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There's Too Much Radon! Trivia Quiz

High levels of radon can be harmful to humans. How much do you know about this potentially dangerous element? Good luck and enjoy!

A multiple-choice quiz by tiffanyram. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
tiffanyram

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
349,117

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
458

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which group of elements does radon belong to? Hint

Noble gases

Halogens

Chalcogens

Alkali metals

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Question 2 of 10

2. Radon is radioactive.

True

False

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Question 3 of 10

3. Under normal conditions, radon is colorless and odorless, but what happens to it if it is cooled below its freezing point? Hint

It turns blue.

It remains colorless and odorless.

It begins to smell like rotten eggs.

It becomes phosphorescent.

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Question 4 of 10

4. Radon wasn't always called radon. When it was first discovered by Fredrich Ernst Dorn, what did he call it? Hint

Niton

Radium emanation

Dornium

Actinium

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Question 5 of 10

5. According to the EPA, radon is actually considered to be one of the leading causes of which of the following? Hint

Lung cancer

Pneumonia

Heart disease

Bone deterioration

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Question 6 of 10

6. Though it does not react easily, radon is not completely inert. Which of the following elements will it react with? Hint

Silver

Fluorine

Hydrogen

Aluminum

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Question 7 of 10

7. As radon decays, it turns into polonium and bismuth before eventually decaying into which stable element? Hint

Lead

Sodium

Helium

Tin

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Question 8 of 10

8. Since radon decays from naturally occurring metals in the earth's soil, how does it get transported from the soil to either air or water? Hint

Emanation

Evaporation

Condensation

Sublimation

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Though radon is harmful in large amounts, it can be useful to the scientific and medical communities. Which of the following has radon NOT been used for? Hint

Radioactive spas

Radiation therapy

Asthma treatments

Earthquake prediction

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following statements is true of radon? Hint

It is the densest of all the noble gases.

It is highly soluble in water and other liquids.

It has a boiling point of 114K.

It has 15 different isotopes.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which group of elements does radon belong to?

Answer: Noble gases

There are six naturally occurring noble gases: helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon. At STP (standard temperature and pressure) the noble gases are odorless and colorless. They also do not react very easily.

2. Radon is radioactive.

Answer: True

Radon has a very short half-life, about 3.8 days for its most stable isotope. Because radon is radioactive, accumulation of this gas in your house can be dangerous. Radon can be formed as part of the decay chain of uranium and thorium. Once these elements decay into radon, it gets into the air and can then enter houses through cracks in the foundation.

3. Under normal conditions, radon is colorless and odorless, but what happens to it if it is cooled below its freezing point?

Answer: It becomes phosphorescent.

The freezing point of radon is 202K (-96 F or -71 C). When radon first starts to freeze and become phosphorescent, it takes on a yellowish color. As it drops to cooler temperatures, it turns to an orange-red hue.

4. Radon wasn't always called radon. When it was first discovered by Fredrich Ernst Dorn, what did he call it?

Answer: Radium emanation

He called it radium emanation becomes it is a decayed form of radium. It was dubbed niton by Sir William Ramsay and Robert Whytlaw-Gray, who isolated the element. Niton comes from the Latin word 'nitens' meaning 'shining'.

5. According to the EPA, radon is actually considered to be one of the leading causes of which of the following?

Answer: Lung cancer

Some research studies have linked radon exposure to lung cancer, with the EPA putting it in the lead for causing lung cancer in non-smokers. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified radon as a carcinogen. Radon can attach itself to dust in the air and be inhaled. Once it's in the lungs, it will decay and expose the lungs to radiation.

6. Though it does not react easily, radon is not completely inert. Which of the following elements will it react with?

Answer: Fluorine

Radon can be oxidized, and any compounds it forms are generally oxides and fluorides. The most common compound formed by radon and fluorine is a solid called radon difluoride, RnF2.

7. As radon decays, it turns into polonium and bismuth before eventually decaying into which stable element?

Answer: Lead

Radon-222 goes through several steps of decay to eventually produce a stable isotope of Pb (lead). Lead is an element in the carbon group and has an atomic number of 82.

8. Since radon decays from naturally occurring metals in the earth's soil, how does it get transported from the soil to either air or water?

Answer: Emanation

Once radon is formed, it fills small water or air pockets in the soil or rock. To emanate is to flow out or to proceed (dictionary.com). In chemistry, emanation refers to the gases given off by radioactive decay.

9. Though radon is harmful in large amounts, it can be useful to the scientific and medical communities. Which of the following has radon NOT been used for?

Answer: Asthma treatments

Radon has been used in radiation therapies to treat cancer. There are radioactive spas or "radon baths" around the world, such as the ones in Basin, Montana, which are believed to help with diseases like arthritis. The 1970s and 80s saw research for the prediction of earthquakes by measuring radon levels; however, this process has been dismissed by many scientists.

10. Which of the following statements is true of radon?

Answer: It is the densest of all the noble gases.

Radon is one of the densest gases, with a density of 9.73g/L at STP. Radon's boiling point is 211K, it is only slightly soluble in water, and it has 39 isotopes (only four of which occur in nature).

Source: Author tiffanyram

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor WesleyCrusher before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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