Astatine is a highly radioactive element that is rarely found in nature. It is a member of the halogen family and has the chemical symbol At. Astatine was first discovered in 1940 by Dale R. Corson, Kenneth Ross MacKenzie, and Emilio Segrè at the University of California, Berkeley.
Definitions
Astatine is a chemical element with the atomic number 85. It is a highly radioactive element that is similar in properties to iodine. Astatine is a halogen and is the rarest naturally occurring element on Earth. It is typically found in trace amounts in uranium ores.
Origin
Astatine was first discovered in 1940 by Dale R. Corson, Kenneth Ross MacKenzie, and Emilio Segrè at the University of California, Berkeley. They named the element after the Greek word “astatos,” which means unstable or unsteady.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, astatine is defined as “a radioactive element of the halogen group that is the rarest of the naturally occurring elements and is used in the treatment of certain cancers.”
The Oxford English Dictionary defines astatine as “a rare, highly radioactive element of the halogen group, having no stable isotopes, and occurring in minute amounts in uranium ores.”
Associations
Astatine is associated with radioactivity and is used in medical treatments for certain types of cancer. It is also associated with the halogen family and is similar in properties to iodine.
Synonyms
There are no commonly used synonyms for astatine.
Antonyms
There are no commonly used antonyms for astatine.
The same root words
There are no commonly used root words for astatine.
Example Sentences
- The doctor prescribed astatine for the patient’s cancer treatment.
- The researchers at the University of California, Berkeley discovered astatine in 1940.
- Astatine is a member of the halogen family and has the chemical symbol At.
- Astatine is typically found in trace amounts in uranium ores.