Periodic Table of Elements

Flashcards covering the periodic table of elements, including symbols and names.

Hydrogen

90% of all atoms in universe, primary component of stars and sun, 75% of all mass in universe, Greek 'hydro' and 'genes' meaning water forming

Helium

Lowest melting point, 2nd most abundant (24 percent of mass in universe), comes from the Greek helios which means sun, helium that is bought in cylinders is produced by radioactive decay of thorium and uranium, discovered in the Sun’s atmosphere before it was found on Earth

Lithium

lightest metal and has the lowest density of any metal, highly reactive with water, producing hydrogen gas and a solution of lithium hydroxide, crimson color to the flame in fireworks, can be cut w butter knife, produced by the big bang, found in nearly all igneous rocks, used bipolar meds, Greek lithos which means stone.

Beryllium

once called "glucinium" because some of its compounds have a sweet taste, but it's now known for its toxicity, key component in the mirrors of the James Webb Space Telescope, transparent to xrays, known to the ancient Egyptians in beryl and in emeralds, originates from the Greek word "beryllos," which referred to the mineral beryl

Boron

second hardest element in its crystalline form, burns with a bright green flame, essential component of strong neodymium magnets, formed through cosmic ray spallation. mineral borax, which itself comes from the Arabic word "buraq" or Persian word "burah"

Carbon

Latin word "carbo," meaning "coal," forming over 9 million known compounds, Radioactive carbon-14 is used in carbon dating, diamonds and graphite, highest melting and sublimation points,carbon nanoparticles are deadly to fruit flies, first tattoo pigment in otzi the iceman

Nitrogen

78.1% of the Earth's atmosphere, responsible for the orange-red, blue-green, blue-violet, and deep violet colors of the aurora, Fifth most abundant element in the universe, referred to as "burnt" or "dephlogisticated" air, since air that no longer contains oxygen is almost all nitrogen, liquid nitrogen is used to make ice cream,Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is the only moon in the solar system with a dense atmosphere. Its atmosphere consists of over 98% nitrogen. Greek word nitron, which means "native soda" and genes, which means "forming".

Oxygen

Oxygen is pale blue when in liquid or solid form. third most abundant element in the universe, by mass. The green and dark-red colors in the aurora borealis (and australis) are caused by oxygen atoms. 70% of free oxygen comes from photosynthesis by green algae and cyanobacteria, forms compounds w everything but helium and neon. "oxys" (sharp, acidic) and "-genēs" (forming, generating). Lavoisier believed, mistakenly, that oxygen was a constituent of all acids.

Fluorine

most chemically reactive and electronegative element. reacts violently with water to produce oxygen and the extremely corrosive hydrofluoric acid. pale yellow, diatomic, highly corrosive, flammable gas, high-temperature plastics such as Teflon, are also made using fluorine. Hydrofluoric acid can dissolve glass. sodium fluoride, are used in toothpaste. lightest of the halogens. originates from the mineral fluorite, which is also known as fluorspar

Neon

rare on Earth, neon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe. Liquid neon is a highly efficient refrigerant, The first one was made by Georges Claude in 1910 and was debuted at the Paris Expo. If you see a neon-sign that is not reddish-orange, the gas inside is not neon!

Sodium

highly reactive. The pure metal is stored in oil or kerosene because it spontaneously ignites in water. Sodium metal also floats on water. soft enough that you can cut it with a butter knife. Sodium gets its name from the English word soda. This is because Sir Humphry Davy used caustic soda when isolating the element. The symbol Na comes from the Latin word natrium.

Magnesium

When burned, magnesium produces a bright white flame, making it a common ingredient in fireworks and flares. lightest metallic element, Greek region of Magnesia, where a mineral rich in magnesium was found. key component of chlorophyll, magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) and magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia),

Aluminum

most abundant metal on Earth, second only to silicon, seen as more precious than gold and silver. Forms a protective oxide layer on its surface, preventing further corrosion and rust, Rubies are aluminum oxide crystals. Washington Monument has an aluminum cap. Latin word "alumen," which means "alum" or "bitter salt. Originally called alumium but sir humphry david changed his mind

Silicon

second most abundant element in Earth's crust after oxygen, computer chips, but also in sand, glass,expands when it freezes, like water, and it has a high melting point. found in meteorites. comes from the Latin word "silex," which means flint or hard stone.

Phosphorus

Hennig Brand, a German alchemist, is credited with discovering phosphorus in 1669 by isolating it from urine. Brand named the new element "phosphorus mirabilis," meaning "miraculous bearer of light," because it glowed in the dark. 85% of phosphorus in the body is stored in bones and teeth. used in the heads of matchsticks to initiate combustion. ome texts refer to phosphorus as the "Devil's Element" due to its eerie glow, tendency to burst into flame, and its 13th position in the periodic table. algal blooms and eutrophication

Sulfur

known as brimstone, many of its compounds have strong smells, such as the "rotten egg" odor of hydrogen sulfide. abundant in volcanic regions . When sulfur melts, it turns a reddish-orange color. burns with a characteristic blue flame. Sulfur dioxide, a gas produced when sulfur burns, contributes to acid rain. One of Jupiter's moons, Io, is famous for its yellow color, which is caused by sulfur deposits from its active volcanoes.

Chlorine

Greek word "chloros," meaning "yellowish green," which describes its color as a gas. first gas used in chemical warfare during World War I. component of hydrochloric acid, which helps with digestion. bleaching agent.

Argon

"Argon" comes from the Greek word "argos," meaning lazy or inactive, referring to its low reactivity. When argon is excited, it emits a vibrant blue-violet light, making it a popular choice for neon signs, light bulbs, and plasma balls. Helps preserve delicate documents

Potassium

soft metal with a low melting point, making it so soft it can be cut with a knife. It's highly reactive and reacts violently with water, producing a lilac-colored flame.originates from the English word "potash," which refers to an early method of extracting potassium salts from wood ash or plant ashes. symbol "K" for potassium comes from the Latin word "kalium,"

Calcium

99% of the body's calcium is stored in bones, making it the primary structural material for teeth and skeletal systems. prevent osteoporosis. major contributor to water hardness,originates from the Latin word "calx," which means lime. This refers to calcium oxide (CaO)

Scandium

Latin word "Scandia," referring to Scandinavia, where the element was first discovered. 

Titanium

highly resistant to corrosion, even in seawater and chlorine. "titanium" is derived from the Titans of Greek mythology.  non-toxic and easily accepted by the body, making it ideal for medical implants. can burn in pure nitrogen gas

Vanadium

"vanadium" after the Old Norse goddess Vanadis, known for her beauty and fertility.

Chromium

Greek word "chroma," meaning color, due to its ability to produce a wide range of colorful compounds, highly polished, reflecting nearly 70% of visible light. responsible for the green color of emeralds and rubies,

Manganese

Manganese dioxide helps make clear glass by neutralizing the green tint caused by iron impurities. Neanderthals may have used black manganese dioxide as a cosmetic 50,000 years ago. atin word "magnes," meaning "magnet," due to the magnetic properties of the mineral pyrolusite (manganese dioxide).

Iron

gives Mars its red color iron oxide (rust), oxygen transport in the blood being a key component of hemoglobin, Naturally magnetic, gold color in a flame test, Iron age = iron tools and weapons, Fe, derived from the Latin word "ferrum".

Cobalt

Co, "cobalt" comes from the German word "kobold," meaning goblin or evil spirit, because the ore was difficult to smelt and released toxic fumes. has been used as a blue pigment for at least 2,600 years in ancient Roman, Persian, Egyptian, and Chinese ceramics. key component of vitamin B12.

Nickel

Ni, ferromagnetic at room temp, added to glass to give it a green color. found in metallic meteorites. nickel coin is the only current U.S. coin whose metal content sometimes exceeds its face value. "nickel" comes from the German word "Kupfernickel," meaning "devil's copper," as early miners in Germany couldn't extract copper from an ore they called kupfernickel. second most abundant element in the Earth's core. common skin allergen.

Copper

Cu, first metal used by humans, has antimicrobial qualities,and is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat. It is often used in electrical wiring and plumbing. Latin word "cuprum," which itself comes from the Greek name for the island of Cyprus (Kύπρος, Kypros)

Zinc

Zn, When zinc is burned, it emits a bright bluish-green flame, natural antimicrobial properties, meaning it can help fight off bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Zinc oxide is a safe and effective sunscreen ingredient that blocks and reflects UV rays. self-healing mechanism, where the zinc coating sacrifices itself to protect the base steel from corrosion. German word "zink," which in turn may be derived from the Persian word "sing," meaning "stone". This is because zinc ore deposits often have a rocky or stone-like appearance.

Gallium

Ga, low melting point and high boiling point. Liquid at near room temp. Mendeleev predicted the existence of gallium, naming it "eka-aluminum." can be used to "wet" glass and porcelain, creating brilliant mirror surfaces. non-toxic alternative to mercury in thermometers and barometers. Latin word "Gallia," which was the ancient name for the region of France

Germanium

Ge, Mendeleev predicted the existence of germanium in 1869, naming it "ekasilicon,"expands when it freezes. Latin word "Germania," which refers to the country of Germany

Arsenic

As, Unlike many elements that melt when heated, arsenic sublimes, meaning it transitions directly from a solid to a gas without melting, sublimation process can create a shiny, metallic film on the sides of a container, sometimes called an "arsenic mirror," skin bleaching agent and an early syphilis treatment. Persion word Zarnikh, which means "yellow orpiment."Greek word "arsenikos" means "potent."blue color to pyrotechnic displays.

Selenium

Se, Greek word "selene" meaning "moon,"selenium can be used to make glass red or decolorize it, and it can also convert light into electricity. Brazil nuts are also a great source of selenium. electrical conductivity increases when exposed to light, making it useful in light sensors and photocopiers.

Bromine

Br, only non-metal and halogen that's liquid at room temperature. Greek word "bromos," meaning "stench," due to its strong, unpleasant odor. reddish-brown, heavy liquid that readily evaporates into a red vapor.fire retardants.more abundant in the ocean than in the Earth's crust. Up to half of the loss of ozone above Antarctica is due to reactions involving bromine, ancient royal purple dye, Tyrian Purple, is a bromine compound.

Krypton

Kr, Greek word "kryptos," meaning "hidden," as it was difficult to isolate due to its low abundance.

Rubidium

Rb, known for its tendency to ignite spontaneously in air and react violently with water. Rubidium's name comes from the Latin word "rubidus," meaning "deepest red," due to the color of its spectral lines. burns with a reddish-violet flame color.

Strontium

Sr, known for the brilliant red color it imparts to fireworks and is also used in various applications like TV picture tubes and glow-in-the-dark materials. strontium aluminate, are used in materials that glow in the dark. Most accurate atomic clock, town of Strontian in Scotland, where the mineral strontianite was first discovered.

Yttrium

named after Ytterby, Sweden, concentrated in the liver, kidneys, and bones

Zirconium

Zr, element's name and the mineral zircon are related, with "zirconium" stemming from the Persian Arabic word "zargun" meaning gold-like. Artificial gemstones called cubic zirconia, which are made from zirconium oxide, are known for their brilliance

Niobium

Nb, Niobium was originally named columbium after the Americas, but it was later changed to niobium after the Greek goddess Niobe, can withstand extremely high temperatures (refractory metal), form a protective oxide layer on its surface makes it highly resistant to corrosion,

Molybdenum

Mo, "molybdenum" comes from the Greek word "molybdos," which meant "lead" and was used for any black mineral that left a mark, has one of the highest melting points of all pure elements,nitrogen fixation in legumes.

Technetium

Tc, radioactive, first artificially produced element, named "technetium" from the Greek word for "artificial"

Ruthenium

Ru, named after Russia “ruthenia” in latin due to its original source in the Ural Mountains,

Rhodium

Rh, Greek word "rhodon," meaning rose, because its salts have a rose-red color, highly reflective and is used in jewelry, crucial part of catalytic converters, used to plate gold and silver jewelry

Palladium

Pd, known for its durability, hypoallergenic properties, and ability to absorb a large amount of hydrogen, component in catalytic converters, used to make white gold, named after the asteroid Pallas, which was discovered around the same time.

Silver

Ag, most reflective metal (95 percent), an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, and has natural antibacterial properties. best conductor of heat and electricity out of all the elements. formed in supernovas, with smaller stars exploding to produce silver. associated with myths and folklore, particularly with werewolves, where it is believed to be a protective agent. derived from the Latin word "argentum," which means "silver".

Cadmium

Cd, highly toxic and its use is being phased out in many applications. Latin "cadmia" and Greek "kadmeia," both ancient names for calamine (zinc carbonate). vibrant yellow, orange, and red pigments, making them popular in paints and glazes. Vincent van Gogh was a prominent user of cadmium-pigmented paints. Cigarette smoke is a significant source of cadmium exposure.

Indium

In, named after the vibrant indigo color it produces in a spectrum, and it's even soft enough to be bitten through. When bent, indium emits a faint "cry,"

Tin

Sn, When a bar of tin is bent, it makes a high-pitched creaking sound called the "tin cry". This is caused by the breaking of tin crystals. Tin cans are not actually made of tin but of steel coated with tin to prevent corrosion. Pure tin in electronics can grow tiny whiskers that can cause short circuits. most number of stable isotopes of any element in the periodic table. The English word "tin" originates from Anglo-Saxon, while the chemical symbol Sn is derived from the Latin word "stannum," meaning tin.

Antimony

Sb, Greek words "anti" and "monos," meaning "not alone," reflecting its tendency to form compounds. Makes kohl. fluoroantimonic acid, the strongest known superacid.

Tellurium

Te, Exposure to tellurium can cause "tellurium breath," a sharp, garlic-like odor on the breath, sweat, or urine. When burned in air, tellurium produces a greenish-blue flame. 'tellus' meaning Earth

Iodine

I, turns a characteristic purple color when it comes into contact with starch. Iodine's name comes from the Greek word "iodes," meaning violet, reflecting its violet-colored vapor. crucial for the development of the brain, particularly in early pregnancy.

Xenon

Xe, first noble gas found to form chemical compounds, When an electric charge excites xenon gas in a tube, it emits a beautiful blue or light lavender glow. xenos, which means "stranger"

Cesium

Cs, metal w low melting point, The Chernobyl disaster released significant amounts of radioactive cesium-137 into the environment. 'caesius', meaning sky blue, and derived from its flame colour.

Barium

Ba, Greeks called it "heavy" (bary) because of its compounds' density, and its compounds are known for their green flame color in fireworks.

Lanthanum

La, first element in the lanthanide series, also known as rare earth elements.first element in the lanthanide series, also known as rare earth elements.While called a rare earth element, lanthanum is actually quite abundant in Earth's crust. Greek word "lanthano," meaning "to be hidden”

Cerium

Ce, named after the asteroid Ceres, While it's part of the "rare earth" group, cerium is actually quite abundant, more so than tin or lead.

Praseodymium

Pr, Ancient Greek "prasinos" (leek-green) and "didymos" (twin).

Neodymium

Nd, strong magnetic properties, especially when alloyed with iron and boron to form neodymium magnets."neos" (new) and "didymos" (twin)

Promethium

Pm, named after the Greek god Prometheus, who stole fire from Mount Olympus for mankind. Promethium is used in luminous paints and atomic batteries, and its salts glow with a pale blue or green light, all isotopes are radioactive

Samarium

Sm, named after the mineral samarskite, which was named in honor of Russian mine official, Col. Samarski. first element named after a person

Europium

Eu, sed in euro banknotes for anti-forgery purposes. named after Europe, the continent.

Gadolinium

Gd, name comes from gadolinite, a mineral named after Finnish chemist Johan Gadolin

Terbium

Tb, own for its bright lemon-yellow fluorescence. Terbium was named after the village of Ytterby, Sweden,

Dysprosium

Dy, originates from the Greek word "dysprositos," which translates to "hard to obtain" or "difficult to get at"

Holmium

Ho, city of Stockholm, its Latinized name being Holmia.

Erbium

Er, discovered in the ore gadolinite, which was first mined in the Swedish town of Ytterby, hence the name.

Thulium

Tm, ancient name for Scandinavia, Thule

Ytterbium

Yb, Ytterby, a Swedish village

Lutetium

Lu, name comes from Lutetia, the ancient Roman name for Paris,

Hafnium

Hf, Hafnia, the Latin name for Copenhagen, where it was discovered

Tantalum

Ta, Greek mythological figure Tantalus. Tantalum is a refractory metal, meaning it can withstand high temperatures.

Tungsten

W, boasts the highest melting point of all metals, originally named wolfram, which is why its symbol is W. In Swedish, tungsten means “heavy stone.”

Rhenium

Re, named after the Rhine River in Germany,

Osmium

Os, densest naturally occurring element, making it twice as heavy as lead by volume, Greek word "osme," which means "odor," referring to the strong odor of osmium tetroxide.

Iridium

Ir, most corrosion-resistant material known, making it resistant to acids and chemicals. forms brightly colored salts, and its name, derived from the Greek goddess Iris (rainbow), reflects this characteristic.

Platinum

Pt, significantly rarer than gold, Historically, platinum was known as the un-meltable metal

Gold

Au, Au—comes from the old Latin name for gold, aurum, which means "shining dawn"

Mercury

Hg, poor conductor of electricity, name "quicksilver" comes from its ability to flow easily, "Mad as a hatter" The term comes from hat makers who developed nervous disorders from breathing in mercury vapors. Hg, comes from the Greek word "hydrargyrum," meaning "liquid silver.

Thallium

Tl, named after the Greek word "thallos," meaning green shoot, due to its characteristic green spectral line. While it was historically used as a rat poison, its use is now banned due to its toxicity.

Lead

Pb, Alchemists believed lead was the oldest of metals and associated it with the planet Saturn, believing it could be transformed into gold. Pb, comes from its Latin name, "plumbum," which referred to soft metals in general. Some historians speculate that lead poisoning may have contributed to the decline of the Roman Empire. Venus's "snow" is made up of lead sulfide and bismuth sulfide. Pencils were not originally made of lead; they were made of wrapped graphite called plumbago, which means "lead mockup".

Bismuth

Bi, Bismuth crystals exhibit beautiful iridescent colors due to the formation of an oxide layer during oxidation. German word "Wissmuth," meaning "white mass," or "white substance,

Polonium

Po, amed after Poland, the native country of its discoverer, Marie Curie

Astatine

At, rarest element on Earth; only approximately 25 grams occur naturally on the planet at any given time. Greek word "astatos," which means "unstable"

Radon

Rn, leading cause of lung cancer, particularly among non-smokers. Originally named niton after the Latin word for shining, “nitens,”

Francium

Fr, has the largest atomic radius among the elements.

Radium

Ra, glows due to its radioactivity, Marie and Pierre Curie . from the Latin 'radius' that means ray.

Actinium

Ac, "actinium" comes from the Greek word "aktis" or "aktinos," meaning "beam" or "ray," referring to its ability to emit radiation.

Thorium

Th, named after the Norse god Thor, who was associated with thunder.

Protactinium

Pa, Greek words "protos" (first) and "actinium" because it's the parent element in the decay chain leading to actinium. 

Uranium

U, colorant in glass, where it causes a greenish-yellow glow under black light. heaviest naturally occurring element ..named after the planet Uranus. more common than tin

Neptunium

Np, named after the planet Neptune.

Plutonium

Pu, named after the dwarf planet Pluto. one of a few radioactive elements that glows due to heat generated from its radioactive decay

Americium

Am, key component in ionization-type smoke detectors. man-made, synthetic element,

Curium

Cm, named in honor of Marie and Pierre Curie,

Berkelium

Bk, named after the city of Berkeley, California, where it was first discovered, incredibly expensive, with one gram costing around $27 million

Californium

Cf, synthetic,University of California, Berkeley

Einsteinium

Es, discovered in 1952 from the fallout of the first hydrogen bomb test. The element is named after Albert Einstein, even though he had no involvement in the discovery. Einsteinium is radioactive and artificially produced, glows in the dark

Fermium

Fm, first identified in the debris of the first hydrogen bomb test in 1952, though the discovery wasn't publicly announced until 1955 due to Cold War tensions. named after the physicist Enrico Fermi.