Chem Elem Spotlights

Hydrogen

Simplest, nearly in all living things, used for production o/ ammonia & vegetables, debatable if they pollute.

Helium

discovered on sun, balloons can make voice higher pitch/vibrate faster, never made successfully made a compound with.

Lithium

Lightest & simplest, floats, batteries, used to treat depression, reacts violently with water

beryllium

Deadly w/ sugary taste, high metlting point, found in 30 plus minerals; emeralds, can cause lung cancer

Boron

metalloid, absorbs neutrons in control rods, borax

Carbon

graphite, graphene(super strong), 10 mil compounds, first tattoos

Nitrogen

Crucial to life, proteins, food preservation, used for nonreactive atmospheres, laughing gas

Oxygen

vital for life, 20% of atmosphere, can be used as bleaching agent, huge insects, common in earth’s crust

Fluorine

Most reactive, added to drinking water/toothpaste, deadly, found in 25% o/ drugs.

Neon

No stable compound, intense orange, “neon” lights

Sodium

So reactive, no found alone in nature, blood pressure, nervous system works properly, used for mummification, many important compounds

Magnesium

makes car bodies, flare for FIREWORKS, catalyst in organic reactions, 300 body processes, comes from Nevada.

Aluminum

Most abundant metal, millions each year, take 5% of energy to recycle, 50-60% gets recycled.

Silicon

main ingredient in sand, quartz, glass, soap, adhesives, not silicone, plant cell walls, endless way to use

Phosphorus

White red black, white can self ignite, glow in dark, fireworks and fertilizer, red tipped matches, found accidentaly

sulfur

bible times, brimstone, skunks defensive odor, FARTS, gunpowder, car batteries.

Chlorine

used in lots of things, paints, paper, medicines, bleaching agent, used in WWI= chemical warfare. skin of poison dart frogs.

Argon

Incandescent light bulbs, lasers- LASIK

Potassium

Highly explosive, used in everything, preserve food middle ages, important like electrolyte, only 20% of Americans have enough

Calcium

Assists in Muscle, need vitamin D, 2% of human body is composed of, cement, chalk,