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The Elements
Hydrogen H
 Most abundant element, more than 90% of the
atoms in the universe are hydrogen atoms
 Reacts with nitrogen to produce ammonia
 Combustible, it reacts with oxygen
exothermically
 A diatomic molecule
 Fuel used in the Hindenburg blimp
Helium He
 Not chemically reactive – doesn’t form
molecules
 Discovered in the sun
 Found underground and extracted from natural
gases
 Used in blimps and party balloons
 Used as a stabilizer when moving volatile fuels
 Not flammable
Lithium Li
 Lithium carbonate (Lithobid) is used to treat
manic episodes of Bipolar Disorder
 Used in lithium batteries used in portable
consumer electronic devices
 Lightest of all metals
Carbon C
 Name comes from coal
 Three isotopes C-12 C-13 and C-14
 10 million + organic compounds described today
 High heat and pressure: graphite, diamond
 Bucky ball C-60, a recently discovered form of
carbon important in nanotechnology
 In carbonates in rocks and
carbon dioxide in the air
Nitrogen N
 Haber-Bosch process uses nitrogen and
hydrogen to make ammonia (for fertilizer and for
explosives)
 Occurs in amino acids and nucleotides
 Comprises 78% of the air
 Chemically very unreactive
 A diatomic molecule
Oxygen O
 It is diatomic molecule
 It comprises 21% of the air
 It is very reactive with many substances
 It oxidizes many metals
 Supports the combustion of hydrocarbons
Fluorine F
 Extracted from fluorite – the state mineral of
Illinois
 Named from the word fluere (flow)
 Used in refrigerants
 Poisonous
 Highly reactive
 Diatomic molecule
Neon Ne
 Noble gas
 Can be ionized to produce orange glow
(neon lights)
Sodium Na
 Soft malleable silver white metal
 Occurs in salt
 Called “soda” by the English
 Used in medicine and agriculture
 Reacts vigorously with water
under mineral oil
Magnesium Mg
 It plays a role in many biochemical reactions
 Occurs in medicines and fertilizers
 Whole grains, nuts and green leafy vegetables
are good sources of magnesium
 Fireworks: burns with bright, white light
Aluminum Al
 Possible connection with
Alzheimer's
 Very high reflectivity
 Low density malleable metal
 Used in many alloys
 Used in cookware, cans, foil
Silicon Si
 It is used in electronic technology (silicon chips)
 Used to make silly putty
 Important component of glass
 Common in the Earth’s
crust;
 Combines with oxygen to
form silicates
(granite -> sand)
 Component of glass
Phosphorus P
 Glows in the dark, named from Greek:
phosphoros - bringer of light
 Two common forms: white and red
 Discovered by an alchemist: Henning Brand
 Essential to life
 Derived from apatite minerals
 Very cool chemical used for fertilizer, safety
matches, pyrotechnics, pesticides.
Sulfur S
 Yellow
 Hydrogen sulfide is a common gaseous compound
that stinks
 Very important compound is sulfuric acid
 In a couple of the amino acids that form proteins
 Used in fungicides
Chlorine Cl
 Chloros – pale green
 Diatomic molecule
 Irritating odor (like bleach)
 Powerful oxidant – used for sanitation
 Found in salt: sodium chloride
 Very reactive (combines with lots of other elements)
 World war I – mustard gas
Potassium K
 Essential nutrient, found in bananas
 Electrolyte in the body (sodium / potassium
balance)
 Used in salt substitute
 It is an alkali metal (first group or family)
Calcium Ca
 Soft grey alkaline earth metal
 Calcium is an essential part of our biochemistry
 Calcium is part of the mineral apatite (Calcium
Phosphate) that makes up bone
Chromium Cr
 Comes from a greek work chroma meaning color
 Has many different oxidation states and forms
many different beautifully colored compounds
 It is grey but it makes rubies red
 Chromium is used in chrome (alloy), doesn’t tarnish
Manganese Mn
 Used in iron and steel production
 A component of stainless steel
 A cofactor in some enzymes
 Human body contains
about 10 mg of manganese
 Commonly used in batteries,
matches, fireworks, glazes,
fungicides and varnishes
Iron Fe
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Occurs in the core of our planet and in meteors
Forms in stars from nuclear fusion
Iron metal is extracted from iron ores (hematite)
Iron is in our blood: hemoglobin
Can be magnetized
Cobalt Co
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Discovered in blue glass
Recovered in mining copper and silver
Used in alloys, used in joint replacements
Cobalt-60 used in radioactive tracers
Used in alloys for artificial body parts
Nickel Ni
 Name comes from German word meaning Old
Nick’s (false) copper
 Used in alloys
 Ni/Cd batteries
 Corrosion resistant
 In powerful alnico magnets
 In chocolate (trace amounts)
 Some people are allergic to nickel and suffer
contact dermatitis
Copper Cu
 Copper comes from cuprum (island of cypress)
 Pennies were once made from solid copper but since
1982 they are mostly zinc
 Natural antibacterial substance
 Tools made from copper don’t cause
sparks
 Resists corrosion
 Ancient (pyramids)
copper piping found
 Copper is added to
gold to harden it
 Found in octopus and squid blood
Zinc Zn
 The world has lots of zinc in rock and soil, and
everywhere else
 2-3 grams in an adult
 Vital for growth and cell division (and fertility)
 It is claimed that zinc can reduce the severity of
colds
 Zinc oxide protects
from uv rays
Arsenic As
 Discovered in the 8th century
 Found in a mineral
 By the 19th century it had been named
“inheritance powder” to hasten the death of
someone with money or power
 Victorian era mixed with
vinegar and chalk to
cause a lighter (non field worker)
complexion
Bromine Br
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It belongs to the halogen family
Red color
Discovered in 1826
Came from bromos meaning stench
Poisonous
In sea water
Diatomic molecule
Silver Ag
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Soft white transition metal
Used in its pure form (native metal)
Precious metal used in jewelry
Used in electrical contacts and as a catalyst
Compounds used in photographic film
Tin Sn
 Old name stannum (symbol Sn)
 Turns to powder below
13 degrees C
 The word tin comes from anglo-saxon
 Used in bronze
 Tin resists corrosion (caused by salty water)
 One of the earliest metals
 Used as a coating of steel pans,
hardens copper
 Stannous fluoride used in toothpaste
 Tin cans, tin foil
 Tin powder is highly explosive
Iodine I
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Needed for thyroid function
Added to salt
Used as an antiseptic
Diatomic molecule
Barium Ba
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Alkaline Earth Metal (2nd column)
Soft, silvery white
Oxidizes easily
Decomposed by water
Glass making, fire works, enemas
Gold Au
 Historically has been used for money and
jewelry.
 Good conductor of heat and electricity.
 Does not rust
 Most malleable of all metals
 Dissolves in mercury
Mercury Hg
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TOXIC!
Liquid metal
Was called quicksilver
More toxic when ionized into salt
Builds up in body over time
Was used in curing felt for hats
Used in thermometers
Used in amalgam fillings for teeth
Lead Pb
 Pb – Greek term for plombum, meaning
plumbing. Plumbing pipes made from lead
 High density – used to shield from x-rays
 Used in batteries
 Very malleable, soft
 Poisonous
Uranium U
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Radioactive
Used in nuclear weapons
Used in the “atom” bomb
Silvery gray metal
Ore is mined for U-232