Chemistry Crossword Puzzle

Albeit is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust, yet so difficult to extract from its ore that this shiny lightweight used to be more valuable than gold. Now everyone (even all you minimum waste advocates) treat it like trash!

Aluminum

This group V metalloid is quite versatile: from tracer bullets to fireproofing to infrared detection. Not that I'm against cash or anything, but I should just pay off my ex-wife with valuable stuff each month.

Antimony

A rather inactive gas, this royal family member makes up nearly 1% of our atmosphere, it is used as the inert gas in lightbulbs (when N & O are gone, the filament lasts a lot longer!)

Argon

Although this alkaline earth metal is very toxic, I know a doctor who often asks his patients to drink a nice thick shake of its sulfate (and he rarely ends up having to bury them).

Barium

Dairy farmers see milking machines as quick extractors of this alkaline earth metal, but I bet the cows see them differently!

Calcium

Has your car been acting up? You may want to check the antifreeze, or the oil or the gasoline or vinyl seat covers, or yourself!

Carbon

Greenish yellow in color, used in bleach, drinking water, and PVC pipes (that's logical) or in WWI as the world's first war gas.

Chlorine

Pipes, wires, and Ms. Liberty's skin, whether you're a seasoned cop or a brand new rookie, a penny's worth isn't what it used to be.

Copper

This pale yellow gas is considered the most reactive of all the elements. Even water will ignite with its presence. And after 70 years of continous work, chemists were finally able to isolate this element (I bet that made you smile).

Flourine

HEY YOU! Come back here with my first place medal! This king is so malleable that a single ounce can be beaten out into a 300 ft squared sheet 1,000 times thinner than paper, and so inert that jewelry dating back to ancient times still looks as good as new.

Gold

Without this noble lightweight, the Goodyear company would never have gotten off the ground, and scuba divers would really be hurting (and doctors may be unable to heal them!)

Helium

You're number one in our books and in the universe for that matter, the ultimate fuel and building block, but don't try to hide your genuinely explosive nature: two of the worst aviation accidents in U.S history resulted from your reaction with oxygen.

Hydrogen

This shiny nonmetal gives off purple vapors; at blood donor centers, this goes on before the needle goes in, and in Ohio, diner and restaurant owners add it to their salt.

Iodine

Irredeemably the most corrosion resistant, #77 was alloyed with Pt to make the standard meter bar of Paris.

Iridium

Some might consider it ironic that the same metal that's used in car bodies and Ferris wheels is also used to fortify our breakfast cereal. The most abundant and important metal on Earth, it's in our blood to treasure it.

Iron

In batteries, stained glass, and old paint; but not in pencils, as some might lead you to believe. Also known for its density, malleability, and toxicity.

Lead

Used in flares, flash bulbs and magnificent incendiary bombs, but also in mag wheels and in M.O.M.

Magnesium

The only metal that is a liquid at oridinary temperature, (oridinary for Earth, that is, not another planet!) nicknamed "quick silver," used in thermometers, barometers, and electrical switches, very dense, also very toxic, (hard to imagine a more curious metal!)

Mercury

Anyone can see that, despite its total disregard for others, this member of the noble gas family has a bright future in advertising, I'd put my money on it!

Neon

Fertilizers, explosives and cryogenics, we come in contact with this gas more than any other. Long ago, at night, Trojan men would breathe in a mixture containing 80% of this gas, before going into battle!

Nitrogen

Discovered in 1669 by Brandt who prepared it from urine (but that's not how it got its symbol!) This non-metal is used in matches, fertilizers and detergents.

Phosphorus

Originally thrown away as "fools silver," now considered more valuable than gold, especially by recording artists, (and DJ's who spin their "platters).

Platinum

In bananas, salt subs, and of course, special K cereal, but this alkali metal is also used in lavender fireworks.

Potassium

This great-great-great-granddaughter of U-238 is a dense, noble and silent killer, but do not be afraid. On the other hand, you may want to sleep with your windows open.

Radon

Make your silly list of pros and cons: Bill Gates, Cinderella, and some top notch supermodels owe their good fortune to this metalloid.

Silicon

Matches, acid rain, and a chigger repellent (and originally associated with eternal damnation), so far as we know, its molecules are square-danced shaped.

Sulfur

Used in strobe lights, this "stranger" may be a member of the royal family, but recently he has been seen on dates with commoners, such as F and O!

Xenon

Has more application than you think: from soldiers to makeup to printer's ink; paints, plastics, and fencing (chain link), and yes, of course, the kitchen sink!

Zinc