Polonium is a chemical element. It is radioactive, like uranium and radium. Its symbol is Po and its atomic number is 84. The mass number of its most stable isotope is 210.
Polonium was discovered by Madame Curie in 1898. She named it after her native land, Poland. Madame Curie discovered polonium in some samples of uranium she had obtained from pitchblende.
Polonium is mainly used to produce neutron sources. It is also used in spark plugs and in devices to eliminate static.
Polonium is not found in a natural, simple state. It is found in all uranium minerals, and can be obtained by separating it from uranium residues. It can be produced by bombarding bismuth with neutrons.
