The Chemistry of Matter Abel’s Elements To Know

Quick Facts Atomic Number = number of protons Atomic Number = number of protons 298 K = room temperature (25 o C) 298 K = room temperature (25 o C) These are some of the most common or useful or interesting elements on Earth. These are some of the most common or useful or interesting elements on Earth.

Hydrogen Atomic Number: 1 Atomic Number: 1 Standard state: gas at 298 K (the lightest gas known) Standard state: gas at 298 K (the lightest gas known) Colour: colourless Colour: colourless Facts: highly flammable, makes up 90% of universe by weight Facts: highly flammable, makes up 90% of universe by weight

Helium Atomic Number: 2 Atomic Number: 2 Standard state: gas at 298 K Standard state: gas at 298 K Colour: colourless Colour: colourless Facts: unreactive Noble gas, 2 nd most abundant element in universe Facts: unreactive Noble gas, 2 nd most abundant element in universe

Lithium Atomic Number: 3 Atomic Number: 3 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: silvery Colour: silvery Facts: mixed w/aluminum & magnesium for light- weight alloys; also used in batteries, greases, glasses, and in medicine. Facts: mixed w/aluminum & magnesium for light- weight alloys; also used in batteries, greases, glasses, and in medicine.

Beryllium Atomic Number: 4 Atomic Number: 4 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: silvery Colour: silvery Facts: high melting point. At ordinary temperatures, beryllium resists oxidation in air. Cpds are very toxic; ability to scratch glass. Aquamarine and emerald are precious forms of the mineral beryl.

Boron Atomic Number: 5 Atomic Number: 5 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: silvery-black Colour: silvery-black Facts: semiconductor; chemically closer to silicon than to aluminium, gallium, indium, and thallium. Crystalline boron is inert chemically and resistant to attack by boiling HF or HCl.

Carbon Atomic Number: 6 Atomic Number: 6 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: several forms, including gray graphite and clear diamond Colour: several forms, including gray graphite and clear diamond Facts: component of all cells; present in atmosphere & dissolved in all natural waters; component of many rocks Facts: component of all cells; present in atmosphere & dissolved in all natural waters; component of many rocks

Nitrogen Atomic Number: 7 Atomic Number: 7 Standard state: gas at 298 K Standard state: gas at 298 K Colour: colourless Colour: colourless Facts: makes up ~78% of Earth’s atmosphere; its compounds are vital components of foods, fertilizers, and explosives. Facts: makes up ~78% of Earth’s atmosphere; its compounds are vital components of foods, fertilizers, and explosives.

Oxygen Atomic Number: 8 Atomic Number: 8 Standard state: gas at 298 K Standard state: gas at 298 K Colour: colourless (pale blue as liquid, right) Colour: colourless (pale blue as liquid, right) Facts: highly reactive; required for respiration and most combustion; ozone is O 3 Facts: highly reactive; required for respiration and most combustion; ozone is O 3

Fluorine Atomic Number: 9 Atomic Number: 9 Standard state: gas at 298 K Standard state: gas at 298 K Colour: pale yellow gas Colour: pale yellow gas Facts: Facts: most reactive of all elements; highly toxic; corrosive gas which reacts with practically all organic and inorganic substances (including Noble gases xenon, radon, and krypton).

Neon Atomic Number: 10 Atomic Number: 10 Standard state: gas at 298 K Standard state: gas at 298 K Colour: colourless Colour: colourless Facts: very inert element; in vacuum discharge tube, neon glows reddish orange Facts: very inert element; in vacuum discharge tube, neon glows reddish orange

Sodium Atomic Number: 11 Atomic Number: 11 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: silvery white metal Colour: silvery white metal Facts: essential to animal nutrition; component of table salt (halite) Facts: essential to animal nutrition; component of table salt (halite)

Magnesium Atomic Number: 12 Atomic Number: 12 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: grayish-white metal Colour: grayish-white metal Facts: chlorophylls are based upon magnesium. Facts: chlorophylls are based upon magnesium.

Aluminum Atomic Number: 13 Atomic Number: 13 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: silvery-white metal Colour: silvery-white metal Facts: light, nonmagnetic, nonsparking; easily formed, machined, and cast; not found free in nature (refined from bauxite ore) Facts: light, nonmagnetic, nonsparking; easily formed, machined, and cast; not found free in nature (refined from bauxite ore)

Silicon Atomic Number: 14 Atomic Number: 14 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: dark gray semi-metallic Colour: dark gray semi-metallic Facts: makes up ~25% of Earth’s crust by weight, second most abundant element on Earth, used in computers as semi- conductor Facts: makes up ~25% of Earth’s crust by weight, second most abundant element on Earth, used in computers as semi- conductor

Phosphorus Atomic Number: 15 Atomic Number: 15 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: non-metallic, colourless/red/silvery -white Colour: non-metallic, colourless/red/silvery -white Facts: essential component of nervous tissue, bones and cell protoplasm; insoluble in water; spontaneously catches fire in air. Facts: essential component of nervous tissue, bones and cell protoplasm; insoluble in water; spontaneously catches fire in air.

Sulfur Atomic Number: 16 Atomic Number: 16 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: non- metallic lemon yellow Colour: non- metallic lemon yellow Facts: brittle, insoluble in water; component of sulfuric acid (most impt. manufactured chemical in world) Facts: brittle, insoluble in water; component of sulfuric acid (most impt. manufactured chemical in world)

Chlorine Atomic Number: 17 Atomic Number: 17 Standard state: gas at 298 K Standard state: gas at 298 K Colour: greenish yellow Colour: greenish yellow Facts: combines directly with nearly all elements; commonly found as halite (table salt); used to produce safe drinking water Facts: combines directly with nearly all elements; commonly found as halite (table salt); used to produce safe drinking water

Argon Atomic Number: 18 Atomic Number: 18 Standard state: gas at 298 K Standard state: gas at 298 K Colour: colourless Colour: colourless Facts: odourless gas present to very small extent in atmosphere. Is very inert, not known to form true chemical compounds. Makes good atmosphere for working w/air-sensitive materials since it is heavier than air and less reactive than N 2. Facts: odourless gas present to very small extent in atmosphere. Is very inert, not known to form true chemical compounds. Makes good atmosphere for working w/air-sensitive materials since it is heavier than air and less reactive than N 2.

Potassium Atomic Number: 19 Atomic Number: 19 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: silvery white Colour: silvery white Facts: 7 th most abundant element of Earth’s crust; essential for plant, animal growth; never found free in nature Facts: 7 th most abundant element of Earth’s crust; essential for plant, animal growth; never found free in nature

Calcium Atomic Number: 20 Atomic Number: 20 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: silvery metal Colour: silvery metal Facts: 5 th most abundant element in Earth’s crust; essential to plant & animal growth; commonly found in limestone, gypsum, & fluorite (not found alone) Facts: 5 th most abundant element in Earth’s crust; essential to plant & animal growth; commonly found in limestone, gypsum, & fluorite (not found alone)

Iron Atomic Number: 26 Atomic Number: 26 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: lustrous grayish metal Colour: lustrous grayish metal Facts: cheapest, most abundant, useful, & important of all metals; component of hemoglobin; common building material Facts: cheapest, most abundant, useful, & important of all metals; component of hemoglobin; common building material

Copper Atomic Number: 29 Atomic Number: 29 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: reddish metal with bright luster Colour: reddish metal with bright luster Facts: malleable, ductile, good conductor of heat & electricity (second to silver); alloys include brass and bronze Facts: malleable, ductile, good conductor of heat & electricity (second to silver); alloys include brass and bronze

Zinc Atomic Number: 30 Atomic Number: 30 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: bluish- white, lustrous metal Colour: bluish- white, lustrous metal Facts: essential element for growth; used in galvanizing (“rust-proofing”) iron/steel and in lightweight coins Facts: essential element for growth; used in galvanizing (“rust-proofing”) iron/steel and in lightweight coins

Krypton Atomic Number: 36 Atomic Number: 36 Standard state: gas at 298 K Standard state: gas at 298 K Colour: colourless Colour: colourless Facts: present in air at about 1 ppm (also found on Mars); in 1960, length of meter defined by wavelength of Krypton-33 Facts: present in air at about 1 ppm (also found on Mars); in 1960, length of meter defined by wavelength of Krypton-33

Silver Atomic Number: 47 Atomic Number: 47 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: brilliant white metal Colour: brilliant white metal Facts: very ductile and malleable; excellent conductor of heat & electricity; used in jewelry, photography, dental alloys, batteries, mirror production, coinage Facts: very ductile and malleable; excellent conductor of heat & electricity; used in jewelry, photography, dental alloys, batteries, mirror production, coinage

Iodine Atomic Number: 53 Atomic Number: 53 Standard state: solid at 298 KStandard state: solid at 298 K Colour: violet-dark grey, lustrousColour: violet-dark grey, lustrous Facts: forms cpds with most elements, but is less reactive than other halogens; exhibits some metallic-like properties; very useful in medicine and photographyFacts: forms cpds with most elements, but is less reactive than other halogens; exhibits some metallic-like properties; very useful in medicine and photography

Gold Atomic Number: 79 Atomic Number: 79 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: yellow metal Colour: yellow metal Facts: most malleable and ductile metal; unaffected by air; used for jewelry, coinage, electronics, dentistry, medical implants, treatment of arthritis, cancer, & other conditions Facts: most malleable and ductile metal; unaffected by air; used for jewelry, coinage, electronics, dentistry, medical implants, treatment of arthritis, cancer, & other conditions

Lead Atomic Number: 82 Atomic Number: 82 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: dull silver metal Colour: dull silver metal Facts: very soft, highly malleable, ductile, relatively poor conductor of electricity; very resistant to corrosion but tarnishes upon exposure to air; lead pipes bearing insignia of Roman emperors, used as drains from the baths, are still in service; alloys include pewter, solder. Facts: very soft, highly malleable, ductile, relatively poor conductor of electricity; very resistant to corrosion but tarnishes upon exposure to air; lead pipes bearing insignia of Roman emperors, used as drains from the baths, are still in service; alloys include pewter, solder.

Radon Atomic Number: 86 Atomic Number: 86 Standard state: gas at 298 K Standard state: gas at 298 K Colour: colourless Colour: colourless Facts: heaviest known gas; second leading cause of lung cancer in US; main hazard is from inhalation of radon gas collected on dust in the air Facts: heaviest known gas; second leading cause of lung cancer in US; main hazard is from inhalation of radon gas collected on dust in the air

Uranium Atomic Number: Atomic Number: Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: metallic gray Colour: metallic gray Facts: used in nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons; is not particularly rare Facts: used in nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons; is not particularly rare

Americium Atomic Number: 95 Atomic Number: 95 Standard state: solid at 298 K Standard state: solid at 298 K Colour: brilliant silvery white Colour: brilliant silvery white Facts: a component of smoke detectors; radioactive; named after America Facts: a component of smoke detectors; radioactive; named after America

There are about 90 more elements…later…