The Periodic Table

Selenium

Brittle gray solid. Semiconductors, photocopiers, laser printers, photocells, red glass, dandruff shampoo, rubber.

Arsenic

Brittle metalloid. Poisons, semiconductors, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (GaAs), signal lights, tiny lasers

Germanium

Brittle metalloid. Semiconductors, transistors, rectifiers, diodes, photocells, lenses, infrared windows.

Sulfur

Brittle yellow solid. Skin, hair, eggs, onions, garlic, skunks, hot springs, volcanos, gypsum, rubber, acids, papermaking.

Copper

Coloured metal, conducts heat and electricity well. Wires, cookware, brass (Cu-Zn), bronze (Cu-Sn), coins, pipes, blue crab blood.

Oxygen

Colourless gas. 21% of air, H2O, 65% of the human body, organic molecules, blood, breathing, fire, half of Earth's crust, minerals, oxides.

Nitrogen

Colourless gas. 78% of air, organic molecules, protein, muscles, DNA, ammonia, fertiliser, explosives (TNT), refrigerants.

Bromine

Dark red liquid. Disinfectant, pools and spas, photo film, flame retardant, leaded gas, sedatives.

Hydrogen

Explosive gas, lightest element. 90% of atoms in the universe, sun and stars, H2O, life's organic molecules.

Phosphorus

Glowing white waxy solid (also red and black forms). Bones, DNA, energy-storing phosphates (ATP), fertilizer, acids, detergents, matches.

Chlorine

Greenish poison gas. Salt (NaCl), bleach, stomach acid, disinfectant, drinking water, swimming pools, PVC plastic pipes and bottles.

Boron

Hard black solid. Borax soap, fertiliser, stiff fibres, sports equipment (golf clubs, tennis rackets, skis), heat-resistant borosilicate glass (Pyrex©), semiconductors.

Carbon

Hard diamond, soft graphite. Basis of life's organic molecules, animals, plants, CO2, wood, paper, cloth, plastic, coal, oil.

Cobalt

Hard metal, magnetic. Hard strong steel, cutting tools, turbines, magnets (Al-Ni-Co), blue glass and ceramics, vitamin B-12.

Vanadium

Hard metal. Hard strong resilient steel, structures, vehicles, springs, driveshafts, tools, aerospace, violet sapphires.

Manganese

Hard metal. Hard tough steel, earthmovers, rock crushers, rails, plows, axes, batteries, fertilizer, amethysts.

Silicon

Hard metalloid. Quartz, granite, sand, soil, clay, ceramics, glass, algae, diatoms, semiconductors, computer chips, silicone rubber

Chromium

Hard shiny metal. Stainless steel (Fe-Cr-Ni), kitchenware, nichrome heaters, car trim, paints, recording tape, emeralds and rubies

Lithium

Lightest metal, soft, reactive. Lightweight aluminum alloys, batteries, impact-resistant ceramic cookware (Corningware©), mood stabilizer.

Magnesium

Lightweight metal. Chlorophyll in green plants, talc, basalt, aluminum alloys, cars, planes, bikes, flares, sparklers, antacids.

Berylium

Lightweight metal. Non-sparking copper alloy tools, aerospace, X-ray windows, beryl gems: emeralds and aquamarines.

Aluminium

Lightweight non-corroding metal. Common metal, kitchenware, cans, foil, machinery, cars, planes, bikes, feldspar, granite, clay, ceramics, corundum, gems.

Nickel

Medium-hard metal, magnetic. Stainless steel (Fe-Cr-Ni), kitchenware, nichrome heaters, coins, nicad batteries, Earth's core

Iron

Medium-hard metal, magnetic. Steel alloys are mostly iron, structures, vehicles, magnets, Earth's core, red rocks, blood.

Flourine

Yellowish poison gas, most reactive element. Glowing fluorite, toothpaste, nonstick cookware (Teflon©), CFC refrigerants (Freon©).

Zinc

Non-corroding metal. Galvanized steel, brass (Cu-Zn), batteries, white paint, phosphors in TVs and lamps, fertilizer.

Helium

Inert gas, second-lightest element. Nuclear fusion in sun and stars, balloons, lasers, supercold refrigerant.

Argon

Inert gas. 1% of air, most abundant inert gas on Earth, light bulbs, "neon" tubes, lasers, welding gas.

Krypton

Inert gas. High-intensity lamps, headlights, flashlights, lanterns, "neon" tubes, lasers.

Neon

Inert gas. Orange-red neon tubes for advertising signs, lasers, supercold refrigerant.

Scandium

Soft lightweight metal. Aluminum alloys, racing bikes, stadium lamps, furnace bricks, aquamarines

Gallium

Soft metal, melts on hot day. Semiconductors, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (GaAs), signal lights, tiny lasers.

Rubidium

Soft metal, reactive. Atomic clocks, global navigation (GPS), vacuum tube scavenger.

Sodium

Soft metal, reactive. Salt (NaCl), nerves, baking soda, antacids, lye, soap, soda ash, glass, papermaking, street lamps.

Potassium

Soft metal, reactive. Salts, nerves, nutrient in fruits and vegetables, soap, fertilizer, potash, matches, gunpowder.

Calcium

Soft metal. Bones, teeth, milk, leaves, vegetables, shells, coral, limestone, chalk, gypsum, plaster, mortar, cement, marble, antacids.

Titanium

Strongest lightweight metal, heat-resistant. Aerospace, racing bikes, artificial joints, white paint, blue sapphires.