a radioactive, gaseous chemical element, one of the noble gases, formed, together with alpha rays, as a first product in the atomic disintegration of radium: symbol, Rn; at. no. 86
Origin of radon
rad(ium) + -on
Radon comes from Radium
- Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
- It is generated from the radioactive decay of uranium.
- The half-life of radium is about 3.5 days and, since radon is produced when it decays, large amounts of radon can build up rapidly.
- Radon is the heaviest inert gas that naturally occurs.
- In every square mile of surface soil, down to the depth of six inches, one gram of radium occurs naturally.
- The seven ways that radon seeps into your structure include cracks in solid floors, construction joints, gaps in suspended floors, gaps around service pipe feedholes, cracks in walls, water supply or cavities inside walls.
The definition of radon is a gas that comes from the element radium.
Facts About Radon
An example of radon is when radon gas seeps into a building through the floors, causing health concerns including lung cancer.
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"radon." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 23 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Radon>.
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radon. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23rd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Radon
radon
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"radon." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 23 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Radon>.
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radon
noun
RnA colorless, radioactive, inert gaseous element that is formed by the radioactive decay of radium and is used to produce neutrons for research. Its most stable isotope is Rn-222 with a half-life of 3.82 days. A natural source of radiation found in most soils and groundwater, radon poses a serious health threat if inhaled. Atomic number 86; melting point −71°C; boiling point −61.7°C; density of gas 9.73 grams per liter; specific gravity (solid) 4. See Periodic Table.
Origin of radon
rad(ium) -on 2THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"radon." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 23 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Radon>.
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radon. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23rd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Radon
Symbol Rn
A colorless, odorless, radioactive element in the noble gas group. It is produced by the radioactive decay of radium and occurs in minute amounts in soil, rocks, and the air near the ground. Radon is used as a source of radiation for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Its most stable isotope is Rn 222 with a half-life of 3.82 days. Atomic number 86; melting point −71°C; boiling point −61.8°C; specific gravity (solid) 4.
See Periodic Table
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"radon." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 23 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Radon>.
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radon. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23rd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Radon
Noun
(uncountable)
- A radioactive chemical element (symbol Rn, formerly Ro) with atomic number 86, one of the noble gases.
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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"radon." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 23 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Radon>.
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radon. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23rd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Radon
radon - Medical Definition
n.
A colorless, radioactive, inert gaseous element that is formed by the radioactive decay of radium and is used to produce neutrons for research. Its most stable isotope is Rn-222 with a half-life of 3.82 days. A natural source of radiation found in most soils and groundwater, radon poses a serious health threat if inhaled. Atomic number 86; melting point −71°C; boiling point −61.7°C; density of gas 9.73 grams per liter; specific gravity (solid) 4; symbol Rn.
The American Heritage Dictionary of Medicine © 2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"radon." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 23 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Radon>.
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radon. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23rd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Radon
Sentence Examples
- The International Agency for Research on Cancer labeled tanning beds as "carcinogenic to humans," which puts it in the same cancer-risk category as radon gas and plutonium.
- This inspection company has been in business since 1989 and offers home inspection and radon testing in both new and pre-owned homes and condos in suburban Chicago.
- Other sources of radiation are x-rays, radon gas, and ionizing radiation from nuclear material.
- Have reports done on radon, hazardous materials, crime statistics and dry rot.