Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas that exists in most areas of the world. Learn more about the history and competition surrounding the interesting gas. The professor shares the properties and original letters about the study of radon, element 86, as part of the 118-episode series on each of the chemical elements.

Concepts

radon, chemical elements, the periodic table

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Research radon as a way to predict earthquakes
• Learn more about the radon rates outside in your area and the number of homes with high radon amounts; in some areas, as many as 50 percent of houses have unsafe radon levels inside

Classroom Considerations

• Relies on prior knowledge of radioactivity

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Shares video of a cloud chamber, which many pupils have never observed
• Connects history, psychology, and science

Cons

• None

Common Core

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