Question

Astatine is the rarest naturally occurring element. The total amount of astatine in the Earth's crust (quoted mass 2.36×10²⁵ grams) is estimated by some to be less than one gram at any given time. Other sources estimate the amount of ephemeral astatine, present on earth at any given moment, to be up to one ounce (about 28 grams). My question is how can we even predict that the amount of astatine on the planet at any time must be less than 1 gram or about 28 grams if we haven't ever had any samples to investigate the element? Or are there any indirect means to do the same?

Answer 1

There are indirect means to estimate the amount of astatine on Earth, even though we have not been able to directly investigate the element. Scientists use a combination of theoretical calculations and measurements of other elements to make these estimates.

Step-by-step explanation:

There are indirect means to estimate the amount of astatine on Earth, even though we have not been able to directly investigate the element.

Scientists use a combination of theoretical calculations and measurements of other elements to make these estimates.

For example, they can study the properties and behavior of other elements in the same group as astatine, such as iodine and bromine, to make predictions about astatine.

They can also analyze the isotopic abundance and distribution of other elements to estimate the amount of astatine.

While these methods may not provide an exact measurement, they can give us a general idea of the amount of astatine present on Earth at any given time.