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.