Re: RE: Radon - Semimetal

Dear Matthew,

Do not trust everything you see. The line is drawn for one's convenience only and should be treated critically. Firstly, radon is a gas. If compressed and finally brought to solid state, it probably would have some sort of semi-metallic properties, due to the fact that the outer electrons are far from the nuclei and might easily go loose.

However, noble gases are still noble gases, and the fact that they have 'ideal' configuration of the outer electron shell means a lot.

Thus, the answer is :

1. radon is not a metalloid simply because it is a gas at room temp.
2. radon might have conductive properties in solid state, who knows?
3. The imaginary next noble gas would be definitely able to donating electrons more easily then radon, the effect is global and depends on the distance between the outer shell and the nuclei as well as other factors. However, as far as physics is concerned, existence of the next noble element for any observable time is unlikely since the rules of atomic physics in its current state do not allow it.

HiH.
A.G.E.