2. O Oxygen: a colorless odorless gas that supports combustion and sustains life

3. N Nitrogen: a colorless, odorless gas, that makes up 70% of the air we breathe. Also important in building protiens

4. C Carbon: a black solid (charcoal) that forms the basis of all living things on earth. It is also what makes up diamonds.

5. H Hydrogen: a colorless, odorless, explosive gas. It is the lightest and smallest of all the elements.

6. He Helium: a colorless, odorless gas that does not react with anything. It is so light that we fill balloons with it and when you breathe it in it makes your voice sound funny.

7. Fe Iron: Made into steel, but found in blood as hemoglobin. Attracted by magnetic fields. From the ancient “Ferrum”

8. Au Gold: A symbol of wealth and religious significance since ancient times. From the ancient “Aurum”

9. Ag Silver: A lustrous grey metal also a symbol of wealth, but also used in photography and tooth fillings. From the ancient “Argentium”

10. Hg Mercury: The only metal that is liquid at room temperature. Used in thermostats and fluorescent light bulbs. It is very poisonous. From the ancient “Hydroargentium” or “Quick-silver”

11. Na Soldium: A grey metal that explodes when dropped into water. It is also a component of Table Salt. also a symbol of wealth and religious significance since ancient times. From the ancient “Natrium”

12. Cu Copper: A grey metal that explodes when dropped into water. It is also a component of Table Salt. also a symbol of wealth and religious significance since ancient times. From the ancient “Cuprum”

13. Pb Lead: Ancient Romans called those who worked with this metal “plumbers”. They used it to line their wine goblets, but we now know lead poisoning leads to madness. From the ancient “Plumbum”

14. W Tungsten: A dark, hard metal used in lightbulbs. From the ancient “Wolfram”

15. Cl Chlorine: A poisonous yellow-green gas used as a weapon in WW1

16. K Potassium: A highly reactive metal that is also very important as a fertilizer. From the ancient “Kaolin”

17. Mg Magnesium: A light strong metal used in airplanes and fireworks

18. What have we learned?  Mg  Au  Pb  K  Cl  Fe  Cu  Ag  Hg  W  O  He Magnesium Chlorine Iron Helium Oxygen Tungsten Mercury Silver Copper Gold Lead Potassium