Common Elements and Their Uses

Americium

Symbol Am Atomic Number 95 Atomic Mass 243.0614; a radioactive element that is long-lived; used in smoke detectors and is a portable source of gamma rays.

Neodymium

Symbol Nd Atomic Number 60 Atomic Mass 144.242; a soft metal used mostly for powerful magnets

Silver

Symbol Ag Atomic Number 47 Atomic Mass 107.868; a soft shiny metal that is the best electrical conductor; used in jewelry and tableware. It is the best reflector of light known to man, although it does tarnish. It is used in soldering and brazing compounds as well as batteries

Aluminum

Symbol Al Atomic Number 13 Atomic Mass 26.9815; a lightweight non-corroding metal. Soft and malleable, it has uses in cans, utensils, airplane and automotive parts, and other structural applications.

Argon

Symbol Ar Atomic Number 18 Atomic Mass 39.948; an inert gas used in incandescent and fluorescent lightbulbs

Arsenic

Symbol As Atomic Number 33 Atomic Mass 72.64; a brittle metalloid used in transistors, primarily with Gallium. Many compounds are used as insecticides and poisons.

Gold

Symbol Au Atomic Number 79 Atomic Mass 196.966; yellow metal that does not corrode; very malleable and used for jewelry and decorative items for thousands of years. In modern times, gold is also used in many electronic components

Chlorine

Symbol C Atomic Number 17 Atomic Mass 32.065; a greenish poison gas used in water treatment and as an antiseptic. Also used in the production of papers, plastics, solvents, and textiles

Carbon

Symbol C Atomic Number 6 Atomic Mass 12.01; The basis for the world's natural organic fuels such as natural gas, coal, and oil. Graphite is a strong molecular form that is used for pencils, crucibles, and electrodes. Pure diamond is also entirely made out of C atoms. Another common application of the element is carbon nanotubes.

Calcium

Symbol Ca Atomic Number 20 Atomic Mass 40.078; a soft metal. A nutritional requirement for strong bones.

Copper

Symbol Cu Atomic Number 29 Atomic Mass 63.546; a reddish-brown colored metal that is one of the best conductors of electricity, which lends to its use in electronics and motors. The metal is also very thermally conductive, so it is used in plumbing, radiators, A/C units, and heating systems.

Fluorine

Symbol F Atomic Number 9 Atomic Mass 18.9984; a yellowish poison gas and the most reactive element. It is a common additive to drinking water and is used as a cleaning agent in toothpaste.

Iron

Symbol Fe Atomic Number 26 Atomic Mass 55.845; a medium-hard metal that has magnetic properties. It's prime use is in making steel. When steel is combined with chromium, it produces stainless steel which is resistant to corrosion.

Hydrogen

Symbol H Atomic Number 1 Atomic Mass 1.008; an explosive gas and also the lightest element, it makes up about 90% of atoms in the entire universe. The chemical is used heavily as both a gas and liquid fuel. It was used as a main fuel for the space shuttle program by NASA

Helium

Symbol He Atomic Number 2 Atomic Mass 4.0026. An inert gas (which means it doesn't react with anything) and the second-lightest element. It is commonly known to be lighter than air, which leads to its use in weather and party balloons.

Mercury

Symbol Hg Atomic Number 80 Atomic Mass 200.59; a liquid metal and is toxic; it is used to make thermometers, barometers, and other instruments. It is often used in streetlights and fluorescent lamps.

Iodine

Symbol I Atomic Number 53 Atomic Mass 126.904; a violet-black solid it is used in photographic film and as an antiseptic for wounds. The radioactive isotope I-131 is used to treat some thyroid diseases.

Potassium

Symbol K Atomic Number 19 Atomic Mass 39.0983; a soft metal that is very reactive. The ionic form is used by our nervous system to send messages in the body. However, it is mainly used in compound form in fertilizers and soaps and cleaners.

Lithium

Symbol Li Atomic Number 3. Atomic Mass 6.941; the lightest metal and is soft and reactive. Most commonly used in batteries for smartphones, tablets, electric cars and many more electronic products

Magnesium

Symbol Mg Atomic Number 12 Atomic Mass 24.3050; a lightweight metal used as an alloy in transportation as well as uses in medicine as Epsom salts, milk of magnesia, chloride, and citrate. It is essential to both animal and plant life.

Nitrogen

Symbol N Atomic Number 7 Atomic Mass 14.0067; a colorless gas, 78% of the air we breathe (Earths atmosphere) is made up of this element. It is also a key nutrient in fertilizers and a key component in nitric acid, nylon, and explosive materials.

Sodium

Symbol Na Atomic Number 11 Atomic Mass 22.9897; a very reactive soft metal that explodes if it touches water. It is also used in streetlights to produce yellow light as well as being a component in many compounds like table salt, soda ash, borax, and baking soda.

Neon

Symbol Ne Atomic Number 10 Atomic Mass 20.1797; an inert gas, it is the fourth most abundant element in the entire universe. By far the most common use of the element is used in advertising signs, but it is also used in lasers.

Nickel

Symbol Ni Atomic Number 28 Atomic Mass 58.6934; a medium-hard metal with mild magnetic properties, it is used in stainless steel and other anti-corrosion metal alloys.

Oxygen

Symbol O Atomic Number 8 Atomic Mass 15.9994; a colorless gas, this is the most important element to human's survival. Pure O is used to treat breathing problems and make spacecraft livable.

Phosphorous

Symbol P Atomic Number 15 Atomic Mass 30.9737; a glowing white waxy solid. It is the main nutrient for organic life through phosphate compounds. It is used in fertilizers to uphold the biological phosphorus cycle. It is also used in matches, explosives and other pyrotechnics.

Lead

Symbol Pb Atomic Number 82 Atomic Mass 207.2; a dense, soft, non-corroding toxic metal; used as a coating for wires to protect from corrosion. Most lead is used in lead-acid batteries for automobiles.

Platinum

Symbol Pt Atomic Number 78 Atomic Mass 195.084; a non-corroding dense and precious metal. Very valuable, it has long been used for jewelry and for its corrosion resistant properties. Its main use is in catalytic converters for automobiles.

Sulfur

Symbol S Atomic Number 16 Atomic Mass 32.065; a brittle yellow solid used in matches, gunpowder and other pyrotechnics, rubber manufacturing, and as an insecticide, fungicide, and fumigant.

Silicon

Symbol Si Atomic Number 14 Atomic Mass 28.0855; a hard metalloid; used extensively in the semiconductor industry in solid-state electronics (computer chips). For such applications, the silicon has to be used with boron, gallium, phosphorus or arsenic.

Tin

Symbol Sn Atomic Number 50 Atomic Mass 114.818; a non-corroding soft metal that has the ability to be polished to a high degree. It is mainly used to coat other metals or as an alloy in solder and pewter. Niobium-tin magnets are known for their superconducting abilities.

Titanium

Symbol Ti Atomic Number 22 Atomic Mass 47.867; the strongest lightweight metal and is heat-resistant. It is an incredibly strong metal used in alloys with aluminum, iron, and other metals. This strong metal is used in the aerospace industry as well as engines.

Uranium

Symbol U Atomic Number 92 Atomic Mass 238.0289; a radioactive element that is long-lived. It generates heat for nuclear power reactors and produces the material needed for nuclear weapons.

Tungsten

Symbol W Atomic Number 74 Atomic Mass 183.84; a dense metal with the highest melting point of all metals, leading to its use as filaments in incandescent bulbs. It is also used in steels to impart strength.

Zinc

Symbol Zn Atomic Number 30 Atomic Mass 65.409; a non-corroding metal used as a coating on steel nails and screws and as an alloying agent in brass, nickel, silver and aluminum. Paints, rubbers, cosmetics, batteries, textiles, and inks also have a significant need for the element.