Polonium - 84Po: reactions of elements
Reaction of polonium with air
Polonium burns in air to form the solid dioxide polonium(IV) oxide, PoO2.
Po(s) + 2O2(g) → PO2(s)
Reaction of polonium with water
Reaction of polonium with the halogens
Polonium reacts under controlled conditions with the halogens chlorine, Cl2, bromine, Br2, and iodine, I2, to form the respective tetrahalides polonium(IV) chlrode, polonium(IV) bromide, and polonium(IV) iodide.
Po(s) + 2Cl2(g) → PoCl4(s) [yellow]
Po(s) + 2Br2(g) → PoBr4(s) [red]
Po(s) + 2I2(g) → PoI4(s) [black]
Reaction of polonium with acids
Polonium dissolves in concentrated hydrochloric acid, HCl, sulphuric acid, H2SO4, or concentrated nitric acid, HNO3, initially to form solutions containing Po(II).