Astatine is a rarely occurring element that is part of the halogen group, which includes elements like fluorine, chlorine, and iodine. It’s highly radioactive with a very short half-life of only a few hours, and it is typically a black, solid substance. Astatine is the rarest naturally occurring element on Earth, with estimates suggesting there may only be around 30 grams of it on the planet at any given time. It was first discovered in the late 1800s and has since been used in various scientific experiments, particularly in the field of nuclear chemistry and medicine. Its rarity and radioactivity, however, make it extremely difficult to obtain and handle, and there are currently no significant industrial applications for astatine.