Physical

Most of the physical properties of astatine have been estimated (by interpolation or extrapolation), using various
theoretically grounded or empirically derived methods.[12] As an example, heavier halogens are darker than are
halogens of lesser atomic weight fluorine is nearly colorless, chlorine is bright green, bromine is brown, and iodine is
dark gray/violet. Astatine is sometimes described as being a black solid (assuming that it follows this trend), or as
having a metallic appearance (if it is a metalloid or a metal).[13][14][15] The melting and boiling points of astatine are
also expected to follow the trend seen in the halogen series, increasing with atomic number. On this basis, the melting
and boiling points are estimated to be 575 and 610 K (302 and 337 C; 575 and 638 F), respectively.[16] However,
some experimental evidence suggests astatine may have lower melting and boiling points than those implied by the
halogen trend.[17] Astatine sublimes less readily than does iodine, having a lower vapor pressure.[7] Even so, half of a
given amount of astatine will vaporize in an hour if put on a clean glass surface at room temperature.[a]
The crystalline structure of solid astatine is unknown.[19] Evidence for (or against) the existence of diatomic astatine
(At2) is sparse and inconclusive.[20][21][22][23][24] Some sources state that At2 does not exist, or at least has never
been observed,[25][26] while other sources assert or imply its existence.[17][27][28] Despite this controversy, many
properties of diatomic astatine have been predicted;[29] for example, its density would be 6.26.5 g/cm3.[2]
Chemical
Many chemical properties of astatine have been determined using tracer studies on extremely dilute astatine
solutions.[28][30] Most known properties such as anion formation are in line with other halogens.[7] However,
astatine has a few metallic characteristics as well, such as plating out on a cathode,[b] coprecipitating with metal
sulfides in hydrochloric acid,[32] and forming a cation in strong acidic solutions.[32]
Astatine has an electronegativity of 2.2 on the revised Pauling scale. This is lower than that of iodine (2.66) and the
same as that of hydrogen. However, in hydrogen astatide (HAt) the negative charge is predicted to be on the hydrogen
atom, implying that this compound should instead be referred to as astatine hydride.[33][34][35][36] That would be
consistent with the electronegativity of astatine on the AllredRochow scale (1.9) being less than that of hydrogen
(2.2).[37][c]
Compounds
Astatine is the least reactive of the halogens, being less reactive than iodine;[39] however, multiple compounds of
astatine have been synthesized in microscopic amounts and studied as intensively as possible before their inevitable
radioactive disintegration. The reactions involved are normally tested with dilute solutions of astatine mixed with larger
amounts of iodine. The iodine acts as a carrier, ensuring that there is sufficient material for laboratory techniques (such
as filtration and precipitation) to work.[40][41][d]
Only a few metal astatides have been reported, including those of sodium,[8] palladium, silver, and lead.[44] Some
characteristic properties of silver astatide, and the known and hypothetical alkali and alkaline earth astatides, have
been estimated by extrapolation from other silver or alkali or alkaline earth halides.[45]

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