Promethium

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/promethium

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the atomic symbol?Pm
2. What is the atomic number?61
3. Why is promethium so rare?All of its isotopes are radioactive and decay quickly, so only about 500-600 grams exist in the Earth's crust at any time.
4. How does promethium make things glow?The isotope Pm-147 emits beta particles that excite phosphors in paint, making watch dials, instrument panels, and exit signs glow without batteries.

Oxidation State: The hypothetical charge an atom would have if it gained or lost electrons.
Fission Products: The smaller nuclei formed when an atom splits during nuclear fission.
Half-life: The time it takes for half of a radioactive substance to decay.
Betavoltaic Device: A type of atomic battery that converts beta particle energy into electricity.