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Glite Dictionary
astatine

astatine

1 9.9
A very unstable radioactive element like iodine with atomic number 85
  • noun
  • /ˈæstəˌtiːn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : astatina
  • Astatine, with the atomic number 85, is the heaviest halogen known to science.
  • astatine deposits

Examples

  • Due to its extreme radioactivity, astatine is difficult to study in laboratory settings.

  • The atomic number of astatine is 85.

  • Because astatine is radioactive, it is rarely found in nature in significant amounts.

  • Scientists produce astatine in minute quantities for research due to its extreme instability.

  • The element astatine is classified as the heaviest halogen on the periodic table.

  • Astatine is highly unstable and radioactive.

  • Researchers are exploring the potential applications of astatine in cancer treatment.

Synonyms

atomic number 85
vsastatine
  • Specialized
9.9

A very rare radioactive element that breaks down quickly and is called astatine

means the same but uses the element name instead of the numeric label

Surface Forms

astatine singular
astatines plural

Morphology

astatine = astat + ine

Although the suffix '-ine' marks a halogen element, the root 'astat' is not a recognizable standalone English word for typical learners, so the meaning cannot be reliably derived.

Etymology

Astatine comes from the Greek word astatos, which means 'unstable', plus the chemical ending -ine (seen in chlorine and bromine). So, the name astatine reminds us that this is a very unstable, radioactive element found only in tiny amounts.