The Elements
1- H - Hydrogen
- Most abundant element in the Universe
- One of the elements that make up Water (H2O), which
is essential to life
- H2 is an explosive gas
- H2 gas can be used as a ‘Clean’ combustible fuel
2 - He - Helium
- Colorless gas
- Odourless gas
- Unreactive/Inert gas
- Used to inflate balloons (safer than H2 gas)
- Can release light when exposed to electricity
3 - Li - Lithium
- Lightest metal
- Very reactive metal (Alkali)
- Found in many batteries (Lithium-ion)
- Found in some Anti-depressent medications
4 - Be - Beryllium
- Often used as an alloying agent (very lightweight)
- Found in some precious stones (emeralds)
5 - B - Boron
- Used as a control material in nuclear reactors which
produce electricity.
- Absorbs neutrons in nuclear reactions slowing down
nuclear chain reactions.
6 - C - Carbon
- Found in many different substances (coal, graphite,
fossil fuels/petroleum, diamonds)
- Found in Earth’s crust (minerals)
- Found in Earth’s atmosphere (CO2)
- Life forms (Humans,trees,etc) contain a lot of Carbon
(carbon-based life forms)
- Has many many different uses
- Fuel Energy sources - gasoline, natural gas, diesel, etc
- Found in Petroleum which is used to make all Plastics.
7 - N - Nitrogen
- Most abundant substance in Earth’s Atmosphere 78%
(Nitrogen gas – N2)
- Nitrogen gas (N2) is very unreactive
- Very important for Plant growth
- Main ingredient in chemical Fertilizers
- Found in many explosives (TNT, etc)
8 - O - Oxygen
- Second most abundant substance in Earth’s
Atmosphere 21% (Oxygen gas – O2)
- One of the elements that make up Water (H2O), which
is essential to life
- Oxygen is very reactive
- Very important for Respirations
- Oxygen gas (O2) is Combustible
- Found in many organic substances
- Ozone gas (O3) forms a protective layer in the upper
atmosphere that shields us from harmful UV radiation.
9 - F - Fluorine
- Most reactive Non-Metal (Halogen)
- Yellow color
- Corrosive gas
- Used in some cleaning products / disinfectants
- Used in Dental Products (strengths teeth and kills
bacteria)
10 - Ne - Neon
- Colorless gas
- Odourless gas
- Unreactive/Inert gas
- Can release light when exposed to electricity
- Neon illuminated signs are very common in stores
11 - Na - Sodium
- Very reactive Metal (alkali)
- Always found in compounds in nature (because of its
reactivity)
- Most common compound: Sodium Chloride (NaCl)
- Sodium Chloride (NaCl) = TABLE SALT (needed by all
living organisms)
- To much sodium in our diets = BAD (cholesterol, high
blood pressure)
12 - Mg - Magnesium
- Silvery white metal
- Often alloyed due to its lightweight properties
- Used to make lightweight frames for bicycles, car seats,
luggage, certain aircraft components
- When burned will releases a Bright White Light
- Was used to make old Flash Bulbs (photography)
- Used in the production of Fireworks (bright when
burned)
13 - Al - Aluminum
- Silvery white metal
- Lightweight and tough
- Will not ‘rust’
- Very Ductile and Malleable, therefore easy to work with
- Wide Variety of uses
- Extensively used in the Aviation industry.
- Used in the production of mirrors
14 - Si - Silicon
- Very abundant element in Earth’s crust (sand, clay, etc)
- Used to make concrete, cement, glass, pottery, microprocessors (microchips)
- Used in some medical prosthetics inside the body
(breast implants ?)
15 - P - Phosphorus
- Many different uses
- Can be made to emit light / glow in the dark
- Found in many mineral rocks
- Important for life (found in DNA)
- Used in the production of Fertilizers
- Used in the production of Detergents
16 - S - Sulfur
- Yellow brittle solid
- Many industrial applications
- Will burn in air producing a bad smell (rotten eggs!)
- Used in explosives, fireworks, gunpowder, matchsticks,
stinkbombs !
-Sulfur is the main culprit in the formation of Acid Rain
17 - Cl - Chlorine
- Greenish-yellowish gas at room temperture
- Very reactive element (Halogen)
-Always found in compounds in nature (because of its
reactivity)
-Sodium Chloride (NaCl) = TABLE SALT
- Corrosive (respiratory irritant, and burns the skin)
- Kills Bacteria
- Found in many Disinfecting products, Bleach, Swimming
pools.
18 - Ar - Argon
- Colorless gas
- Odourless gas
- Unreactive/Inert gas
- Can release light when exposed to electricity
- Can be found in certain tube lights
19 - K - Potassium
- Light metal
- Not found as free atoms in nature (found in compounds)
- Used in the production of fertilizers
- Found in bananas
20 - Ca - Calcium
- Greyish white metal
- Very abundant
- Calcium is an essential constituent of leaves, bones,
teeth, and shells
22 - Ti - Titanium
- Strong metal
- Lightweight metal
- Does not corrode
- Expensive metal
- Very often alloyed for its lightweight / strength properties
- Used in aircraft & aerospace industries (fighter jets, jet
engines, missiles, spacecraft, etc)
- Used in high-end sporting equipment (tennis raquets,
golf clubs, auto-racing)
26 - Fe - Iron
- Very important metal
- Very strong
- ENDLESS USES (most used metal) many iron products
- Drawback  Iron will RUST (especially oxygen rich
moist environments).
- Rust = Reddish/brown residue. Rust = Ironoxide
-Must be alloyed with other metals in order to avoid
Rusting
- Covering Iron with paint will keep it from rusting
- Iron is part of Hemoglobin which carries oxygen in the
bloodstream
- Iron has Magnetic Properties
28 - Ni - Nickel
- Strong metal
- Often alloyed (will not corrode)
- Also found in Meteorites
- 5cent coin is called Nickel because it use to be make
partly of nickel
- Has Magnetic properties
29 - Cu - Copper
- Strong metal
- Copper is reddish/Orange metal with lustre (ex: penny)
- It is malleable and ductile
- Great conductor electricity (second only to silver in
electrical conductivity).
- Found in many alloys
- Used in plumbing (copper pipes), and electrical wires.
- Copper will oxidize to form Copper oxide  Dark
greenish residue when exposed to oxygen
- Statue of liberty, old Quebec church rooftops  Green
30 - Zn - Zinc
- Metal
- Does not corrode easily
- Used in many alloys
33 - As - Arsenic
- Solid metalloid
- Poisonous (rat poison)
35 - Br - Bromine
- Liquid non-metal
- Reddish/Brown liquid
- Very reactive (halogen)
- Corrosive to skin
- Chocking bad smell
- Used in: Photography industry, Pharmaceutical industry,
flame-retardent materials, some disinfectants.
36 - Kr - Krypton
- Colorless gas
- Odourless gas
- Unreactive/Inert gas
- Can release light when exposed to electricity
- Can be found in certain tube lights / lamps
47 - Ag - Silver
- Brilliant white metal
- Rare metal
- Expensive metal
- Very Ductile and Malleable
- Very high electrical conductivity (but to expensive to be
used for that purpose)
- Silver will Tarnish (oxidize)  Turn yellowish/black
when exposed to oxygen
- Used in: Jewelry, Mirrors (old), and Money.
50 - Sn - Tin
- Silvery white metal
- Resists Corrosion very well
- Used as an alloy (because it resists corrosion)
- Many different alloying uses (Tin Cans won’t rot)
53 - I - Iodine
- Purplish/Black solid (can turn into a purple gas when
heated)
- Very reactive non-metal (halogen)
- Used in: photography, medicine, inks
- Iodine is important in the healthy functioning of the
Thyroid Gland
- Iodine in artificially added to our table salt (iodized
table salt) in order for humans to get needed iodine in
our diets.
54 - Xe - Xenon
- Colorless gas
- Odourless gas
- Unreactive/Inert gas
- Can release light when exposed to electricity
- Used in: Black Lights (Xenon lights), lasers.
55 - Cs - Cesium
- Very Reactive metal (Alkali)
56 - Ba - Barium
- Metal
- Barium Sulfate solution is used as a medical tracer in
the human body which will show up on X-Rays.
74 - W - Tungsten
- Very Hard Metal
- Alloyed (for hardness property)
- Very High Melting (highest of all metals)
- Used in Lightbulb filaments
- Used for cutting tools / drill bits
78 - Pt - Platinum
- A silvery white metal
- Resistant to corrosion and tarnishing
- Very Rare
- Very expensive
- Used to make Jewery
- Used in automotive Catalytic converters (coverts
dangerous exhaust emissions into less harmfull substances)
- Used in medications to treat cancer
79 - Au - Gold
- Lustrous Yellow Metal
- Rare metal
- Expensive metal
- Very Ductile and Malleable
- Very high electrical and thermal conductivity
- Gold is Unreactive  will not oxidize
- Used in: Jewelry, Fine electonics, money
- Purity of gold is measure in the Karat unit
80 - Hg - Mercury
- Heavy LIQUID metal
- Mercury atoms like to ‘stay together’
- Toxic to life forms
- Not many uses due to its high Toxicity
- Found in many lakes/rivers due to industrial waste 
May enter food chains
- Uses: old thermometers, old batteries
82 - Pb - Lead
- Bluish/grey metal
- Heavy
- Very Malleable (easy to work with)
- Toxic to living organisms
- Found in many lakes/rivers due to industrial waste 
May enter food chains
- Used in: old roman pipe systems, old gasoline, old
batteries, old paints, solder, old bullets, x-ray shielding.
84 – Po - Polonium
- Radioactive Metal
86 – Rn - Radon
- Colorless gas
- Odourless gas
- Unreactive/Inert gas
- Releases Radiation !
87 – Fr - Francium
- Extremely reactive Metallic element (Alkali)
- No real uses
- Very short life-span (very little on Earth at any given
moment)
88 – Rd - Radium
- Radioactive Metal
92 – U - Uranium
- Radioactive Metal
- Of great interest because of its application to nuclear
power and nuclear weapons.
- Named after the planet Uranus.
- Large amounts of energy can be harnessed from very
little Uranium.
- Energy from 1kg of Uranium = Energy harnessed from
the burning of 2 500 000 kg of coal !!!
94 – Pu - Plutonium
- Radioactive Metal
- Named after Pluto !
- Similar characteristics and uses to Uranium