Contents

Astatine

General
Name, Symbol, NumberAstatine, At, 85
Series Halogens
Group, Period, Block17 (VIIA), 6 , p
Density, Hardness no data, no data
Appearance metallic
Atomic Properties
Atomic weight [210] amu
Atomic radius no data
Covalent radius 127 pm
van der Waals radius no data
Electron configuration [Xe]4f14 5d10 6s2 6p5
e- 's per energy level2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 7
Oxidation states (Oxide) ±1,3,5,7 (unknown)
Crystal structure no data
Physical Properties
State of matter solid
Melting point 575 K (576 °F)
Boiling point no data
Molar volume no data
Heat of vaporization no data
Heat of fusion 114 kJ/mol
Vapor pressure no data
Speed of sound no data
Miscellaneous
Electronegativity 2.2 (Pauling scale)
Specific heat capacity no data
Electrical conductivity no data
Thermal conductivity 1.7 W/(m*K)
1st ionization potential 20 kJ/mol
Most Stable Isotopes
isoNAhalf-life DMDE MeVDP
210At100%8.1 hEpsilon
Alpha		3.981
5.631		210Po
206Bi
SI units & STP are used except where noted.
Astatine is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol At and atomic number 85. This radioactive element occurs naturally from uranium and thorium decay and is the heaviest of the halogens.

Table of contents
1 Notable Characteristics
2 History
3 Occurrence
4 Isotopes
5 External Links

     Notable Characteristics  

This highly radioactive element has been confirmed by mass spectrometers to behave chemically much like other halogens, especially iodine (it probably accumulates in the thyroid gland like iodine). 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.

The total amount of astatine in the earth's crust is estimated to be less than 1 oz (28 g) at any one time.
     History  

Astatine (Greek astatos meaning "unstable") was first synthesized in 1940 by Dale Corson, K.R. MacKenzie, and Emilio Segre of the University of California by barraging bismuth with alpha particles.
     Occurrence  

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

Astatine has about 20 known isotopes, all of which are radioactive; the longest-lived isotope is 210At which has a half-life of only 8.3 hours. Astatine is a halogen and possibly accumulates in the thyroid like iodine.

     External Links