Important Elements from the Periodic Table

Helium

Atomic #2, Atomic Mass 4, Nucleus is Alpha Particle

Neon

Atomic Number 10, Atomic Mass 20, Least Reactive, Orange Glow in Plasma Form

Seaborgium

Atomic Number 106, Only Element Named for Living Person (Glenn Seaborg, discovered most of the posturanium actinides)

Technitium

Atomic Number 43, Lowest Atomic # with no stable isotopes (unusually unstable)

Boron

Atomic Number 5, Doesn't Follow Octet Rule (ex. BF3)

Carbon

Atomic Number 6, Atomic Mass 12, Basis of All Structures of Life

Promethium

Atomic Number 61, Lanthanide, unusually unstable

Nitrogen

Atomic Number 7, Most Abundant in the Atmosphere

Osmium

Atomic Number 76, Atomic Mass 190, Densest Element at STP

Oxygen

Atomic Number 8, Atomic Mass 16, Most Common in the Earth's Crust, Most Common in Life (by weight)

Lead

Atomic Number 82, Last Element with Stable Isotopes

Bismuth

Atomic Number 83, Longest Half-Life of any *Natural* Isotope (longer than the universe has existed & then some)

Francium

Atomic Number 87, Shortest Half-Life of a *Natural* Element

Florine

Atomic Number 9, Atomic Mass 19, Most Reactive, Most Electronegative

Uranium

Atomic Number 92, Last Element with Isotopes in more than trace amounts in nature

Californium

Atomic Number 98, Releases Neutrons in Radioactive Decay (used in some fire alarms)

Hydrogen

Lightest element, least dense at STP, most common in the universe