Thallium
Tl
General Information
Thallium is atomic number 81 which also means it has 81 Protons and Electrons, its atomic mass is 204.38 from which we can figure out that it has 123 Neutrons. In its pure state Thallium is a light bluish gray color. Thallium's element classification is metal* and state is solid. Its melting point is 304 degrees Celsius or 579 degrees Fahrenheit, Thallium's boiling point is 1473 degrees Celsius, and 2683 degrees Fahrenheit, that should be useful for all those times you use Thallium in the kitchen. But all joking aside you definitely don't want thallium anywhere near your kitchen, to much exposure to it and you could be experiencing nerve damage, emotional change, cramps, convulsions and finally coma and death. Now on to happier things ...
HistoryThallium was discovered by Sir William Crookes (1832-1919) in 1861. Crookes obtained some sludge left over from sulfuric acid from a friend. After he removed the selenium he looked for the yellow spectrum* lines of tellurium by using a spectroscope*. Instead he saw a bright green ones,by seeing this knew that he had discovered a new element. Sir William decided to name the element after the Greek word thallos, that means a green shoot or twig.
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UsesUnfortunately Thallium does not have a lot of uses do to its toxicity. Though in the past it has been used as ant and rodent poison, but was banned in the U.S in 1974. Also Isotope* Tl-201 can be used to diagnose certain heart diseases. It also used to be used to treat skin disorders like Ringworm. Though, now that usage and many others including the rodent poison I mention earlier have been discontinued due to its effects on humans. But it still appears in our daily lives in things such as; medical scans, low temperature thermometers, green fireworks, and more. One reason Thallium is not used it to many things is because scientist are beginning to expect that it is carcinogenic*.
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Importance
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Though Thallium does not have a large amount of uses some of its more important ones are gamma radiation* detection technology and medical scans. Gamma radiation detection is important because it is dangerous to living cells and it can cause serious illness and death. As for the medical scans having one can be the difference between living and dying One example is the Thallium heart scan, which is used to monitor and evaluate the blood supply going to the heart.
Isotope
Tl-200
Tl-201 Tl-202 Tl-203 Tl-204 Tl-205 Tl-206 Tl-207 Tl-208 Tl-209 Tl-210 |
Half Life* 1.08 days
3.03 days 12.23 days stable* 3.78 years stable 4.2 minutes 4.77 minuets 3.05 minuets 2.2 minuets 1.3 minuets |
Interesting Facts
1. Because of its history as a murder weapon it can be known as "the poisoners poison" or "inheritance powder"
2. Thallium has 31 isotopes
3. Cost: 48$ per pure 100g
4. It resembles lead in appearance
5. The metal can be easily cut with a knife
6. Period(periodic table) 6
7. Its like aluminum in chemical properties
8. It has only two stable isotopes
2. Thallium has 31 isotopes
3. Cost: 48$ per pure 100g
4. It resembles lead in appearance
5. The metal can be easily cut with a knife
6. Period(periodic table) 6
7. Its like aluminum in chemical properties
8. It has only two stable isotopes
Word Bank
Spectrum __ a continuum of color formed when a beam of white light is dispersed
Spectroscope__ an instrument for forming and examining Spectrum
Isotope__any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties
Carcinogenic__it causes cancer
Gamma radiation__electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than approximately one tenth of a nanometer.
waveleaghth__the distance, measured in the direction of propagation, between two points the same phase in consecutive cycles of a wave
Half life__the time taken for half of the atoms in a radioactive material to undergo decay
Stable__ an isotope thats not radioactive, its not
Spectroscope__ an instrument for forming and examining Spectrum
Isotope__any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties
Carcinogenic__it causes cancer
Gamma radiation__electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than approximately one tenth of a nanometer.
waveleaghth__the distance, measured in the direction of propagation, between two points the same phase in consecutive cycles of a wave
Half life__the time taken for half of the atoms in a radioactive material to undergo decay
Stable__ an isotope thats not radioactive, its not
Bibliography
Works
Cited
Bentor,
Yinon. "Chemical Elements.com - Thallium (Tl)." Chemical
Elements.com - Thallium (Tl).
Yinon Bentor, 24 Mar. 2013. Web. 24 Mar. 2013.
Doug
Stewart. "Thallium." Periodic
Table of Elements and Chemistry.
Chemical Cool, 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 19 Mar. 2013.
Hsu.,
David D. "Chemical Elements.com - Thallium (Tl)." Chemical
Elements.com.
Chemical Elements, 25 Mar. 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2013.
Newmark,
Ann. "Thallium." Eyewitness
Science: Chemistry.
London: Dorling Kindersley, 1993. 19-20. Print.
Stwertka,
Albert. A
Guide to the Elements.
New York: Oxford UP, 2002. Print.
World
Book. "Thallium." The
World Book Encyclopedia.
Chicago, IL: World Book, 2009. N. pag. Print.
Cited
Bentor,
Yinon. "Chemical Elements.com - Thallium (Tl)." Chemical
Elements.com - Thallium (Tl).
Yinon Bentor, 24 Mar. 2013. Web. 24 Mar. 2013.
Doug
Stewart. "Thallium." Periodic
Table of Elements and Chemistry.
Chemical Cool, 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 19 Mar. 2013.
Hsu.,
David D. "Chemical Elements.com - Thallium (Tl)." Chemical
Elements.com.
Chemical Elements, 25 Mar. 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2013.
Newmark,
Ann. "Thallium." Eyewitness
Science: Chemistry.
London: Dorling Kindersley, 1993. 19-20. Print.
Stwertka,
Albert. A
Guide to the Elements.
New York: Oxford UP, 2002. Print.
World
Book. "Thallium." The
World Book Encyclopedia.
Chicago, IL: World Book, 2009. N. pag. Print.