Elements of the Periodic Table

Massive Group II element, a radioisotope of which is used as a radioactive tracer in medicine. Atomic mass 137.

Barium

Basis for all organic chemicals, essential for life as we know it on earth, element with four outer-shell electrons that undergo sp3 hybridization to form four bonding orbitals with tetrahedral structure. Atomic number 6

Carbon

Extremely rare radioactive Group I metal, contains 136 neutrons and only 87 protons. Atomic mass 223.

Francium

Group IV metalloid used in doping computer chips and transistors. Atomic number 32.

Germanium

Lightweight member of the alkaline Earth metals of Group II, forms 2+ ions, reacts slowly with water and rapidly with steam, used in making lightweight alloys, found in hydroxide compounds used as antacids. Atomic number 12.

Magnesium

Stable metal used in making cans, forms 2+ and 4+ ions, alloy with copper forms bronze. Atomic number 50.

Tin

Radioactive member of the actinide series used as fuel in nuclear reactors, heaviest natural element. Atomic mass 92.

Uranium

Transition metal used to make shock resistant steel and used as catalyst. Atomic mass 65.

Vanadium

Transition metal used to galvanize iron, forms alloy with copper called brass, used in dry cell batteries, oxidation number 2+. Atomic mass 65.

Zinc

Lightweight metal that forms 3+ ions, the third most abundant element in the Earth's crust, more valuable than gold or silver prior to development (1886) of the Hall Perot process for extracting it from bauxite. Atomic mass 27.

Aluminum

Noble gas used in welding active metals, denser than air. Atomic number 18.

Argon

Poisonous Group V metalloid used in making semiconductors and in pesticides. Atomic mass 75.

Arsenic

Alkaline earth metal with four protons used in forming strong lightweight alloys with copper. Atomic number 4.

Beryllium

Metalloid in Group III combines with silicates to form heat resistant glassware, forms acid used in eardrops and as a pesticide. Atomic mass 11.

Boron

Halogen, which is a brownish liquid at room temperature, used in medicines, dyes, and photography. Atomic number 35.

Bromine

Transition metal used to make yellow pigments in paint, electroplating, batteries, and as control rods in nuclear reactors. Atomic number 48.

Cadmium

Alkaline earth metal found commonly in the Earth's crust, a limestone used in making cement or concrete, often found in pipes or boilers as a result of hard water, forms 2+ ions. Atomic number 20.

Calcium

Highly reactive Group I metal that is a liquid at warm room temperature (28.5o C), silvery white metal used in making photocells. Atomic number 55.

Cesium

Halogen used as a bleaching agent, component of common table salt, used as a disinfectant and water purifier. US is experiencing a shortage due to Covid. Atomic mass 35.

Chlorine

Shiny transition metal used in electroplating steel, oxidation numbers 6+ , 3+ and 2+. Atomic number 24.

Chromium

Transition metal used to make alloys used to make magnets and heat-resistant tools, oxidation numbers 2+ and 3+ , often used to make blue pigment for paints. Atomic mass 59.

Cobalt

Transition metal used in cooking utensils, wiring, plumbing and electric motors; oxidation numbers 2+ and 1+. Atomic number 29.

Copper

Most reactive nonmetal that is never found free in nature. Member of Group VII, the halogen family; forms 1- ions; organic compounds containing this element are used as nonstick cookware and refrigerants; forms compounds used to prevent tooth decay. Atomic number 9.

Fluorine

Valuable metal used as base for many money systems; used in jewelry, coins, and dentistry; oxidation numbers 3+ and 1+. Atomic mass 197.

Gold

The lightest noble gas, filled outer shell with only two electrons, named for the Greek word for sun because first discovered in spectral analysis of sunlight. Atomic number 2.

Helium

Stable metal once used for plumbing, symbol comes from Latin name plumbum, forms 2+ and 4+ ions. Atomic number 82.

Lead

Active alkali metal from Group I with three protons, forms 1+ ions in a salt. Atomic mass 7.

Lithium

Transition metal used as catalyst for oxidation-reduction reactions; oxidation numbers 7+ , 6+ , 4+ , 3+ and 2+ , used in making alloys. Atomic mass 55.

Manganese

Toxic transition metal, which is a liquid at room temperature; used in thermometers, barometers, electric switches, and paint pigments; alloy with silver that produces dental amalgam. Atomic number 80

Mercury

Highly reactive member of Group I that reacts violently in water and is required to allow proper transmission of nerve impulses. Atomic mass 39.

Potassium

Group V element with three allotropes: white that reacts with air at 30o C and red that is less active; element that is essential to strong root development in plants; element used in fertilizers, explosives, and detergents. Atomic mass 31.

Phosphorus

Transition metal used as catalyst, in electronics, lab ware, and jewelry. Atomic number 78.

Platinum

Radioactive Group II element used to treat cancer and in medical research. Atomic mass 88.

Radium

Radioactive noble gas used in treating cancer, can collect in some buildings producing a health hazard. Atomic mass 222.

Radon

Soft lustrous metal with one electron in its outer shell, reacts violently with moisture, used in spacecraft engines and photocells. Atomic number 37.

Rubidium

Metalloid in Group VI used in making photocells. Atomic number 34.

Selenium

The second most abundant element in the Earth's crust; a metalloid with four outer shell electrons used in solar cells, microprocessor chips, and ceramics. Atomic number 14.

Silicon

Light transition metal used in making strong lightweight alloys, oxidation numbers 4+ and 3+. Atomic number 22.

Titanium

Transition metal used in making light-bulb filaments and alloys with high density and high melting point. Atomic number 74.

Tungsten

First noble gas to form a compound by stripping away electrons, used in photographic lamps. Atomic Mass 131.

Xenon

An inert element which produces a whitish glow in lights. Atomic number 84.

Krypton

The lightest element, contains only a single proton, can lose or gain only 1 electron. Atomic mass 1

Hydrogen

Halogen used as a disinfectant, in photography and as a salt additive that prevents goiter. Atomic number 53.

Iodine

Fourth most abundant element in the Earth's crust; used in manufacturing, building materials, and dietary supplements; oxidation numbers 3+ and 2+ ; main component of steel. Atomic number 26.

Iron

Most abundant element on Earth making up 48% of the Earth's crust, atmosphere, and surface water; highly reactive element that supports combustion with many other substances; essential for respiration in most living organisms; ozone is a common allotrope; six outer shell electrons cause it to form 2- ions. Atomic number 8.

Oxygen

Inert gas in Group VIII which produces a red glow in lights. Atomic Mass 20.

Neon

Transition metal used in making coins, batteries, jewelry, and electroplating; oxidation numbers 2+ and 3+. Atomic number 28.

Nickel

Most abundant element in the Earth's atmosphere, an element that is relatively non-reactive at normal temperatures, essential for protein formation in living tissues. Atomic mass 14.

Nitrogen

Shiny lustrous metal; best conductor of heat and electricity; oxidation number 1+ ; used in jewelry, ornaments, mirror backing, and dental fillings. Atomic mass 108.

Silver

Highly reactive alkali metal of Group I that forms 1+ ions and reacts violently with water, never found free in nature and reacts violently with Chlorine of the halogen family to form common table salt, required in the body for proper transmission of nerve impulses. Atomic mass 11.

Sodium

Common Group VI element with 3 different allotropic forms, widely used in industry as a component of sulfuric acid, used as a dehydrating agent in paints and plastics. Atomic number 16.

Sulfur