Hi Scott,

>> I would be very interested in seeing a geiger counter measuring the
>> radioactivity of a pack of cigarettes.
>> Could you please tell me what is the radioactive element that will be
>> detected by the geiger counter in these cigarettes?
>
> Po-210 is a big one if it's Virginia tobacco. There's a calcium
> isotope in there there too as I recall.

Maybe the calcium phosphate fertilizer used on tobacco.


> My 7th grade science teacher did a very fine demonstration, smoking cigarettes
> and blowing the smoke at a geiger counter.

OK, thanks for the explanation. You're right; an alpha particle
detector can show the presence of polonium 210.

Have a nice day,

--
Julien ÉLIE

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