Polonium is the first element Marie Curie ever discovered. Best known for atomic weapons and international murders, polonium's short half-life often creates problems. Viewers learn about the properties, applications, and debates surrounding this element, which stars in the 84th video in a series of 118 on each of the chemical elements.

Concepts

chemical elements, the periodic table

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Learn more about why Marie Curie named this element after Poland, as she did it as a political statement
• Research and debate if polonium is a metal or metalloid element, as not all scientists agree

Classroom Considerations

• Relies on prior knowledge of the first generation of atomic bombs

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Includes closed captioning for the hearing impaired
• Connects history, geography, science, and technology

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.9-10.2 SL.11-12.2 RST.9-10.4 RST.11-12.4