Element facts- applications

hydrogen

Most abundant element in the universe
Flammable (Hindenburg)
Colorless, odorless, tasteless
Lightest gas

helium

Second most abundant element in the universe
Does not burn or support combustion
Currently used in blimps
Colorless gas

lithium

Lightest metal
Alkali metal so: soft, reacts with water and air
used in rechargeable batteries

carbon

Organic compounds contain carbon
Diamond, graphite and buckyballs are forms (allotropes) of carbon
Nonmetal

nitrogen

78% of the atmosphere
Does not burn or support combustion
Liquid form is used to keep things cold during transportation, remove warts, etc

oxygen

21% of the atmosphere
Supports combustion (things "burn" in the presence of oxygen)
Most abundant element in the earth's crust

fluorine

Pale yellow gas
Most reactive nonmetals
Ions are found in toothpaste (and some town water systems) to prevent tooth decay

neon

Unreactive gas
Glows reddish orange when electrified (advertising signs)

sodium

Soft, reactive metal (alkali metal)
Reacts with water and air
Stored under kerosene so it doesn't react with air
Ions are present in table salt (NaCl)

magnesium

Metal that burns with an intense, bright white light
Used in fireworks, flares and old-fashioned flash cubes

aluminum

Most abundant metal in the earth's crust
Second most malleable metal (Al foil)

silicon

Metalloid (on the staircase)
Used as a semi-conductor in computer chips
Second most abundant element in the earth's crust (found in sand, quartz and granite)

phosphorus

Nonmetal that is flammable
used in red tip of matches (strike anywhere type)
(Also comes in black and white forms/allotropes)

sulfur

Yellow nonmetal
Used in gunpowder, fireworks, matches (strike on box type), and drugs

chlorine

Greenish-yellow poisonous gas (halogen)
Used as a chemical weapon in WWI

potassium

Highly reactive metal (alkali metal)
Soft, reacts with water and air. Stored under kerosene
vital to fertilizer production for agriculture

calcium

Most abundant metal in the body
Slight reactive with water (alkaline earth element)

iron

Second most abundant metal in the body
primary component of steel alloys

nickel

Nichrome wire (used to heat toasters and hair dryers) is an alloy of nickel and chromium
used in alloys to provide corrosion resistance, such as in stainless steel

copper

Reddish metal
Second best conductor of electricity (used in wiring)
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin

zinc

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc
used in alloys to prevent rust, such as in galvanized steel

bromine

A red "fuming" (evaporates quickly) liquid
Liquid and vapor are very reactive (halogen)
Nonmetal

silver

Best conductor of electricity
Used to make mirrors
Used in film as its compounds change color in light

iodine

Reactive nonmetal (halogen)
Gray solid that when heated will sublime to a purple vapor
An alcohol solution (tincture of iodine) is used to disinfect skin before surgery or giving blood
Table salt sold in stores often has iodine added as the lack of iodine in the diet can cause goiters (enlargement of the thyroid gland in the neck)

cesium

Most reactive metal
Soft, reacts with water and air

barium

Compounds containing barium are used in diagnostic tests to outline the stomach and intestines during an x-ray

lead

Toxic, dense metal removed from gasoline
In the apron you wear during an x-ray as x-rays can't pass through