Polonium monoxide (also known as polonium(II) oxide) is a chemical compound with the formula Po O. It is one of three

oxide An oxide () is a chemical compound that contains at least one oxygen atom and one other element in its chemical formula. "Oxide" itself is the dianion of oxygen, an O2– (molecular) ion. with oxygen in the oxidation state of −2. Most of the E ...

s of

polonium Polonium is a chemical element with the symbol Po and atomic number 84. Polonium is a chalcogen. A rare and highly radioactive metal with no stable isotopes, polonium is chemically similar to selenium and tellurium, though its metallic character ...

, the other two being

polonium dioxide Polonium dioxide (also known as polonium(IV) oxide) is a chemical compound with the formula Po O2. It is one of three oxides of polonium, the other two being polonium monoxide (PoO) and polonium trioxide (PoO3). It is a pale yellow crystalline ...

(PoO₂) and polonium trioxide (PoO₃). It is an

interchalcogen The chalcogens react with each other to form interchalcogen compounds. Although no chalcogen is extremely electropositive,This article uses Pauling electronegativity throughout. nor quite as electronegative as the halogen fluorine (the most elect ...

Appearance and preparation

Polonium monoxide is a black solid. It is formed during the

radiolysis Radiolysis is the dissociation of molecules by ionizing radiation. It is the cleavage of one or several chemical bonds resulting from exposure to high-energy flux. The radiation in this context is associated with ionizing radiation; radiolysis is ...

of polonium sulfite (PoSO₃) and polonium selenite (PoSeO₃).

Chemistry

On contact with oxygen or water, both polonium monoxide and its related hydroxide ( polonium(II) hydroxide, Po(OH)₂) are oxidized quickly to Po(IV).

References

{{Polonium compounds Polonium compounds Oxides Interchalcogens