first radioactive element discovered by Pierre and Marie Curie, in 1898. Very rare, silvery-gray or black element is used as source of alpha radiation in nuclear physics and on brushes for dust removal from photographic film. When contained in gold foil, polonium is used industrially to eliminate the static electricity generated during the manufacture of paper, sheet plastics, and synthetic fibers.
|Group in periodic table||VIa|
|Boiling point||1,764° F (962° C)|
|Melting point||489° F (254° C)|