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.