.20 180.948 05 7(7) 7(1) 2) 1) 7(1) Franc Radiu Lawre Rutherf Dubniu Seabor Bohriu ium m ncium ordium m gium m
7

Ta

Re

Os
190.2 3(3) Hassi um

87 88 103 Fr Ra Lr

104 Rf

105 Db

106 107 108 109 110 Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds

Ir Pt 196.96 Hg Tl 207.2(1 Bi Po At [222.0 192.21 195.084 200.59 204.38 208.98 [208.9 [209.98 18] 7 ) 7(3) (9) (2) 3 0 82] 7] Meitn Darmst Roentg Copern Ununt Ununqu Ununpe Ununh Ununse Ununo erium adtium enium icium rium adium ntium exium ptium ctium 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 Rg Cn Uut Uuq Uup Uuh Uus Uuo

[223. [226.0 [262.1 [263.11 [262.11 [266.12 [264.1 [269.1 [268.1 [272.14 [272.15 [285.1 [284.1 [289.18 [288.19 [292.2 [292.20 [293.2 020] 254] 10] 3] 4] 2] 247] 34] 39] 6] 4] 74] 78] 7] 2] 00] 8] 15] Lantha Neody Promet Samar Europi Gadolin Terbiu Dyspro Holmi Thuliu Ytterbi Cerium Praseod Erbium num mium hium ium um ium m sium um m um ymium 58 68

*Lanthanid 57 es La

Ce

140.116 138.90 144.24 [144.9 (1) 140.908 5 2(3) 13] Actini Uraniu Neptu Thoriu Protacti um m nium m nium

59 Pr

60 Nd

61 62 63 Pm Sm Eu

**Actinides
[edit]Legend

89 Ac

[227.0 238.02 [237.0 [244.0 [243.0 232.038 231.036 27] 9 48] 64] 61]

90 Th

91 Pa

92 U

93 Np

167.259 150.3 151.96 157.25( 158.92 162.50 164.93 168.93 173.04 (3) 6(2) 4(1) 3) 5 0(1) 0 4 (3) Pluton Ameri Berkeli Califor Einstei Fermiu Mendel Nobeli Curium ium cium um nium nium m evium um

64 Gd

65 Tb

66 Dy

67 Ho

Er

69 Tm

70 Yb

94 95 96 97 Cm Pu Am [247.07 Bk
0]

98 Cf

99 Es

100 Fm

101 102 Md No

[247.07 [251.0 [252.0 [257.09 [258.09 [259.1 0] 80] 83] 5] 8] 01]

Astatine (/sttin/ AS-t-teen or /sttn/ AS-t-tin) is a radioactive chemical element with the symbol At and atomic number 85. It is the heaviest known halogen. Astatine is produced by radioactive decay in nature, but due to its short half-life it is found only in minute amounts. Astatine was first produced by Dale R. Corson, Kenneth Ross MacKenzie, and Emilio Segr in 1940. Three years passed before traces of astatine were also found in natural minerals. Until recently most of the physical and chemical characteristics of astatine were inferred from comparison with other elements. Some astatine isotopes have been used as alpha-particle emitters in science, and medical applications for astatine-211 have been tested. Astatine is the rarest naturally occurring element, with less than 30 grams (1.058 ounces) estimated to be contained in the entire Earth's crust.[1]
Contents
[hide]

1 Characteris tics

2 History

3 Occurrence

4 Compound s

5 Isotopes

6 Application s

7 Precautions

8 See also

9 References

10 External links

[edit]Characteristics

Astatine, a highly radioactive element, has been confirmed by mass spectrometry to behave chemically much like other halogens, especially iodine (it would probably accumulate in the thyroid gland like iodine), though astatine is thought to be more metallic than iodine. Researchers at the Brookhaven National Laboratory have performed experiments that have identified and measured elementary reactions that involve astatine;[2] however, chemical research into astatine is limited by its extreme rarity, which is a consequence of its extremely short half-life. Its most stable isotope has a half-life of around 8.3 hours. The final products of the decay of astatine are isotopes of lead. The halogens get darker in color with increasing molecular weight and atomic number. Thus, following the trend, astatine is a nearly black solid, which, when heated, sublimes into a dark, purplish vapor (darker than iodine). [edit]History

The existence of "eka-iodine" had been predicted by Dmitri Mendeleev. Astatine (after Greek astatos, meaning "unstable") was first synthesized in 1940 by Dale R. Corson, Kenneth Ross MacKenzie, and Emilio Segr at the University of California, Berkeley by bombarding bismuth with alpha particles.[3]

As the periodic table of elements was long known, several scientists tried to find the element following iodine in the halogen group. The unknown substance was called Eka-iodine before its discovery because the name of the element was to be suggested by the discoverer. The claimed discovery in 1931 at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) by Fred Allison and associates, led to the spurious name for the element asalabamine (Ab) for a few years.[4][5][6] This discovery was later shown to be an erroneous one.

Other erroneous discoveries, and the names selected include the name dakin, proposed in 1937 by the chemist Rajendralal De working in Dhaka, Bangladesh (then British India);[7] and the name helvetium by the Swiss chemist Walter Minder, when he announced the discovery of element 85 in 1940, with his suggested name being changed to anglohelvetium in 1942.[8][9][10]

It took three years before actual astatine was found as product of the natural decay processes. The short-lived element was found by the two scientistsBerta Karlik and Traude Bernert.[11][12] [edit]Occurrence

Astatine occurs naturally in three natural radioactive decay series, but because of its short half-life is found only in minute amounts. Astatine-218 (218At) is found in the uranium series and 215At as well as 219At are in the actinium series.[13] The most long-lived of these naturally occurring astatine isotopes is 219At with a half-life of 56 seconds.

Astatine is the rarest naturally occurring element, with the total amount in Earth's crust estimated to be less than 1 oz (28 g) at any given time.[14] This amounts to less than one teaspoon of the element.[15] All of North and South America to a depth of ten miles contains only a trillion astatine-215 atoms at any time, according to Isaac Asimov.
[16]

[edit]Production

Astatine is produced by bombarding bismuth with energetic alpha particles to obtain the relatively long-lived isotopes 209At through 211At, which can then be distilled from the target by heating in the presence of air. The energy of the alpha particles determine which isotopes are produced:

Reaction Energy of alpha particle

209 83Bi + 4 2 211 85At + 21 0n

26 MeV[10]

209 83Bi + 4 2 210 85At + 31 0n

40 MeV[10]

209 83Bi + 4 2 209 85At + 41 0n

60 MeV[17]

[edit]Compounds

Astatine is the least reactive of the halogens, being less reactive than iodine.;[18] however, multiple compounds of astatine have been synthesized in microscopic amounts and studied as intensively as possible before their inevitable radioactive disintegration. The reactions are normally tested with dilute solutions of astatine mixed with larger amounts of iodine. The iodine acts as a carrier, ensuring that there is sufficient material for laboratory techniques such as filtration and precipitation to work.[10][19]

While these compounds are primarily of theoretical interest, they are being studied for potential use in nuclear medicine.[20] Astatine is expected to form ionic bonds with metals such as sodium, like the other halogens, but it can be displaced from the salts by lighter, more reactive halogens. Astatine can also react with hydrogen to form hydrogen astatide (HAt), which, when dissolved in water, forms hydroastatic acid.

Other examples of astatic compounds are

Sodium astatide (NaAt)

Magnesium astatide (MgAt2)

Carbon tetraastatide (CAt4)

[edit]Isotopes Main article: Isotopes of astatine

Astatine has 33 known isotopes, all of which are radioactive; the range of their mass numbers is from 191 to 223. There exist also 23 metastable excited states. The longest-lived isotope is 210At, which has a half-life of 8.1 hours; the shortest-lived known isotope is 213At, which has a half-life of 125 nanoseconds.[21] [edit]Applications

The least stable isotopes of astatine have no practical applications other than scientific study due to their extremely short life, but heavier isotopes have medical uses. Astatine-211 is an alpha emitter with a physical half-life of 7.2 h. These features have led to its use in radiation therapy.[22] An investigation of the efficacy of astatine-211tellurium colloid for the treatment of experimental malignant ascites in mice reveals that this alpha-emitting radiocolloid can be curative without causing undue toxicity to normal tissue. By comparison, beta-emitting phosphorus-32 as colloidal chromic phosphate had no antineoplastic activity. The most compelling explanation for this striking difference is the dense ionization and short range of action associated with alpha-emission. These results have important implications for the development and use of alpha-emitters as radiocolloid therapy for the treatment of human tumors.[23] [edit]Precautions

Since astatine is extremely radioactive, it should be handled with extreme care. Because of its extreme rarity, it is not likely that the general public will be exposed.

Astatine is a halogen, and standard precautions apply. It is reactive, sharing similar chemical characteristics with iodine.

There are toxicologic studies of astatine-211 on mice indicating that radioactive poisoning is the major effect on living organisms.[24

Astatine - At
Chemical properties of astatine - Health effects of astatine - Environmental effects of astatine
Atomic number Atomic mass Electronegativity according to Pauling Density Melting point Boiling point Vanderwaals radius Ionic radius Isotopes Electronic shell Energy of first ionisation Discovered by 85 (210) g.mol -1 2.2 unknown 302 C 337 C (estimation) unknown unknown 7 [ Xe ] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p5 (926) kJ.mol -1 D.R. Corson 1940

Astatine
Astatine is a highly radioactive element and it is the heaviest known halogen. Its chemical properties are believed to be similar to those of iodine. Is has been little researched because all its isotopes have short half lives. All that is known about the element has been estimated from knowing its position in the periodic table below iodine and by studying its chemistry in extreme diluted solutions. Applications Astatine is never encountered outside nuclear facilities or research laboratories. Astatine in the environment Total world production of astatine to date is estimated to be less than a millionth of a gram, and virtually all of this has now decayed away.

Health effects of astatine

The total amount of astatine in the earth's crust at any particular time is less than 30 grams and only a few micrograms have ever been artificially produced. This, together with its short lifetime, leaves no reason for considering the effects of astatine on human health. Astatine is studied in a few nuclear research laboratories where its high radioactivity requires special handling techniques and precautions. Astatine is a halogen and possibly accumulates in the thyroid like iodine. From a chemical point of view, one can speculate that its toxicity would mimic that of iodine.

Environmental effects of astatine

Astatine does not occur to any significant extent in the biosphere and so normally never presents a risk.

back to chart periodic elements.

Read more: http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/at.htm#ixzz1WPusEz5B

Reaction of astatine with the halogens

Astatine, At2, reacts with bromine, Br2, or iodine, I2, to form the "interhalogen" species AtBr and AtI respectively. Both of these dissolve in carbon tetrachloride, CCl4. At2 + Br2 2AtBr At2 + I2 2AtI

Reaction of astatine with acids

Astatine dissolves in dilute nitric acid, HNO3, or dilute hydrochloric acid, HCl.
astatine /as"teuh teen' -tin/, n. Chem. a rare element of the halogen family. Symbol: At; at. no.: 85. [1945-50; < Gk stat(os) not steadfast, unstable (see ASTATIC) + -INE2]
***

chemical element Introduction radioactive chemical element and the heaviest member of the halogen elements (halogen element), or Group 17 (Group VIIa) of the periodic table (periodic law). Astatine, which has no stable isotopes (isotope), was first synthetically produced (1940) at the University of California by American physicists Dale R. Corson, Kenneth R. MacKenzie, and Emilio Segr (Segr, Emilio), who bombarded bismuth with accelerated alpha particles (alpha particle) ( helium nuclei) to yield astatine-211 and neutrons (neutron). Naturally occurring astatine isotopes have subsequently been found in minute amounts in the three natural radioactive decay series, in which they occur by minor branching (astatine-218 in the uranium series, astatine-216 in thethorium series, and astatine-215 and astatine-219 in the actinium series). Thirty-three isotopes are known; astatine-210, with a half-life of 8.3 hours, is the longest lived. Because astatine has no stable or long-lived isotopes, it was given its name from the Greek word astatos, meaning unstable. Production and use The only practical way of obtaining astatine is by synthesizing it through nuclear reactions (nuclear reaction). Astatine is usually prepared according to the general equation: which indicates that bismuth-209 takes up one alpha particle and emits x neutrons (neutron) to form an isotope of astatine, whose atomic weight depends on the number of neutrons lost. Metallic bismuth may be used as a target material. From this, astatine may readily be removed by distillation in air from a stainless-steel (stainless steel) tube. The free element begins to distill at 271 C (520 F, or the melting point of bismuth), but the operation is best carried out at 800 C (1,500 F) with subsequent redistillation. If an aqueous solution of astatine is desired, the element may be separated by washing with an appropriate aqueous solution. Alternatively, the halogen may be removed from the target by chemical methods, such as dissolving in nitric acid, with the latter being removed by boiling. Another procedure involves the use of a metallic thorium target, whichafter bombardmentis dissolved in concentrated hydrochloric acidcontaining hydrogen fluoride and chlorine. Analysis Because of the short half-lives of astatine isotopes (isotope), only very small quantities have been available for study. With the exception of a few spectrometric and mass-spectrometric studies, most investigations of astatine chemistry have used tracer techniques, which involve using chemical reactions in a solution with similarly reacting elements as carriers. The amount of astatine is then calculated from the measured radioactivity of the reaction products. However, the rarity of astatine means that these solutions (solution) are extremely dilute, with concentrations around or below 1010molarity (the number of moles (mole) per litre of solution). At such concentrations, the effects of impurities can be very serious, especially for a halogen (halogen element) such as astatine, which exists in several oxidation states and can form many organic compounds. iodine has been used as a carrier in most experiments. Techniques applied include coprecipitation, solvent extraction, ion exchange, and other forms of chromatography (separation by adsorption differences), electrodeposition (deposition by an electric current), electromigration (movement in an electric field), and diffusion. A direct identification of some astatine compounds has been made by mass spectrometry. Except for nuclear properties, the only physical property of astatine to be measured directly is the spectrum of atomic astatine. Other physical properties have been predicted from theory and by extrapolation from the properties of other elements. Chemical properties Some of the chemical properties of the element have been established. It generally resembles iodine. Thus, like iodine, it concentrates in thethyroid gland of higher animals. A substantial portion, however, is distributed throughout the body and acts as an internal radiation source. The astatide ion, At, is quantitatively coprecipitated with insoluble iodides, such as silver iodide or thallium iodide. The diffusion coefficient of the iodide ion is 1.42 times that of the astatide ion, which moves more slowly toward the anode than the former under given conditions. The ion is formed by reduction of the element, using zinc or sulfur dioxide. It is oxidized to the zero valence state by the ferric ion, Fe3+, iodine (I2), and dilute nitric acid. Thus, the astatide ion is a stronger reducing agent than the iodide ion, and free iodine is a stronger oxidizing agent than astatine. Free astatine is characterized by volatility from solution and by extractability into organic solvents. It undergoes disproportionation in alkaline media. Astatine is coprecipitated with cesium iodide and thus appears to form polyhalide anions. Astatine extracted into chloroform has been shown to coprecipitate homogeneously with iodine when a portion of the latter is crystallized. Astatine seems to be present as the iodide, which appears to be more polar (i.e., showing separation of electric charge) in character than iodine bromide. It is somewhat soluble in water and much more soluble inbenzene and carbon tetrachloride. Astatine is known to occur in positive oxidation numbers (oxidation number). The astatate ion, (AtO3), is coprecipitated with insoluble iodates, such as silver iodate (AgIO3), and is obtained by the oxidation of lower oxidation states with hypochlorite, periodate, or persulfate. So far no evidence for perastatate has been found, but this may be because the ion, (AtO6)5, may show little tendency to coprecipitate with potassium iodate (KIO4). Astatine in the +1 state is stabilized by complexation, and complexes formulated as dipyridine astatine perchlorate [At(py)2] [ClO4] and dipyridine astatine nitrate [At(py)2] [NO3] have been prepared. Compounds with the formulas (C6H5)AtCl2, (C6H5)2AtCl, and (C6H5)AtO2 have also been obtained. A variety of methods may be used to synthesize astatobenzene, C6H5At. atomic number 85 stablest isotope 210 oxidation states 1, +1, +3(?), +5, +7(?) electronic config. (Xe)4f145d106s26p5 Karl Christe Stefan Schneider
***