Radon Gas - The Radioactive Series and Different Types of Radiation

Radon can be found in the periodic table as radon(222), a gas which is a naturally occurring radioactive product in the uranium(238) decay series (the numbers in parentheses refer to the atomic weight of the element).

Atoms of radioactive elements are not stable, and they disintegrate, or decay, at a specific and constant rate that cannot be changed by any known means. In the process of this disintegration, elements of "high" atomic weights eventually turn into elements of "lower" atomic weights. The result of this disintegration process is a non-radioactive element.

Radon maybe found emanating from industrial wastes containing radium such as the by-products of uranium or phosphate mining. Uranium is a natural element and may be found in soil, rock or bedrock containing granite, carnotite, shales, phosphate and pitchblende.

Radon decay products release further radiation. These decays products are known as radon daughters or radon progeny. Radioactive polonium(218), lead(214), bismuth(214), and polonium(214), lead(210), bismuth(210), and polonium(210) are produced when radon(222) decays. Radon(222) finally becomes stable when it reaches lead(206).