Elements of the Periodic Table

Chromium

Cr, Atomic Number 24, transition metal, hard shiny metal, used in stainless steel, kitchenware, car trims, and paint

Krypton

Kr, Atomic Number 36, noble gas, inert gas, used in high intensity lamps, headlights, flashlights, and lanterns

Seaborgium

Sg, Atomic Number 106, transition metal, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Tantalum

Ta, Atomic Number 73, transition metal, high melting point non corroding metal, used in labware, surgical tools, artificial joints, capacitors, and mobile phones

Actinium

Ac, Atomic Number 89, transition metal, radioactive, long-lived, small traces in nature, used in neutron sources, can be in radioactive waste

Silver

Ag, Atomic Number 47, transition metal, soft shiny metal, conducts electricity best of all elements, used in jewelry, silverware, coins, dentistry, and photo film

Aluminum

Al, Atomic Number 13, lightweight non-corroding metal, common metal, used in kitchenware, cans, foil, and machinery

Americium

Am, Atomic Number 95, actinide, radioactive, long-lived, never found in nature, used in smoke detectors and sheet thickness gauges, can be in radwaste

Argon

Ar, Atomic Number 18, noble gas, inert gas, most abundant inert gas on Earth, used in light bulbs and is a welding gas

Arsenic

As, Atomic Number 33, brittle metalloid, used in poisons, semiconductors, LEDs, signal lights, and tiny lasers

Astatine

At, Atomic Number 85, halogen, radioactive, short-lived, small traces in nature, is a cancer medicine

Gold

Au, Atomic Number 79, transition metal, most malleable element, dense non-tarnishing colored metal, used in jewelry, coins, ultra thin gold leaf, and electric contacts

Boron

B, Atomic Number 5, hard black solid, used in fertilizer, borax soap, golf clubs, tennis rackets, and semiconductors

Barium

Ba, Atomic Number 56, alkaline earth metal, soft metal, absorbs X-rays, used in stomach X-ray contrast enhancers, green fireworks, and is a whitener and filler for paper

Beryllium

Be, Atomic Number 4, alkaline earth metal, lightweight metal, used in non-sparking copper alloy tools, in precious gems like emeralds and aquamarines

Bohrium

Bh, Atomic Number 107, transition metal, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Bismuth

Bi, Atomic Number 83, low melting point brittle metal, used in solders, fuses, fire sprinklers, and cosmetics pigment

Berkelium

Bk, Atomic Number 97, actinide, radioactive, long-lived, never found in nature, no uses, can be in radwaste

Bromine

Br, Atomic Number 35, halogen, dark red liquid, is a disinfectant, used in photo film and flame retardants

Carbon

C, Atomic Number 6, can be in diamonds and graphite, basis of life's organic molecules, in oil and used in plastic

Calcium

Ca, Atomic Number 20, alkaline earth metal, soft metal, used by the body to strengthen bones and teeth, in milk, in many rocks including limestone

Cadmium

Cd, Atomic Number 48, transition metal, non-corroding soft metal, toxic, used in electroplated steel, nicad batteries, red and yellow paints, and fire sprinklers

Cerium

Ce, Atomic Number 58, lanthanide, soft metal, most abundant rare earth metal, used in lighter flints, arc lamps, gas lamp mantles, and self-cleaning ovens

Californium

Cf, Atomic Number 98, actinide, radioactive, long-lived, never found in nature, used in scientific instruments and mineral analyzers, can be in radwaste

Chlorine

Cl, Atomic Number 17, halogen, greenish poison gas, in salt, bleach, and used to disinfect swimming pools

Curium

Cm, Atomic Number 96, actinide, radioactive, long-lived, never found in nature, used in scientific instruments and mineral analyzers, can be in radwaste

Copernicium

Cn, Atomic Number 112, transition metal, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Cobalt

Co, Atomic Number 27, transition metal, hard metal, magnetic, used to make hard strong steel, cutting tools, turbines, magnets, and blue glass

Cesium

Cs, Atomic Number 55, alkali metal, soft metal, melts on a hot day, reactive, largest stable atoms, used in atomic clocks and GPS

Copper

Cu, Atomic Number 29, transition metal, colored metal, conducts heat and electricity well, used in wires, cookware, coins, and pipes, in brass and bronze

Dubnium

Db, Atomic Number 105, transition metal, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Darmstadtium

Ds, Atomic Number 110, transition metal, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Dysprosium

Dy, Atomic Number 66, lanthanide, soft metal, used in nuclear control rods, MRI phosphors, computer disks, and magnetostrictive "smart" materials

Erbium

Er, Atomic Number 68, lanthanide, soft metal, used in fiber optic signal amplifiers, infrared lasers, laser surgery, pink glass, sunglasses, and vanadium alloys

Einsteinium

Es, Atomic Number 99, actinide, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Europium

Eu, Atomic Number 63, lanthanide, soft metal, used in phosphors in color TVs and trichromatic fluorescent lamps, luminous paint, and lasers

Flourine

F, Atomic Number 9, halogen, yellowish poison gas, most reactive element, used in toothpaste and non-stick cookware

Iron

Fe, Atomic Number 26, transition metal, medium hard metal, magnetic, composes large parts of most steel alloys, used in structures, vehicles, and magnets, found in Earth's core, in blood and red rocks

Flerovium

Fl, Atomic Number 114, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Fermium

Fm, Atomic Number 100, actinide, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Francium

Fr, Atomic Number 87, alkali metal, radioactive, short-lived, atoms larger than cesium, small traces in nature, studied in laser atom traps

Gallium

Ga, Atomic Number 31, soft metal, melts on a hot day, used in semiconductors, LEDs, signal lights, and tiny lasers

Gadolinium

Gd, Atomic Number 64, lanthanide, soft metal, best neutron absorber, magnetic, used in MRI contrast enhancers, phosphors, and neutron radiography

Germanium

Ge, Atomic Number 32, brittle metalloid, used in semiconductors, transistors, diodes, and photocells

Hydrogen

H, Atomic Number 1, explosive gas, lightest element, comprises 90% of all atoms in the universe

Helium

He, Atomic Number 2, noble gas, inert gas, second lightest element, used to fill balloons and used in lasers

Hafnium

Hf, Atomic Number 72, transition metal, non-corroding metal, absorbs neutrons, used in nuclear reactor control rods in submarines and plasma torch electrodes

Mercury

Hg, Atomic Number 80, transition metal, liquid metal, toxic, used in thermometers, barometers, thermostats, streetlamps, fluorescent lamps, and dentistry

Holmium

Ho, Atomic Number 67, lanthanide, soft metal, used in infrared lasers, laser surgery, computer disks, and yellow glass filters

Hassium

Hs, Atomic Number 108, transition metal, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Iodine

I, Atomic Number 53, halogen, violet black solid, is a disinfectant for wounds and drinking water, added to salt to prevent thyroid disease, used in photo film

Indium

In, Atomic Number 49, soft metal, used in solders, glass seals, glass coatings, LCDs, semiconductors, diodes, and photocells

Iridium

Ir, Atomic Number 77, transition metal, non-corroding hard metal, densest element, used in labware, spark plugs, pen tips, and needles

Potassium

K, Atomic Number 19, alkali metal, soft metal, reactive, in salts, a nutrient in fruits and vegetables, namely bananas, used in matches and gunpowder

Lanthanum

La, Atomic Number 57, transition metal, soft metal, used in optical glass, telescope eyepieces, camera lenses, lighter flints, and arc lamps

Lithium

Li, Atomic Number 3, alkali metal, lightest metal, soft, reactive, used in lightweight aluminum alloys and batteries

Lawrencium

Lr, Atomic Number 103, actinide, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Lutetium

Lu, Atomic Number 71, lanthanide, soft metal, densest and hardest rare earth metal, used in cancer fighting photodynamic medicine

Livermorium

Lv, Atomic Number 116, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Moscovium

Mc, Atomic Number 115, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Mendelevium

Md, Atomic Number 101, actinide, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Magnesium

Mg, Atomic Number 12, alkaline earth metal, lightweight metal, in chlorophyll in green plants, in talc and basalt, used in aluminum alloys

Manganese

Mn, Atomic Number 25, transition metal, hard metal, used to make hard tough steel, earthmovers, rock crushers, rails plows, and batteries

Molybdenum

Mo, Atomic Number 42, transition metal, high melting point metal, used in hard steel, cutting tools, drill bits, gun barrels, and fertilizer

Meitnerium

Mt, Atomic Number 109, transition metal, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Nitrogen

N, Atomic Number 7, colorless gas, comprises 78% of Earth's air, used in explosives and fertilizer, important in DNA

Sodium

Na, Atomic Number 11, alkali metal, soft metal, reactive, a component of salt, used in baking soda

Niobium

Nb, Atomic Number 41, transition metal, high melting point non-corroding metal, used in chemical pipelines, superconductors, and MRI magnets

Neodymium

Nd, Atomic Number 60, lanthanide, soft metal, used in strong magnets, electric motors, speakers and headphones, lasers, and lighter flints

Neon

Ne, Atomic Number 10, noble gas, inert gas, used in tubes for glowing advertisement signs and lasers

Nihonium

Nh, Atomic Number 113, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Nickel

Ni, Atomic Number 28, transition metal, medium hard metal, magnetic, used to make stainless steel, coins, kitchenware, in Earth's core

Nobelium

No, Atomic Number 102, actinide, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Neptunium

Np, Atomic Number 93, actinide, radioactive, long-lived, small traces in nature, used in neutron detectors, dosimeters, and possibly nuclear weapons, can be in radwaste

Oxygen

O, Atomic Number 8, colorless gas, comprises 21% of air, required for fire, half of Earth's crust, necessary for most life

Oganesson

Og, Atomic Number 118, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Osmium

Os, Atomic Number 76, transition metal, non-corroding high-melting-point hard metal, densest element, used in electric contacts, pen tips, needles, and fingerprint powder

Phosphorus

P, Atomic Number 15, glowing white waxy solid (also red and black forms), In bones and teeth, used in fertilizer, detergents, and matches

Protactinium

Pa, Atomic Number 91, actinide, radioactive, long-lived, small traces in nature, no uses, can be in radwaste

Lead

Pb, Atomic Number 82, dense soft non-corroding metal, toxic, used in weights, solders, batteries, bullets, crystal glass, old plumbing, and radiation shields

Palladium

Pd, Atomic Number 46, transition metal, non-corroding hard metal, absorbs hydrogen, used in labware, electric contacts, and dentistry, is a catalyst

Promethium

Pm, Atomic Number 61, lanthanide, radioactive, long-lived, human made, small traces in nature, used in luminous dials and sheet thickness gauges

Polonium

Po, Atomic Number 84, radioactive, long-lived, first radioactive element found, small traces in nature, used in antistatic brushes and tobacco

Praseodymium

Pr, Atomic Number 59, lanthanide, soft metal, used in torchworkers' didymium eyeglasses, lighter flints, arc lamps, magnets, and yellow gas

Platinum

Pt, Atomic Number 78, transition metal, non-corroding dense metal, used in labware, spark plugs, pollution control, petroleum cracking, and processing fats, is used as a catalyst

Plutonium

Pu, Atomic Number 94, actinide, radioactive, long-lived, small traces in nature, used as nuclear reactor fuel and spacecraft power, used in nuclear weapons

Radium

Ra, Atomic Number 88, alkaline earth metal, radioactive, long-lived, used in luminous watches (now banned), medical radon production, and radiography, can be in radioactive waste

Rubidium

Rb, Atomic Number 37, alkali metal, soft metal, reactive, used in atomic clocks, GPS, and vacuum tubes

Rhenium

Re, Atomic Number 75, transition metal, high melting point dense metal, used in rocket engines, heater coils, laboratory filaments, electric contacts, and thermocouples

Rutherfordium

Rf, Atomic Number 104, transition metal, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Roentgenium

Rg, Atomic Number 111, transition metal, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Rhodium

Rh, Atomic Number 45, transition metal, non-corroding hard shiny metal, used in labwares, reflectors, and electric contacts, is a good catalyst

Radon

Rn, Atomic Number 86, noble gas, radioactive gas, short-lived, is an environmental hazard, used in surgical implants for cancer treatment

Ruthenium

Ru, Atomic Number 44, transition metal, non-corroding hard metal, used in electric contacts and pen tips, is a good catalyst

Sulfur

S, Atomic Number 16, brittle yellow solid, In skin, hair, eggs, and volcanos

Antimony

Sb, Atomic Number 51, brittle metalloid, used in solders, batteries, bullets, semiconductors, photocells, matches, and flame retardants, is a lead hardener

Scandium

Sc, Atomic Number 21, transition metal, soft lightweight metal, used in aluminum alloys, racing bikes, and stadium lamps, in aquamarines

Selenium

Se, Atomic Number 34, brittle gray solid, used in semiconductors, photocopiers, laser printers, dandruff shampoo, and rubber

Silicon

Si, Atomic Number 14, hard metalloid, in quartz, granite, and sand, used in semiconductors and computer chips.

Samarium

Sm, Atomic Number 62, lanthanide, soft metal, used in magnets, electric motors, speakers and headphones, infrared sensors, and infrared absorbing glass

Tin

Sn, Atomic Number 50, non-corroding soft metal, used in solders, plated food cans, bronze, pewter cups, glassmaking, and fire sprinklers

Strontium

Sr, Atomic Number 38, alkaline earth metal, soft metal, used in red fireworks, flares, and nuclear batteries

Terbium

Tb, Atomic Number 65, lanthanide, soft metal, used in phosphors in color TVs and trichromatic fluorescent lamps, computer disks, and magnetostrictive "smart" materials

Technetium

Tc, Atomic Number 43, transition metal, radioactive, long-lived, first human made element, only found in traces on Earth but found in stars

Tellurium

Te, Atomic Number 52, brittle metalloid, used in alloys, semiconductors, photocopiers, computer disks, and thermoelectric coolers and generators

Thorium

Th, Atomic Number 90, actinide, radioactive, long-lived, most abundant radioactive element, used as nuclear reactor fuel, used in gas lamp mantles and tungsten filaments, can be in radioactive waste

Titanium

Ti, Atomic Number 22, transition metal, strongest lightweight metal, heat-resistant, used in aerospace, racing bikes, white paint, and artificial joints, in blue sapphires

Thallium

Tl, Atomic Number 81, soft metal, toxic, used in low melting point mercury alloys, low temperature thermometers, undersea lamps, and photocells

Thulium

Tm, Atomic Number 69, lanthanide, soft metal, rarest stable rare earth metal, used in infrared lasers, laser surgery, and phosphors

Tennessine

Ts, Atomic Number 117, radioactive, short-lived, never found in nature, no uses

Uranium

U, Atomic Number 92, actinide, radioactive, long-lived, dense, used as nuclear reactor fuel, used in nuclear weapons, counterweights, and armor-piercing bullets

Vanadium

V, Atomic Number 23, transition metal, hard metal, used in hard strong resilient steel, structures, vehicles, springs, and aerospace

Tungsten

W, Atomic Number 74, transition metal, highest melting point metal, dense, used in filaments in lamps and TVs, cutting tools, abrasives, and thermocouples

Xenon

Xe, Atomic Number 54, noble gas, inert gas, used in high-intensity lamps, headlights, stadium lamps, projecters, strobes, and lasers

Yttrium

Y, Atomic Number 39, transition metal, soft metal, used in phosphors in color TVs, lasers, furnace bricks, and high-temperature superconductors

Ytterbium

Yb, Atomic Number 70, lanthanide, soft metal, used in fiber optic signal amplifiers, infrared fiber lasers, and stainless steel allows

Zinc

Zn, Atomic Number 30, transition metal, non-corroding metal, used in galvanized steel, batteries, white paint, phosphors in TVs and lamps, and fertilizer, in brass

Zirconium

Zr, Atomic Number 40, transition metal, non-corroding neutron resisting metal, used in chemical pipelines, nuclear reactors, and furnace bricks