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The Elements
Hydrogen
Chemical Symbol: H Molecular formula: H2
Common phase: Gas Discovered in 1766, it is the
lightest element, almost never found uncombined on Earth. The sun and stars are almost pure hydrogen.
Thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen creates light and heat.
Helium (helios or sun) Symbol: He Chemical formula: He Discovered in 1868. Common phase: gas It is a noble gas and does not
combine with other elements. Most helium is found in natural gas
wells in the United States. Used in blimps and balloons. Although it will change the sound
of one’s voice, it is a simple asphyxiant and should be used with caution.
Lithium (lithos or stone)
Symbol: Li Discovered in 1817. Common phase: solid Lightest of the solid elements. Easily oxidized. Used in ceramics, alloys, the
H-bomb, gout and manic depressives.
Beryllium
Symbol: Be Discovered in 1798. Common phase: solid metal Found in the mineral beryl. Used to make elastic alloys
for gears, springs, and rocket nose cones because of its high melting point of 1285 degrees Celsius.
Boron
Symbol: B Discovered in 1808. A nonmetal best known in
borax (soap) and boric acid which is the only acid safe for eyes.
Also used as plant food and weed killer.
Carbon
Symbol: C Prehistoric origin. Common phase: solid Four types are: Diamond, graphite, charcoal
and bucky balls. Used to produce nylons,
plastics, petrol, perfume and explosives.
Carbon nanotubes
Nitrogen
Symbol: N Common phase: gas Discovered in 1772. Makes up 78% of the
atmosphere. Used to make anesthetics
(nitrous oxide), explosives, and amino acids (proteins).
Nitrogen Cycle
Oxygen
Symbol: O Molecular formula: O2
Common phase: gas Discovered in the 1700’s. Most abundant element on
Earth. 21% of atmosphere and 2/3 of
the human body are composed of oxygen.
Oxygen molecules
Fluorine (To Flow)
Symbol: F Molecular formula: F2
Common phase: gas Discovered in 1771. THE most reactive nonmetal. Will react with almost
everything except the toughest noble gases.
It is the T-rex of the non-metals.
Fluorine Molecule
Neon
Symbol: Ne Noble gas Discovered in 1898. Mostly used in advertising. Produces an orange-red
light when zapped with electricity.
Neon Swirl
Sodium
Symbol: Na for Natrium Common form: metal Discovered in 1807. 6th most abundant element. Reacts with water. Combines with chlorine to make
table salt. Also used in baking soda, lye
and borax.
Magnesium
Symbol: Mg Common state: solid
metal Discovered in 1775. 8th most abundant element Used for firecrackers,
bombs, flash bulbs, flares.
Aluminum
Symbol: Al Common form: solid metal Most abundant metal on
Earth. Used extensively because
of its density. It is a non-renewable
resource.
Silicon
Symbol: Si Semi-metal Discovered in 1823 2nd most abundant “metal”. Used for computer chips,
caulking, etc.
Phosphorous (light bearer)
Symbol: P Nonmetal Discovered in 1669. Occurs in 3 major forms: white,
red and rarely, black. It turns to yellow, then to red in
the light and glows in the dark, hence the term, “phosphorescent”.
White Phosphorous
Copper
Symbol: Cu from the Latin word Cuprum.
Metal. Discovered: ancient times. It and gold are the only
non-silver metals. Used in most gold jewelry Copper Dude
“Cu” later alligator!
Zinc
Symbol: Zn Metal Discovered in 16th century. An excellent coating metal
also used to line flashlight batteries.
Zinc Cream
Gallium
Symbol: Ga Metal Discovered in 1875. From the word Gallia—the old
name for France. Melts in the hand and expands
while it freezes. Used to record temperatures
because of its high boiling point of 1983 degrees C.
Germanium (named for Germany)
Symbol: Ge Semi-metal Discovered in 1886. First element used for
transistors. Ge has replaced large vacuum
tubes with devices 1/400 of an inch across.
Crystal Structure of Solid Germanium
Arsenic
Symbol: As Discovered in 1250. Semi-metal Best known as a poison but
also used in medicinal compounds.
When heated, it sublimes.Yikes!
Selenium (moon)
Symbol: Se Discovered in 1817 Both a metal and nonmetal. Is electrically conducive with
variations in light. The photoelectric trait suits it
for service in electric eyes, solar cells, tv cameras and light meters.
Bromine (stench)
Symbol: Br Discovered in 1826. A red caustic, fuming liquid
with a foul smell. Used as a disinfectant,
nerve sedatives and gasoline anti-knock compounds.
Krypton (kryptos or hidden)
Symbol: Kr Discovered in 1898. Noble gas Radioactive isotopes of
krypton are used to detect excess traces of nuclear production because it is a product of nuclear reactors.
Rubidium (red)
Symbol: Rb Discovered in 1861. Metal Used in electric-eye cells. Slightly radioactive and used to
locate brain tumors because it collects only in tumors, not normal tissue.
Barium (heavy/dense)
Symbol: Ba Discovered in 1808. Metal Used as a medical cocktail
to outline the stomach and intestines for X-ray exams.
Also gives green color to fireworks.
Zirconium
Symbol: Zr Prehistoric Metal Used to line reactors in
nuclear subs and nuclear power plants because it is unaffected by neutrons.
Also used in rockets.
Silver (argentum)
Symbol: Ag Prehistoric Best conductor of heat and
electricity. Its salts are basic to
photography. Silver bromide undergoes a
chemical change when exposed to light. Hi Ho___and Away!
Sulfur (brimstone)
Symbol: S Ancient times Non-metal Used in all branches of
industry such as matches, insecticides and rubber tires.
Used to make sulfuric acid—the most widely used acid in the world.
A lovely lump of sulfur
Chlorine
Symbol: Cl Discovered in 1774. Gas Greenish-yellow gas used
as a bleach, disinfectant, and poisonous gas.
Commonly obtained from pure salt.
Argon
Symbol: Ar Noble Gas Discovered 1894 The most abundant of the
noble gases, making up 0.934% of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Used for colored lighting.
Potassium (kalium)
Symbol: K Soft Metal Discovered in 1807. 7th most abundant
element in Earth’s crust. Slightly radioactive. Reacts with water.
Potassium and water
Calcium (lime)
Symbol: Ca Metal Discovered in 1808. 5th Most abundant element in the
Earth’s crust. Essential for healthy bones and
teeth and regulating heartbeat. Average human has about 2 pounds
of calcium.
Scandium
Symbol: Sc Metal Discovered in 1879 isotope tracing in crude oil
analysis the iodide is added to mercury
vapor lamps and produces a highly efficient light source resembling sunlight, which is important for indoor or night-time color TV transmission.
Titanium
Symbol: Ti Metal Discovered in 1791 9th most abundant element in
Earth’s crust. Used to make bright paints and
supersonic aircraft such as the Concorde.
Concorde
Vanadium
Symbol: V Metal Discovered in 1830. Added to steel, it produces
one of the toughest alloys for armour plate, axles, piston rods and crankshafts.
Vanadium foil sheet
Chromium
Symbol: Cr Metal Discovered in 1797 Bright, silvery metal used to
form pigments that are vivid in color.
Rubies get their color from chromium.
Used to plate bumpers, etc.
Manganese
Symbol: Mn Metal Discovered in 1774. Gives steel a hard yet pliant
quality. Gives animal bone its
sponginess so that it doesn’t break so easily.
Manganese nuggets
Iron (Ferrum)
Symbol: Fe Metal Prehistoric 4th most abundant element
and least expensive metal. The basic ingredients in
steel. Carries oxygen to blood.
Cobalt (evil spirit)
Symbol: Co Metal Discovered in 1735. Blue salts give color to
porcelains and enamels. Used to make jet propulsion
engines. Radioactive isotopes used to
treat cancer.
Nickel (false copper)
Symbol: Ni Metal Discovered in 1751. A reddish ore that is hard,
durable and used for making coins.
A U.S. 25 cent piece is 25% nickel and the rest is copper.
Tin (Stannum)
Symbol: Sn Metal Prehistoric Durable metal that resists
corrosion, making the tin can possible.
A tin can is steel coated with about 0.0005 of an inch of tin.
Antimony (stibium)
Symbol: Sb Metal Discovered in 1450. Generally mixes with
other elements. Mixed with lead batteries
and goes into pewter alloys.
Tellurium (the earth) Symbol: Te Semi-Metal Discovered in 1782. Tellurium is often used as an additive to
steel and it is often alloyed to aluminum, copper, tin or lead.
Tellurium is added to lead to improve its durability, strength and resistance to corrosion. It can be used for cast iron, ceramics, blasting caps, solar panels, chalcogenide glasses. When added to rubber, tellurium speeds up the curing process and makes the product less susceptible to ageing and less likely to be affected by oil, which softens normal rubber.
Iodine (violet)
Symbol: I Molecule: I2
Solid Discovered in 1811. A blue-black solid that turns into
a violet vapor when heated. Used in medicine, photography
and is added to salt to prevent goiter.
Xenon (stranger)
Symbol: Xe Noble gas Discovered in 1898. Rarest gas in atmosphere. Used in high-speed electronic
flash bulbs by photographers. Produces an instant, intense,
light.
Cesium (sky blue)
Symbol: Cs Metal Discovered in 1869. Its salt turns flames blue. Softest metal that’s a liquid at
room temperature. Reacts violently with water. Radioactive isotopes used in
medicine.
Cesium + Water
Gold (Aurum)
Symbol: Au Metal Prehistoric The most malleable metal. Used for money, jewelry,
dental work and electronics.
Mercury (Hydragyrum)
Symbol: Hg Liquid metal Prehistoric Used in thermometers,
barometers, dental inlays, thermostats and vaporized mercury give street lights their bluish-hue.
Mercury vapors are poisonous.
Lead (Plumbum) Symbol: Pb Metal Prehistoric Lead is extremely durable, used
as the backbone of plumbing for centuries.
Lead pipes once drained the baths of ancient Rome and have still been recovered intact.
Lead poisoning causes health problems.
Mad Hatter
Bismuth (white mass)
Symbol: Bi Semi-metal Discovered in 1450. Melts at 271 degrees C but
forms alloys that melt at 47 deg. C.
Used in electric fuses, solders and automatic fire sprinklers.
Polonium (Poland)
Symbol: Po Metal Discovered in 1898 by
Marie and Pierre Curie. The scarcest natural
element, its use is as an alpha particle source in scientific research.
Astatine
Symbol: At Metallic Discovered in 1940. An unstable element that is
not found naturally but is a by-product of nuclear reactors.
Radon
Symbol: Rn Noble gas Discovered in 1900. Heaviest gaseous element. A radioactive gas emitted
from radium. Can cause cancer and also
used in cancer therapy.
Radon is a by-product from the radon used to
illuminate the clock face.
Francium (France)
Symbol: Fr Discovered in 1939 by and
assistant to Marie Curie. Short-lived product from the
decay of actinium. Never been seen due to its
short-life.
This sample of uraninite contains some francium
because of a steady-state decay chain.
Radium Symbol: Ra Metal Discovered 1898 by the Curies. 6th rarest element. Radium bromide and zinc sulfide
make luminous watch dials. The radioactive particles from
the radium cause the zinc sulfide to glow.
Tungsten (wolfram)
Symbol: W Discovered in 1783. Highest melting point of
the metals. Melts at 3,410 deg. C. Used in incandescent
light bulbs.
Uranium (Uranus)
Symbol: U Discovered 1789. Metal Heaviest atoms of naturally
occurring elements. Most common form has a half-
life of 4500 million years. Used in nuclear reactors and
weapons of mass destruction.
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