POLONIUM

polonium, Po, atomic number

(noun) a radioactive metallic element that is similar to tellurium and bismuth; occurs in uranium ores but can be produced by bombarding bismuth with neutrons in a nuclear reactor

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

polonium (usually uncountable, plural poloniums)

A rare, highly radioactive chemical element (symbol Po) with atomic number 84.

Hypernyms

• chalcogen

Source: Wiktionary


Po*lo"ni*um, n. [NL. So named after Poland, in L. form Polonia, one of the discoverers being a Pole.] (Chem.)

Definition: A supposed new element, a radioactive substance discovered by M. and MMe. Curie in pitchblende. It is closely related chemically to bismuth. It emits only alpha rays and is perhaps identical with radium F.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

23 November 2024

THEORETICAL

(adjective) concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations; “theoretical science”


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