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Kids learn about the element arsenic and its chemistry including atomic weight, atom, uses, sources, name, and discovery. Plus properties and characteristics.

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Calcium Facts for Kids - Element Ca, Properties, Uses

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Calcium is found in many rocks such as limestone, chalk and marble as well as many dairy products and vegetables. Read on for more interesting facts about calcium's various properties and uses.

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Symbol: Ca

Atomic Number: 20

Atomic Weight: 40.078

Classification: Alkaline earth metal

Phase at Room Temperature: Solid

Density: 1.55 grams per cm cubed

Melting Point: 842°C, 1548°F

Boiling Point: 1484°C, 2703°F

Discovered by: Sir Humphry Davy in 1808

Calcium is the third element in the second column of the periodic table. It is classified as analkaline earth metal. Calcium atoms have 20 electrons and 20 protons. There are 2 valence electrons in the outer shell. Calcium is an important element for life on Earth and is the fifth most abundant element in the Earth's crust.

Characteristics and Properties

Under standard conditions calcium is a shiny, silvery metal. It is fairly soft and is the lightest of the alkaline earth metals due to its low density. Although it is a bright silver when first cut, it will quickly form a gray-white oxide on its surface when exposed to air.

When exposed to water, calcium will react and generate hydrogen. When burned, it produces a bright orange-red flame.

Where is calcium found on Earth?

Calcium is rarely found in its elemental form, but is readily found throughout the Earth mostly in the form of rocks and minerals such as limestone (calcium carbonate), dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate), and gypsum (calcium sulfate). It is the fifth most common element in the Earth's crust.

Calcium carbonate is one of the major components of many rocks and minerals including limestone, marble, calcite, and chalk.

Calcium is also found in ocean water and is about the eighth most abundant element found in the ocean.

How is calcium used today?

Calcium in its elemental form has few industrial uses, but its compounds with other elements are widely used.

One important compound is calcium oxide (CaO), which is also called lime. Lime is used in a number of applications including the production of metals, removing pollution, and water purification. It is also used to produce additional chemicals.

Calcium compounds, rocks, and minerals such as limestone and marble are also used in construction. Gypsum is used to make plaster of Paris and drywall. Other applications include antacids, toothpaste, and fertilizer.

Calcium is also a very important element in both plant and animal life. In the human body calcium is part of a compound called hydroxyapatite which is what makes ourbones and teeth hard. Calcium is the fifth most abundant element in the human body, making up around 1.4% of the body's mass.

How was it discovered?

The first scientist to discover and isolate the element calcium was English chemist Sir Humphry Davy in 1808.

Where did calcium get its name?

Sir Humphry Davy named calcium after the Latin word "calx" which is what the Romans called lime.

Isotopes

Calcium has four stable isotopes including⁴⁰Ca, ⁴²Ca, ⁴³Ca, and ⁴⁴Ca. Two more calcium isotopes (⁴⁶Ca and ⁴⁸Ca) have very long half-lives and are considered mostly stable. Around 97% of naturally occurring calcium is in the form of the isotope ⁴⁰Ca.

Interesting Facts about Calcium

Most calcium salts dissolve readily in water.

Calcium is an important element in the construction of corals.

The amount of calcium in the body can affect the rate that the heart beats.

Some of the best sources for calcium for our body include dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, and milk. Other sources include salmon and tofu.

Vitamin D is necessary for our bodies to absorb calcium.

More on the Elements and the Periodic Table

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Symbol: Ca Atomic Number: 20 Atomic Weight: 40.078 Classification: Alkaline earth metal Phase at Room Temperature: Solid Density: 1.55 grams per cm cubed Melting Point: 842°C, 1548°F Boiling Point: 1484°C, 2703°F Discovered by: Sir Humphry Davy in 1808 Calcium is the third element in the second column of the periodic table.

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Carbon Facts

Enjoy a huge range of interesting carbon facts. Carbon plays a huge role in the world we live in, from the carbon dioxide in the air to the graphite in your pencil, you'll find its imprint everywhere.

Learn more about carbon uses, the carbon atom, carbon properties, hydrocarbons, carbon structure, carbon fiber, carbon monoxide, your carbon footprint and other amazing carbon facts.

Carbon is a chemical element with the symbol C and atomic number 6.

The word carbon comes from the Latin word carbo, meaning coal.

Carbon forms a large number of compounds, more than any other element. Because of its willingness to bond to other nonmetallic elements it is often referred to as the building block of life.

While carbon forms many different compounds it is a relatively unreactive element.

There are several allotropes (different forms) of carbon with the three most well known being amorphous carbon (coal, soot etc), diamond and graphite.

The properties of diamond and graphite are very different with diamond being transparent and very hard while graphite is black and soft (soft enough to write on paper).

Graphite is used for its thermal insulation (lower rate of heat transfer) properties. It is also a very good conductor or electricity.

The carbon atoms in graphite are bonded in flat hexagonal lattices and layered in sheets.

Carbon is the 4th most common element in the Universe (after hydrogen, helium and oxygen). It is the 15th most common element in the Earth's crust while it is the second most common element in the human body (behind oxygen).

Carbon has the highest melting point of all elements, around 3500 °C (3773 K, 6332 °F).

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds made entirely of molecules featuring just hydrogen and carbon. Organic chemistry involves the study of hydrocarbons.

The simplest hydrocarbon compound is methane (CH ₄).

Carbon was discovered by early human civilizations in the form charcoal and soot.

The term carbon footprint refers to the amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by a country, organization or individual person.

The carbon cycle is the process in which carbon is exchanged between all parts of Earth and its living organisms. It is of vital importance to life on Earth, allowing carbon to be continually reused and recycled.

Carbon is found in the Earth's atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide (CO ₂). Although it only makes up a small percentage of the atmosphere it plays an important role, including being used by plants during photosynthesis.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is very toxic to both humans and animals. It forms in conditions when there is not enough oxygen to form carbon dioxide (CO ₂). In many countries around the world, carbon monoxide poisoning is the most common kind of fatal poisoning.

Carbon fiber is a strong material that consists of thin fibers made up largely of carbon atoms which are bonded together in microscopic crystals. It is very useful for applications needing high strength and low eight.

Fossil fuels such as methane gas and crude oil (petrol) play a large role in modern economies.

Plastics are made from carbon polymers. Carbon is used to form alloys with iron such as carbon steel.

Graphite and clay are combined to make the lead used in pencils.

Charcoal is commonly used for grilling food on barbeques.

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Carbon Facts - Uses, Properties, Atom, Structure, Fiber, Graphite, Element C

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Carbon Facts Enjoy a huge range of interesting carbon facts. Carbon plays a huge role in the world we live in, from the carbon dioxide in the air to the graphite in your pencil, you'll find its imprint everywhere.

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Symbol: C

Atomic Number: 6

Atomic Weight: 12.011

Classification: Nonmetal

Phase at Room Temperature: Solid

Density: amorphous: 1.8 to 2.1, diamond: 3.515, graphite: 2.267 grams per cm cubed

Melting Point (diamond): 3550°C, 6442°F

Boiling Point (diamond): 4200°C, 7600°F

Sublimation Point (graphite): 3642°C, 6588°F

Discovered by: Carbon has been known about since ancient times

Carbon is one of the most important elements to life on planet Earth. It forms more compounds than any other element and forms the basis to all plant and animal life. Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass and the second most abundant element in the human body.

Carbon is constantly cycled through the Earth's oceans, plant life, animal life, and atmosphere. Click here to learn more about thecarbon cycle.

Characteristics and Properties

Carbon is found on Earth in the form of three different allotropes including amorphous, graphite, and diamond. Allotropes are materials made from the same element, but their atoms fit together differently. Each allotrope of carbon has different physical properties.

In its diamond allotrope, carbon is the hardest known substance in nature. It also has the highest thermal conductivity of any element. Diamond is transparent in color. Graphite, on the other hand, is one of the softest materials and is black-gray in color. Graphite is a good electrical conductor. Amorphous carbon is generally black and is used to describe coal and soot.

One of the key characteristics of carbon is its ability to make long chains of molecules through linking up with other carbon atoms. Carbon also has the highest melting point of all the elements.

Where is carbon found on Earth?

Carbon is found throughout the earth. It is a major element in many rock formations such as limestone and marble. It is found in its allotropic forms of diamond, graphite, and amorphous carbon throughout the world.

Carbon is also found in many compounds including carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere and dissolved in the oceans and other major bodies of water. Hydrocarbons that form many fuels such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum also contain carbon.

Carbon is found in all forms of life. It makes up 18 percent of the human body by mass.

How is carbon used today?

Carbon is used in some way in most every industry in the world. It is used for fuel in the form of coal, methane gas, and crude oil (which is used to make gasoline). It is used to make all sorts of materials including plastics and alloys such as steel (a combination of carbon and iron). It is even used to make black ink for printers and painting.

Graphite is often used in making batteries, brakes, and lubricants. It is also used to make the writing (black) part of pencils.

Diamonds are used to make fine jewelry and are considered the most valuable of all the gemstones. Diamonds are also used for their hardness in cutting tools and precision instruments.

How was it discovered?

People have known about carbon as a substance since ancient times. French scientist Antoine Lavoisier determined that diamond was made of carbon in 1772.

Where did carbon get its name?

Carbon gets its name from the Latin word "carbo" meaning charcoal or coal.

Isotopes

There are two stable naturally occurring isotopes of carbon, carbon-12 and carbon-13. Carbon-12 makes up almost 99% of the carbon found on Earth. There are 15 known isotopes of carbon. Carbon-14 is used to date carbon based materials in "carbon dating."

Interesting Facts about Carbon

Life on Earth is generally referred to as "carbon-based life."

A fourth allotrope of carbon was recently discovered called the fullerene.

It is known to form nearly 10 million different compounds.

It easily forms compounds through the covalent bonding of its four valence electrons.

Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe and typically the fourth most abundant element in stars.

Carbon stars are stars whose atmosphere has more carbon than oxygen.

Plants obtain carbon from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis.

Carbon chains form the basis of complex molecules like DNA.

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Kids learn about the element carbon and its chemistry including atomic weight, atom, uses, sources, name, and discovery. Plus properties and characteristics of carbon.

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Chlorine Facts

Enjoy a wide range of chlorine facts for kids. Chlorine is a gas found in the halogen group and it has a number of interesting properties and uses.

Learn more about chlorine's use as a water purification product in swimming pools and use in many consumer products such as bleaches. Read on to for many more interesting chlorine facts.

Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, discovered Chlorine in 1774 believing it contained oxygen. In 1810, Sir Humphry Davy tried the same experiment and concluded that Chlorine was in fact an element, and not a compound.

Chlorine is also used in a range of other industrial and consumer products such as the making of plastics, whitening of textiles, pharmaceuticals, in chloroform, insecticides, paper products, solvents, dyestuffs and paints.

In high concentrations chlorine is extremely dangerous and poisonous. It is also heavier than air, so can fill up enclosed spaces. Because of these facts chlorine was the first gaseous chemical used as a weapon in warfare when both sides at times dispersed it in low-lying foxholes and trenches of World War I.

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Chlorine Facts for Kids - Element Cl, Properties, Uses, Halogen Gas

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Chlorine Facts Enjoy a wide range of chlorine facts for kids. Chlorine is a gas found in the halogen group and it has a number of interesting properties and uses. Learn more about chlorine's use as a water purification product in swimming pools and use in many consumer products such as bleaches.

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Symbol: Cl

Atomic Number: 17

Atomic Weight: 35.45

Classification: Halogen

Phase at Room Temperature: Gas

Density: 3.2 g/L @ 0°C

Melting Point: -101.5°C, -150.7°F

Boiling Point: -34.04°C, -29.27°F

Discovered by: Carl Wilhelm Scheele produced the gas in 1774, but it was Sir Humphry Davy who first called it an element and named it chlorine in 1810

Chlorine is the second element in the seventeenth column of the periodic table. It is classified as a member of the halogen group. It has 17 electrons and 17 protons with 7 valence electrons in the outer shell. It is about the twentieth most abundant element in the Earth's crust.

Characteristics and Properties

Under standard conditions chlorine is a gas that forms diatomic molecules. This means that two chlorine atoms join together to form Cl₂. Chlorine gas is greenish yellow, has a very strong odor (it smells like bleach), and is poisonous to humans. High concentrations of chlorine gas can be fatal.

Chlorine is very reactive and, as a result, is not found in its free form in nature, but only in compounds with other elements. It will dissolve in water, but will also react with water as it dissolves. Chlorine will react with all the other elements except the noble gases.

Most common chlorine compounds are called chlorides, but it also forms compounds with oxygen called chlorine oxides.

Where is chlorine found on Earth?

Chlorine can be found in abundance in both the Earth's crust and in ocean water. In the ocean, chlorine is found as part of the compound sodium chloride (NaCl), also known as table salt. In the Earth's crust, the most common minerals containing chlorine include halite (NaCl), carnallite, and sylvite (KCl).

How is chlorine used today?

Chlorine is one of the most important chemicals used by industry. Tens of billions of pounds of chlorine are produced each year in the United States alone for use in industrial applications. It is used in making a variety of products including insecticides, pharmaceuticals, cleaning products, textiles, and plastics.

You have probably heard people mention that chlorine is used in pools. Chlorine is used in pools to keep it clean and safe by killing bacteria, germs, and algae. It is also used in drinking water to killbacteria so we don't get sick when we drink it. Because it kills germs, chlorine is also used in disinfectants and is the basis for most bleaches.

Chlorine is needed for the survival of animal life in the form of table salt (NaCl). Our body's use it to help us digest food, move our muscles, and fight off germs.

How was it discovered?

Chlorine gas was first produced by Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1774. However, for many years scientists thought that the gas contained oxygen. It was English chemist Sir Humphry Davy who proved that it was a unique element in 1810. He also gave the element its name.

Where did chlorine get its name?

Chlorine gets its name from the Greek word "chloros", which means "yellow-green."

Isotopes

Chlorine has two stable isotopes: Cl-35 and Cl-37. Chlorine found in nature is a mixture of these two isotopes.

Interesting Facts about Chlorine

Chlorine gas was used by the Germans in WWI to poison the Allied soldiers.

Around 1.9% of the ocean's mass is composed of chlorine atoms.

It has a high density for a gas of 3.21 grams per liter (air is around 1.29 grams per liter).

Chlorine is used to make chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs. CFCs were once widely used in air conditioners and spray cans. Unfortunately, they contributed to destroying the ozone layer and have been mostly banned.

Most chlorine gas for industry is produced by using electrolysis on water that contains dissolved sodium chloride (salt water).

More on the Elements and the Periodic Table

Elements
Periodic Table

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Symbol: Cl Atomic Number: 17 Atomic Weight: 35.45 Classification: Halogen Phase at Room Temperature: Gas Density: 3.2 g/L @ 0°C Melting Point: -101.5°C, -150.7°F Boiling Point: -34.04°C, -29.27°F Discovered by: Carl Wilhelm Scheele produced the gas in 1774, but it was Sir Humphry Davy who first called it an element and named it chlorine in 1810 Chlorine is the second element in the seventeenth column of the periodic table.

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Gold Facts

Check out these amazing gold facts, uses and properties. Gold has long been a symbol of wealth in the form of expensive jewelry, coins and various works of art. It also features incredible characteristics from a scientific point of view.

Learn more about this famous metal and its unique atom structure by enjoying our interesting facts about gold.

Gold is a chemical element. Its chemical symbol is Au and its atomic number is 79.

Compared to other metals, gold is less chemically reactive.

Gold is a good conductor of electricity and heat.

Gold is shiny, soft and dense. It is also malleable, which means it can easily be beaten into thin sheets or other shapes.

Gold is malleable enough for just 1 gram to be hammered into a sheet 1 square meter in size. It can also be made so thin that it appears transparent.

Due to a similar appearance to gold, the mineral pyrite has the nickname fool's gold.

The amount of gold in various alloys (a combination of gold and another metal such as silver) is measured in carats (k). Pure gold is 24k.

As of 2009, it has been estimated that humans have mined around 160000 tonnes of gold.

Over the last 100 years South Africa has been the biggest producer of gold. In recent times however it has been surpassed by China.

As of 2009, the USA has 8133 tonnes of gold reserves while Canada only has 3.

Throughout history gold has often been seen as a symbol of wealth.

Gold is the most popular precious metal for investments.

The price of gold continually fluctuates and is often linked to major economic events.

There is a monetary system called the 'gold standard' which fixes a unit of money to a certain weight of gold.

Over the years gold has been used to create expensive jewelry, coins and various forms of art such as the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun's famous burial mask. In modern times it has also been used for things such as electronics and dentistry.

Injectable gold has been proven to help reduce pain and swelling in patients suffering from tuberculosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Gold is a popular choice when it comes to rewarding achievement with medals, statues and trophies. Academy Award, Olympic and Nobel Prize winners all receive golden items in recognition of their achievement.

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Gold Facts - Uses, Properties, Atom, Structure, Jewelry, Price, Element Au, 24k, Coins

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Gold Facts Check out these amazing gold facts, uses and properties. Gold has long been a symbol of wealth in the form of expensive jewelry, coins and various works of art. It also features incredible characteristics from a scientific point of view.

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Gold is a transition metal, found on the third row of the eleventh column of the periodic table of elements.

The atomic number of gold is 79, due to its possession of 79 protons, along with 79 electrons and 118 neutrons.

The chemical symbol for gold is Au, and its atomic weight is 196.97. At room temperature, gold appears as a solid, shiny yellow metal.

Its melting point is 1064 degrees Celsius, and its boiling point is 2856 degrees Celsius.

Thus, gold can retain its structure and properties at quite high temperatures. Gold is also considered a precious metal, in addition to silver and platinum.

Characteristics and Properties

In its standard, most typical form, gold is a solid but soft metal that comes in a shiny, yellow type of color.

Gold is known to be the most ductile of all of the known metals, which means that it is malleable, moveable, and can be bent and shaped into things like wire or flat sheets.

Gold is the metal most resistant to corrosion and rust, and has very little reaction to elements such as oxygen and carbon dioxide when exposed to air or water.

It is also one of the most conductive metals of the periodic table, making an excellent conductor for both electricity and heat.

Interestingly, gold has been around, known of, and in use since the times of ancient civilizations.

Very old, well-known civilizations such as Ancient Egypt were known to have used gold in a great number of things more than 5,000 years ago.

Even as far back as Ancient Egypt, gold has been a rare, valued, and treasured metal, representing wealth in many ways for many centuries.

Gold, unlike most other metals but much like platinum and silver, is difficult to find among the minerals in the Earth's outer crust layer.

However, it can also be found in the earth in its pure form, although this is extremely rare.

Gold can be found in compounds with other metals in the platinum-like group in the earth, such as both platinum and silver.

Its very low reactivity means that it is usually found in a pure state, and does not require a mining or purifying process.

How Gold is Used Today

Because of its classification as a precious metal, one of the most common uses of gold is to make jewelry, and sometimes to make coins and other currency.

Much of modern gold jewelry is not pure gold, but rather an alloy, such as with copper or silver, which helps makes it harder.

Pure gold - 24 karat gold - is very soft, and needs to be alloyed with other heavy metals in order to become more durable for use in appliances and in jewelry.

Another use of gold is in electronics, dental work, heat shielding, and even cancer treatment.

Many of the objects involved in these areas are coated with gold in order to promote conductivity, reliability, and protect them from corrosion.

Fun Quiz Time!

1. What is the chemical symbol for gold?

2. What is the pure form of gold called?

3. What color does gold appear in?

4. How many protons does gold have?

5. How long ago was gold used?

Answers:

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Gold is a transition metal, found on the third row of the eleventh column of the periodic table of elements. The atomic number of gold is 79, due to its possession of 79 protons, along with 79 electrons and 118 neutrons. The chemical symbol for gold is Au, and its atomic weight is 196.97.

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Symbol: Au

Atomic Number: 79

Atomic Weight: 196.966

Classification: Transition metal

Phase at Room Temperature: Solid

Density: 19.282 grams per cm cubed

Melting Point: 1064°C, 1947°F

Boiling Point: 2856°C, 5173°F

Discovered by: Known about since ancient times

Gold is the third element in the eleventh column of the periodic table. It is classified as a transition metal. Gold atoms have 79 electrons and 79 protons with 118 neutrons in the most abundant isotope.

Characteristics and Properties

Under standard conditions gold is a shiny yellowmetal. It is very dense and heavy, but also fairly soft. Gold is the most malleable of the metals meaning that it can be pounded into a very thin sheet. It is also one of the most ductile metals and can be easily stretched into a long wire.

Gold is more than just a beautiful metal. It is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat. It is also one of the most resistant metals to corrosion and rust when exposed to air and water.

Where is it found on Earth?

Gold is an extremely rare element on Earth. Because it doesn't react with very many other elements, it is often found in its native form in the Earth's crust or mixed with other metals like silver. It can be found in veins underground or in small fragments in sandy riverbeds.

Gold is also found in ocean water. However, the process for retrieving gold from ocean water costs more than the gold itself.

How is gold used today?

Gold has been used for thousands of years to make jewelry and coins. Today it is still used for jewelry and for some collector's edition coins. Gold is also considered an important and reliable investment.

When gold is used as jewelry or for coins, it is generally not pure gold. Pure gold is called 24 karat gold and it is very soft. Generally gold is alloyed with other metals such as copper or silver in order to make it harder and more durable.

Gold is used a lot in the electronics industry because of its good electrical conductivity and resistance to corrosion. Many electrical contacts and connectors are plated with gold for protection and reliability.

Other applications for gold include heat shielding, dental work, cancer treatment, and decoration such as gold thread and gold plating.

How was it discovered?

Gold has been known about since ancient times. Civilizations such asAncient Egypt used gold over 5000 years ago. It has long been a substance of value and wealth.

Where did gold get its name?

Gold gets its name from the Anglo-Saxon word "geolo" for yellow. The symbol Au comes from the Latin word for gold, "aurum."

Isotopes

Gold has only one naturally occurring stable isotope: gold-197.

Interesting Facts about Gold

A single ounce of gold can be pounded into a sheet 300 feet wide by 300 feet long. That's bigger than a football field! That same ounce can form a wire nearly 100 kilometers long.

South Africa used to be the largest supplier of the world's gold, but today China and Australia produce the most gold.

Gold flakes were sometimes sprinkled on the food of the wealthy during the Middle Ages.

Many people traveled to California during the Gold Rush in the late 1840s when gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill.

Gold can be pounded thin enough to allow light to shine through.

If all the gold ever discovered by man was melted down it would form a cube with sides of about 25 meters each.

More on the Elements and the Periodic Table

Elements
Periodic Table

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Symbol: Au Atomic Number: 79 Atomic Weight: 196.966 Classification: Transition metal Phase at Room Temperature: Solid Density: 19.282 grams per cm cubed Melting Point: 1064°C, 1947°F Boiling Point: 2856°C, 5173°F Discovered by: Known about since ancient times Gold is the third element in the eleventh column of the periodic table.

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Helium Facts

Check out these great helium facts relating to its discovery, uses and chemical properties.

Learn about helium balloons, noble gases, the helium atom, the balloon boy hoax, space related helium storage tanks, how helium can change a person's voice and much more with our range of helium facts and information.

Helium is a chemical element with the symbol He and atomic number 2.

Helium is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas.

Helium is the second most common element in the Universe (after hydrogen), making up around 24% of its mass.

Helium is part of a group of chemical elements called noble gases, the other five that occur naturally are neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon. Under normal conditions they share similar properties, including being less likely to participate in chemical reactions due to their outer shell of electrons being full. Helium is the second least reactive element after neon.

French and English astronomers Pierre Janssen and Norman Lockyer are jointly credited with discovering helium after spectral analysis of sunlight following a solar eclipse in 1868.

The word helium comes from the Greek word meaning sun (helios). It was named by Lockyer and English chemist Edward Frankland.

The USA is the world's largest supplier of helium, with many reserves found in large natural gas fields.

The rate at which helium is currently being used by humans is much faster than the rate at which the reserves are being replenished. New technologies for obtaining or recycling helium are one way for gas companies to help slow this problem.

Because helium is lighter than air it is commonly used to fill airships, blimps and balloons. As it doesn't burn or react with other chemicals, helium is relatively safe to use for this purpose.

While hydrogen is 7% more buoyant than helium it has a much higher fire risk.

You might notice the helium balloon you got from the amusement park slowly falling to the ground after a few days, this happens as the helium gradually leaks from the balloon.

Helium has a lifting force of around one gram per liter. A balloon that holds 10 liters of helium should therefore lift an object weighing 10 grams. Unfortunately you'll need around 5000 of these balloons if you weigh around 50kgs and want to get off the ground.

The balloon boy hoax from October 15, 2009 led people to believe that a six year old boy had floated away in a home made helium balloon when in fact he was hiding at his house the whole time.

Because helium is less dense than normal air, when inhaled from a source such as a helium balloon it briefly changes the sound of a person's voice, making it much sound much higher. However, breathing in too much helium can be very dangerous, potentially choking people due to a lack of oxygen.

Helium can be in a liquid and even solid state but they can only occur at temperatures near absolute zero.

Liquid helium is used to cool metals for superconductivity use. The European Organization for Nuclear Research's (CERN) Large Hadron Collider uses liquid helium to maintain an extremely low temperature.

Helium is often used in space programs, displacing fuel in storage tanks and having other rocket fuel applications.

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Helium Facts - Atom, Properties, Uses, Gas, Balloons, Voice, Element He

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Helium Facts Check out these great helium facts relating to its discovery, uses and chemical properties. Learn about helium balloons, noble gases, the helium atom, the balloon boy hoax, space related helium storage tanks, how helium can change a person's voice and much more with our range of helium facts and information.

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Symbol: He

Atomic Number: 2

Atomic Weight: 4.00260

Classification: A noble gas and a nonmetal

Phase at Room Temperature: Gas

Density: 0.1786 g/L @ 0°C

Melting Point: -272.20°C, -457.96°F

Boiling Point: -268.93°C, -452.07°F

Discovered by: Pierre Janssen in 1868

Helium is the second lightest and second most common element in theuniverse. It is at the top of the noble gas group in the periodic table.

Characteristics and Properties

At room temperature helium is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas. It has very low boiling and melting points, meaning that it is generally found in the gas phase except under the most extreme of conditions. Helium is the only element that does not solidify under ordinary pressures and remains a liquid even at absolute zero.

Helium is one of the inert or noble gases. This means that its outside electron shell is filled with electrons. This makes it very unreactive and non-flammable.

Where is helium found on Earth?

Helium is fairly rare on Earth. There is very little in the Earth's atmosphere because it is so light that it eventually escapes into outer space.

Scientists believe that most of the helium in the universe was created at the formation of the universe. However, new helium is created in the center of stars and also as part of radioactive decay on Earth. Helium from radioactive decay can be found trapped underground in natural gas reservoirs.

Stars

Helium is constantly being produced at the internal cores ofstars. Deep inside a star, intense pressures cause hydrogen atoms to convert into helium atoms. This creates the energy, heat, and light that powers the stars and the sun. This conversion is called nuclear fusion.

How is helium used today?

Helium is used in balloons and airships to make them float. It is not as light at hydrogen, but is a much safer gas as hydrogen is very flammable.

The largest industrial user of helium gas is MRI scanners which use the gas to keep the superconducting magnets cool. Other applications include silicon wafers for electronics and as a protective gas for arc welding.

How was it discovered?

Helium was first discovered in 1868 by astronomer Pierre Janssen. He noticed the new element when studying a solar eclipse. The element wasn't found on Earth until 1895.

Where did helium get its name?

Helium gets its name from the Greek word "helios" meaning "sun". Helios is also the name of the Greek god of theSun.

Isotopes

There are eight known isotopes of helium. The most abundant of the helium isotopes is Helium-4 which was largely created at the beginning of the universe.

Interesting Facts about Helium

The speed of sound in helium is around three times the speed of sound in the air. This causes people's voices to get high pitched and squeaky when they breathe helium (note: never breathe helium as you can suffocate if you breathe too much).

Helium has never been observed by scientists to bond with another element to form a compound.

It is often mixed with oxygen in scuba air tanks to dilute the oxygen. It is used instead of nitrogen because it will not dissolve in the blood and will leave the human body quicker.

In general, helium will not combine with itself to create molecules, but is found as a single atom.

More on the Elements and the Periodic Table

Elements
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Symbol: He Atomic Number: 2 Atomic Weight: 4.00260 Classification: A noble gas and a nonmetal Phase at Room Temperature: Gas Density: 0.1786 g/L @ 0°C Melting Point: -272.20°C, -457.96°F Boiling Point: -268.93°C, -452.07°F Discovered by: Pierre Janssen in 1868 Helium is the second lightest and second most common element in theuniverse.

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Hydrogen Facts

Enjoy these cool hydrogen facts and learn more about the uses, properties and interesting history behind the most commonly found element in the Universe.

Check out a wide range of information that covers everything from the chemical properties of hydrogen to its use in the latest fuel cell car engine technology.

The chemical symbol of hydrogen is H. It is an element with atomic number 1, this means that 1 proton is found in the nucleus of hydrogen.

Hydrogen is the lightest, simplest and most commonly found chemical element in the Universe, making up around 75% of its elemental mass.

Hydrogen is found in large amounts in giant gas planets and stars, it plays a key role in powering stars through fusion reactions.

Hydrogen is one of two important elements found in water (H ₂ O). Each molecule of water is made up of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom.

In 1766, during an acid metal reaction, Henry Cavendish first formally recognized hydrogen. In 1781 he also found that hydrogen produces water when burned. While Cavendish is usually given credit for the discovery of hydrogen as an element, it had been produced by earlier scientists who were unaware of hydrogen as a unique chemical element.

It wasn't until a few years later (1783) that hydrogen was given its name. The word hydrogen comes from the Greek word hydro (meaning water) and genes (meaning creator).

Hydrogen gas has the molecular formula H ₂. At room temperature and under standard pressure conditions, hydrogen is a gas that is tasteless, odorless and colorless.

Hydrogen can exist as a liquid under high pressure and an extremely low temperature of 20.28 kelvin (−252.87°C, −423.17 °F). Hydrogen is often stored in this way as liquid hydrogen takes up less space than hydrogen in its normal gas form. Liquid hydrogen is also used as a rocket fuel.

Under extreme compression hydrogen can also make a transition to a state known as metallic hydrogen. Laboratory research into this area is ongoing as scientists continue efforts to produce metallic hydrogen at low temperature and static compression.

Hydrogen is used to power a range of new alternate fuel vehicles. The chemical energy of hydrogen is converted by a combustion method similar to current engines or in a fuel cell which produces water and electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen.

Engineers and car manufacturers are researching the possibility of using hydrogen gas as an efficient and viable car fuel. One of the possibilities involves storing hydrogen as a solid state in car fuel tanks. While there are many challenges involved in this process it would allow for greater hydrogen storage in vehicles, allowing them to travel for longer before refueling.

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound with the molecular formula H ₂O ₂. It is often used as a hair bleach or cleaner. At certain concentrations it can also be used to clean wounds.

Hydrogen was used for air travel from 1852 when the first hydrogen lifted airship was created by Henri Giffard. Later airships that used hydrogen were called zeppelins and while they were reliable and safe for the majority of the time their use was stopped soon after the Hindenburg disaster in 1937. The Hindenburg airship was destroyed in a midair fire over New Jersey that was both filmed and broadcast live on radio.

Hydrogen is commonly used in the petroleum and chemical industries and is also widely used for many physics and engineering applications such as welding or as a coolant.

Hydrogen can be potentially dangerous to humans due to fires that can start when it is mixed with air, our inability to breathe it in its pure oxygen free form and also in its extremely cold liquid state.

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Hydrogen Facts - Gas, Atom, Uses, Properties, Element H, Fuel Cell Car Engine

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Hydrogen Facts Enjoy these cool hydrogen facts and learn more about the uses, properties and interesting history behind the most commonly found element in the Universe. Check out a wide range of information that covers everything from the chemical properties of hydrogen to its use in the latest fuel cell car engine technology.

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Symbol: H

Atomic Number: 1

Atomic Weight: 1.00794

Classification: Nonmetal

Phase at Room Temperature: Gas

Density: 0.08988 g/L @ 0°C

Melting Point: -259.14°C, -434.45°F

Boiling Point: -252.87°C, -423.17°F

Discovered by: Henry Cavendish in 1766

Hydrogen is the first element in the periodic table. It is the simplest possible atom composed of one proton in the nucleus which is orbited by a single electron. Hydrogen is the lightest of the elements and is the most abundant element in the universe.

Characteristics and Properties

At standard temperature and pressure hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas.

Hydrogen is very flammable and burns with an invisible flame. It burns when it comes into contact with oxygen. The byproduct of a hydrogen and oxygen explosion is water or H₂ O.

Hydrogen gas is made up of diatomic molecules designated as H₂.

Where is hydrogen found on earth?

The most common place to find hydrogen on earth is inwater. Each water molecule (H₂ O) contains two hydrogen atoms. Hydrogen is also found in a wide range of compounds throughout the earth including hydrocarbons, acids, and hydroxides.

There is very little free hydrogen in the Earth's atmosphere because it is so light that it eventually escapes into space. The only free hydrogen on earth is deep underground.

Stars and Planets

Hydrogen is found mostly in stars and gas giant planets. The Sun is made up of mostly hydrogen. Deep insidestars, the pressure is so high that hydrogen atoms are converted to helium atoms. This conversion is called fusion and it releases heat and energy that we see as sunlight.

How is hydrogen used today?

Hydrogen is a very useful element. It is used to make ammonia for fertilizers, refining metals, and methanol for making artificial material like plastics.

Hydrogen is also used as a rocket fuel where liquid hydrogen is combined with liquid oxygen to produce a powerful explosion. Scientists hope that someday hydrogen can be used as a clean fuel alternative to gasoline.

How was it discovered?

English scientist Henry Cavendish discovered hydrogen as an element in 1766. Cavendish ran an experiment using zinc and hydrochloric acid. He discovered hydrogen and also found that it produced water when it burned.

Where did hydrogen get its name?

The name hydrogen comes from the Greek words "hydro" (meaning water) and "genes" (meaning creator). It was named by French chemistAntoine Lavoisier because when it burns it "creates water".

Ions and Isotopes

Hydrogen can take a negative charge and be an anion called a hydride. It can also take a positive charge as a cation.

Protium is the most common isotope of hydrogen. It has no neutrons and a single proton. Other common isotopes include deuterium and tritium.

Interesting Facts about Hydrogen

Scientists estimate that Hydrogen makes up over 90 percent of all the atoms in the universe.

It is the only element that can exist without neutrons.

Hydrogen becomes a liquid at very low temperature and high pressure. Under extremely high pressure it can become a liquid metal. It is thought that metallic hydrogen exists at the cores of gas giant planets like Jupiter.

Around 10 percent of the mass of the human body is hydrogen.

Because it is so light, it was once used in lighter-than-air-balloons. However, it became too dangerous because of its highly flammable nature.

Hydrogen gas can be produced in a lab by combining a dilute acid with a metal.

More on the Elements and the Periodic Table

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Kids learn about the element hydrogen and its chemistry including atomic weight, atom, uses, sources, name, and discovery. Plus properties and characteristics of hydrogen.

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Kids learn about the element iron and its chemistry including atomic weight, atom, uses, sources, name, and discovery. Plus properties and characteristics of iron.

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Iron Facts

Enjoy our list of interesting iron & steel facts. Learn about the uses and properties of iron and steel and how they've been used throughout history.

Find out what wrought and cast iron are, why your bike rusts, what the Earth's core contains, what country produces the most iron, examples of iron rich foods and much more with our fun iron and steel facts.

Iron is a chemical element and metal. Its chemical symbol is Fe and its atomic number is 26.

When iron and oxygen react in the presence of water or moisture, rust (iron oxide) is formed. You might have noticed your bike chain (or other parts) rusting from time to time (especially if you haven't been taking care of it). Another word for rusting is corrosion, which describes the disintegration of materials such as iron and steel.

Because iron oxidizes so easily, it is rarely found in a pure metal form on the Earth's surface. It is instead removed from ores (rocks containing important minerals and elements).

Iron is the 4th most common element in the Earth's crust, making up around 5% of the total (usually found as iron oxide in minerals like hematite).

The Earth's core is thought to be made up of an iron and nickel alloy.

Gas giant plants such as Saturn and Jupiter have cores that are rich in iron.

Iron is the 6th most common element found in the Universe.

Steel is a well known and commonly used alloy made from iron and a small amount of carbon (or sometimes other elements). The amount of carbon is small (usually between 0.2% and 2.0%) but it makes a huge difference to the strength.

Steel can be around 1000 times stronger than iron in its pure form.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France is made from puddle iron. Puddle iron is a form of wrought iron, an iron alloy with a very low level of carbon content. Wrought iron was used commonly throughout western history but is no longer produced in large amounts due to the availability of steel.

The early wrought iron used in human history actually came from meteors!

Cast iron is a type of iron that contains carbon, silicon and small amount of manganese. It was used in earlier times to build structures like cast iron bridges. Like wrought iron however, most of its uses have been replaced by steel.

The Iron Age was a prehistoric time when useful tools and weapons were first made from iron and steel. The dates this occurred in various parts of the world varies, with historians suggesting around 12th century BC in ancient Greece and 6th century BC in Northern Europe.

In 2006, China was the world's largest producer of iron, making up around 33% of the world's total production.

Iron is relatively cheap to produce and has a large number of different uses.

Machines, vehicles and building structures are commonly built from iron (usually in the form of steel).

To prevent iron and steel suffering from rust damage, they can be painted, coated with plastic, galvanized (coated with zinc) or by other methods that keep out water and oxygen.

Iron in the human body has a number of important functions including carrying oxygen to the body in the form of hemoglobin. Iron deficiency can be quite common (especially among women), with a number of possible symptoms including fatigue and weakness.

Iron rich foods include red meat, fish, tofu, beans and chickpeas.

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Iron & Steel Facts - Uses, Properties, Element Fe, Age, Rust, Cast, Wrought, Alloys

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Iron Facts Enjoy our list of interesting iron & steel facts. Learn about the uses and properties of iron and steel and how they've been used throughout history. Find out what wrought and cast iron are, why your bike rusts, what the Earth's core contains, what country produces the most iron, examples of iron rich foods and much more with our fun iron and steel facts.

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Lead Facts - Uses, Properties, Element Pb, Plumbing, Pipes, Weights

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Lead Facts Enjoy our list of interesting lead facts. Learn about the uses and properties of lead and how this metal has been used throughout history. Find out how the ancient Romans used lead, what products lead is used to make today, where the chemical element symbol Pb comes from, what countries produce the most lead, and much more with our fun lead facts.

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Symbol: Pb

Atomic Number: 82

Atomic Weight: 207.2

Classification: Post-transition metal

Phase at Room Temperature: Solid

Density: 11.34 grams per cm cubed

Melting Point: 327.5°C, 621.4°F

Boiling Point: 1749°C, 3180°F

Discovered by: Known about since ancient times

Lead is the fifth element of the fourteenth column in the periodic table. It is classified as a post-transition metal, a heavy metal, and a poor metal. Lead atoms have 82 electrons and 82 protons with 4 valence electrons in the outer shell.

Characteristics and Properties

Under standard conditions lead is a soft silvery metal with a bluish tint. It becomes a darker gray after coming into contact with air. It is very malleable (can be pounded into a thin sheet) and ductile (can be stretched into a long wire). Lead is a poor electrical conductor when compared to other metals.

Lead is a very heavy element. It combines with other elements to make a variety of minerals including galena (lead sulfide), anglesite (lead sulfate), and cerussite (lead carbonate).

Where is it found on Earth?

Lead can be found in the Earth's crust in its free form, but it is mostly found in ores with other metals such as zinc, silver, and copper. Even though there isn't a high concentration of lead in the Earth's crust, it is fairly easy to mine and refine.

How is lead used today?

The majority of lead produced today is used in lead-acid batteries. These types of batteries are used in cars because of their low cost and high power.

Because lead is resistant to corrosion, has such a high density, and is relatively inexpensive, it is used in water applications such as weights for scuba divers and ballasts for sailboats.

Other applications that use lead include roofing material, electrolysis, statues, solder for electronics, and ammunition.

What is lead poisoning?

Too much lead in the body can cause lead poisoning. Lead can accumulate in the body's bones and soft tissues. If too much accumulates it will damage the nervous system and can cause brain disorders. Lead is toxic to many of the body's organs including the heart, kidneys, and intestines. Too much lead can cause headaches, confusion, seizures, and even death.

Lead poisoning is especially dangerous in children. One of the leading causes of lead poisoning was lead in paint. Today, lead paint is banned in the United States.

How was it discovered?

People have known about the metal lead since ancient times. The low melting point and malleability made it easy to smelt and to use for different applications. TheRomans were major users of lead using it to make pipes for channeling water into their cities.

Where did lead get its name?

Lead is an Anglo-Saxon word for the metal that has been used and known about since ancient times. The symbol Pb comes from the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." The Romans used lead for making pipes, which is where the word "plumber" comes from as well.

Isotopes

Lead occurs naturally in the form of four isotopes. The most common isotope is lead-208.

Interesting Facts about Lead

For many years lead and tin were thought to be the same metal. Lead was called "plumbum nigrum" for black lead and tin was called "plumbum album" for white lead.

Over one million tons of lead is recycled each year.

People have known about lead poisoning since Ancient China and Ancient Greece.

The element is a member of the carbon group (column 14) in the periodic table.

Alchemists associated it with the planet Saturn.

Around 98% of all lead-acid batteries are recycled.

More on the Elements and the Periodic Table

Elements
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Symbol: Pb Atomic Number: 82 Atomic Weight: 207.2 Classification: Post-transition metal Phase at Room Temperature: Solid Density: 11.34 grams per cm cubed Melting Point: 327.5°C, 621.4°F Boiling Point: 1749°C, 3180°F Discovered by: Known about since ancient times Lead is the fifth element of the fourteenth column in the periodic table.

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Mercury, also called quicksilver, is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. A heavy, silvery, toxic, transition metal, mercury is the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures and is used in thermometers, barometers and other scientific apparatus. Mercury is mostly obtained by reduction from the mineral cinnabar.

Notable Characteristics Mercury is a heavy, silvery-white univalent and bivalent transition metal that is a relatively poor conductor of heat but a decent conductor of electricity and is the only common metal that is liquid at room temperature (forming an opaque glistening liquid).

Mercury easily forms alloys with almost all common metals, including gold and silver but not iron. These alloys are collectively called amalgams.

The freezing point of mercury is -40 ° Celsius which is the same as -40 ° Fahrenheit. This is the only point at which these two temperature scales coincide.

This metal also has uniform volumetric thermal expansion, is less reactive than zinc and cadmium and does not displace hydrogen from acids. Common oxidation states of this element are; mercurous, or +1, and mercuric, or +2. Rare instances of +3 mercury compounds exist. Applications Most mercury is used for the manufacture of industrial chemicals and for electrical and electronic applications. In addition, mercury is widely used in thermometers, especially ones which are used to measure high temperatures. Other uses;

Miscellaneous uses; mercury switches, pesticides, dental amalgams/preparations, cercury cells for caustic soda and chlorine production, anti-fouling paint, electrode in some types of electrolysis, batteries (mercury cells), and catalysts. Mercury was known to the ancient Chinese and Hindus and was found in Egyptian tombs that date from 1500s BC. By 500 BC it was used to make amalgams with other metals. The ancient Greeks used this toxic metal in ointments and the Romans used it in cosmetics. Alchemists thought it to be the stuff from which all matter was formed and they also thought that when it hardened it turned into gold.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, mercury nitrate was used to remove fur from the animal skins from which felt hats were made. This caused many cases of brain-damage among hatters, or milliners, leading, it is claimed, to the simile "as mad as a hatter".

It was named by alchemists after the Roman god Mercury. Its symbol Hg comes from hydrargyrum, a Latinised form of the Greek word hydrargyros, which was a compound word whose Greek roots meant 'water' and 'silver'. Mercury is one of the few elements that has an alchemical symbol[?]. If you have the right browser and font to support Unicode, you should see the symbol here: ☿.

Occurrence A rare element in the earth's crust, mercury is found either as a native metal (rare) or in cinnabar, corderoite[?], livingstonite[?], and other minerals with cinnabar (Hg S) being the most common ore. Approximately 50% of the global supply comes from Spain and Italy with much of the rest coming from Yugoslavia, Russia, and North America. The metal is extracted by heating cinnabar in a current of air and by condensing the vapor. The most important salts are;

Organic mercury Mercury is highly toxic in both compounds are also important. Laboratory test have found that electrical discharge causes the noble gases neon, argon, krypton, and xenon to combine with mercury vapor. The products of this combination are held together with van der Waals' forces[?] and result in; HgNe, HgAr, HgKr, and HgXe. Methyl mercury[?] is a dangerous compound that is widely found as a pollutant in water bodies and streams. There are seven stable isotopes of mercury with Hg-202 being the most abundant (26.86%). The longest-lived radioisotopes are Hg-194 with a half-life of 444 years, and Hg-203 with a half-life of 46.612 days. Most of the remaining radioisotopes have half-lifes that are less than a day. Precautions liquid and gaseous forms. This is a toxic heavy metal, that causes brain and liver damage if it is ingested. For this reason, thermometers which are only intended to measure typical climatic temperatures now use pigmented alcohol instead. The commercial unit for handling mercury is the "flask," which weighs 76 lb.

Mercury is a very dangerous bioacumulative toxin that is easily absorbed through skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal tissues. Mercury attacks the central nervous system and adversely affects the mouth, gums, and teeth. High exposure over long periods of time will result in brain damage and ultimately death. Air saturated with mercury vapor at room temperature is at a concentration many times the toxic level (the danger is increased at higher temperatures). Mercury should therefore be handled with great care. Containers of mercury need to be covered securely to avoid spillage and sublimation. Heating of mercury or mercury compounds should always be done under a well-ventilated hood.

External Links

All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

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Mercury, also called quicksilver, is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. A heavy, silvery, toxic, transition metal, mercury is the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures and is used in thermometers, barometers and other scientific apparatus.

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Mercury’s properties, discovery, videos, images, states, energies, appearance and characteristics.

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Mercury is a transition metal, found on the third row of the twelfth column of the periodic table of elements.

The atomic number of mercury is 80, due to its possession of 80 protons, along with 80 electrons and 122 neutrons.

The chemical symbol for mercury is Hg, and its atomic weight is 200.59. At room temperature, mercury appears as a solid, shiny yellow metal.

Its melting point is a shockingly low -38.83 degrees Celsius, and its boiling point is 356.7 degrees Celsius.

Thus, mercury at room temperature, much unlike the other transition metals, is actually a liquid.

Mercury is the only metal that is known to be liquid at room temperature.

In fact, mercury is too hot at room temperature to retain its naturally liquid state, and is at risk of evaporating!

Characteristics and Properties

In its standard, most typical form, mercury is a shiny, silvery liquid that actually feels quite heavy.

Mercury is known to be very poisonous to humans and other mammals, and can even be deadly if a person comes into too much contact with it.

Mercury can make dangerous contact with humans through skin contact, through the air, or by eating food that contains traces of mercury.

Mercury is unable to make contact with the majority of other metals and still retain its form.

A new substance, called an amalgam, is formed when mercury meets most other metals, after the mercury itself dissolves.

The exception to this rule is iron; iron can be combined with mercury and still let both metals retain their shape.

For this reason, iron is often used in containers made to store mercury.

Where is mercury found?

Mercury is particularly difficult and rare to find in the Earth's outer crust layer. It's not commonly found in its pure form, and is most often found in ores, or other compounds.

One example of an ore commonly found with mercury is cinnabar, which appears red.

For a long time the two countries that produced, mined, and distributed the most mercury were Italy and Spain.

Interestingly, the reason that the Spanish were mining mercury was to help with their silver mine production over in South America.

In modern times, the two countries that produce, mine, and distribute the most mercury are Kyrgyzstan and China.

How is mercury used today?

Due to the high danger associated with humans and other animals coming into contact with mercury, there are less and less things being used with mercury in recent years.

Previously, because mercury is known to be extremely dense and responds to heat with expansion reactions, it used to be used in weather-measuring instrumentation (such as barometers and thermometers) for reporting temperature and other weather conditions.

Today, mercury can be found in certain types of lamps and lightbulbs, such as fluorescent lamps.

Other things that mercury can be found in today include dental fillings, cosmetic products, telescopes, and in other medical applications.

It is not present in amounts that could be dangerous in any of these products, of course.

Fun Mercury Quiz!

1. What is the chemical symbol for mercury?

2. What did mercury used to be used for?

3. How can people come into contact with mercury poisoning?

4. What current items include mercury in non-dangerous trace amounts?

5. What is the standard form of mercury like?

Answers

1. Hg

2. Thermometers and barometers

3. Air, skin contact, and by eating something contaminated

4. Dental fillings, medical uses, cosmetics, and telescopes

5. Liquid

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Mercury Element Facts - Uses, Properties & More

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Mercury is a transition metal, found on the third row of the twelfth column of the periodic table of elements. The atomic number of mercury is 80, due to its possession of 80 protons, along with 80 electrons and 122 neutrons. The chemical symbol for mercury is Hg, and its atomic weight is 200.59.

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Symbol: Hg

Atomic Number: 80

Atomic Weight: 200.59

Classification: Transition metal

Phase at Room Temperature: Liquid

Density: 13.534 grams per cm cubed

Melting Point: -38.83°C, -37.89°F

Boiling Point: 356.7°C, 674.1°F

Discovered by: Known about since ancient times

Mercury is the third element in the twelfth column of the periodic table. It is classified as a transition metal. Mercury atoms have 80 electrons and 80 protons with 122 neutrons in the most abundant isotope.

Characteristics and Properties

Under standard conditions mercury is a shiny, heavy, silvery liquid. It is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature. It will evaporate into the air at room temperature.

Mercury is very poisonous and can be absorbed by humans through the air, skin, or by eating food with mercury. Too much mercury can kill a person.

When mercury comes into contact with other metals, it dissolves them and forms a new substance called an amalgam. Iron is one of the few exceptions and, as a result, is often used to store mercury.

Where is it found on Earth?

Mercury is a very rare element found in the Earth's crust. It is sometimes found in its free state, but is usually found in ores such as cinnabar, livingstonite, and corderoite. Most mercury today is produced from the mining of cinnabar, a bright red ore.

For many years Spain and Italy were the largest producers of mercury. Spain mined mercury in order to use it in their mining process for silver in South America. Today, the majority of mercury is mined in China and Kyrgyzstan.

How is mercury used today?

Mercury is used in a variety of applications, but is being phased out of some of them due to health issues. Due to its high density and thermal expansion characteristics, it is used in measuring instruments such as thermometers and barometers. A major application today is fluorescent lamps and mercury vapor lamps.

Other applications for mercury include dental fillings, telescopes, cosmetics, and vaccines.

How was it discovered?

Mercury has been known about since ancient times and was used by civilizations such asAncient Egypt and Ancient China. The first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, believed that mercury was part of the Elixir of Life that would help him to live forever. Unfortunately, mercury is toxic and consuming mercury is likely what killed him.

For many years, alchemists thought that mercury was the "prima materia" and that all other metals could be made from mercury. They thought they could use mercury to make gold.

Where did mercury get its name?

Mercury gets is name from the planetMercury which was named after the swift messenger of the Roman gods, Mercury. It was given this name because it flowed swiftly in its liquid form. The symbol Hg comes from the Latin word "hydragyrum" meaning "liquid silver."

Isotopes

Mercury has seven stable isotopes. The most abundant in nature is Mercury-202 which comprises around 30% of all mercury.

Interesting Facts about Mercury

Despite being the only metal that is liquid at room temperature, mercury has the smallest liquid range of any metal. It becomes a solid at -38.83°C and a gas at 356.7°C.

Some fish, such as swordfish and shark, can contain high levels of mercury.

The use of mercury in manufacturing has been banned in several countries including Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

The term "mad as a hatter" comes from hat makers who went crazy breathing in mercury vapors from chemicals they used in making hats.

Never hold mercury in your bare hands as it can seep through the skin and poison you. Mercury should not be left out in the open as it will evaporate into the air and can poison you through breathing it.

More on the Elements and the Periodic Table

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Symbol: Hg Atomic Number: 80 Atomic Weight: 200.59 Classification: Transition metal Phase at Room Temperature: Liquid Density: 13.534 grams per cm cubed Melting Point: -38.83°C, -37.89°F Boiling Point: 356.7°C, 674.1°F Discovered by: Known about since ancient times Mercury is the third element in the twelfth column of the periodic table.

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Nitrogen Facts

Check out these amazing nitrogen facts and learn more about the gas that makes up most of the air you breathe.

Nitrogen is a fascinating element with many unique properties and uses related to fertilizer, dynamite, medical anesthetic and even car racing. Read interesting facts about the nitrogen atom, liquid nitrogen, nitrous oxide, nitric acid, nitroglycerin and much more.

Nitrogen is a chemical element with the symbol N and atomic number of 7.

Under normal conditions nitrogen is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas.

Nitrogen makes up around 78% of the air you breathe.

Nitrogen is present in all living things, including the human body and plants.

Nitrogen gas is used in food storage to keep packaged or bulk foods fresh. It is also used in the making of electronic parts, for industrial purposes and has many other useful applications.

Nitrogen gas is often used as an alternative to carbon dioxide for storing beer in pressurized kegs. The smaller bubbles it produces is preferred for some types of beer.

Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, has an atmosphere nearly entirely made of nitrogen (over 98%). It is the only moon in our solar system known to have a dense atmosphere.

Nitrogen is in a liquid state when at a very low temperature. Liquid nitrogen boils at 77 kelvin (−196 °C, −321 °F). It is easily transported and has many useful applications including storing items at cold temperatures, in the field of cryogenics (how materials behave at very low temperatures), as a computer coolant (a fluid used to prevent overheating), removing warts and much more.

Decompression sickness (also known as the bends) involves nitrogen bubbles forming in the bloodstream and other important areas of the body when people depressurize too quickly from scuba diving. Similar situations can occur for astronauts and those working in unpressurized aircraft.

Nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas or by its chemical formula N ₂ O) is used in hospitals and dental clinics as an anesthetic (removing or reducing pain and general awareness for various surgeries).

Nitrous oxide is also used in motor racing to increase the power of engine and speed of the vehicle. When used for this purpose it is often referred to as nitrous or NOS.

Nitrous oxide is a considerable greenhouse gas and air pollutant. By weight is has nearly 300 times more impact than carbon dioxide.

Nitroglycerin is a liquid used to create explosives such as dynamite. It is often used in the demolition and construction industries as well as by the military.

Nitric acid (HNO ₃) is a strong acid often used in the production of fertilizers.

Ammonia (NH ₃) is another nitrogen compound commonly used in fertilizers.

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Nitrogen Facts - Liquid, Gas, Air, Atom, Uses, Properties, Nitrous Oxide, Nitric Acid

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Nitrogen Facts Check out these amazing nitrogen facts and learn more about the gas that makes up most of the air you breathe. Nitrogen is a fascinating element with many unique properties and uses related to fertilizer, dynamite, medical anesthetic and even car racing.

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Symbol: N

Atomic Number: 7

Atomic Weight: 14.007

Classification: Gas and nonmetal

Phase at Room Temperature: Gas

Density: 1.251 g/L @ 0°C

Melting Point: -210.00°C, -346.00°F

Boiling Point: -195.79°C, -320.33°F

Discovered by: Daniel Rutherford in 1772

Nitrogen is the first element in column 15 of the periodic table. It is part of the group of "other" nonmetal elements. Nitrogen atoms have seven electrons and 7 protons with five electrons in the outer shell.

Nitrogen plays an important role in the life of plants and animals on Earth through the nitrogen cycle. Click here to learn more about thenitrogen cycle.

Characteristics and Properties

Under standard conditions nitrogen is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas. It forms diatomic molecules, which means that there are two nitrogen atoms per molecule in nitrogen gas (N₂). In this configuration nitrogen is very inert, meaning that it doesn't typically react with other compounds.

Nitrogen becomes a liquid at -210.00 degrees C. Liquid nitrogen looks like water.

Common compounds with nitrogen atoms include ammonia (NH₃), nitrous oxide (N₂O), nitrites, and nitrates. Nitrogen is also found in organic compounds such as amines, amides, and nitro groups.

Where is nitrogen found on Earth?

Although we often refer to the air we breathe as "oxygen", the most common element in our air is nitrogen. TheEarth's atmosphere is 78% nitrogen gas or N₂.

Even though there is so much nitrogen in the air, there is very little in the Earth's crust. It can be found in some fairly rare minerals such as saltpeter.

Nitrogen can also be found in all living organisms on Earth including plants and animals. It plays an important role in proteins and nucleic acids.

How is nitrogen used today?

The primary industrial use of nitrogen is to make ammonia. The process by which nitrogen is used to make ammonia is called the Haber process where nitrogen and hydrogen are combined to make NH₃ (ammonia). Ammonia is then used to create fertilizers, nitric acid, and explosives.

Many explosives contain nitrogen such as TNT, nitroglycerin, and gun powder.

Some applications for nitrogen gas include the preservation of fresh foods, the manufacturing of stainless steel, reducing fire hazards, and as part of the gas in incandescent light bulbs.

Liquid nitrogen is used as a refrigerant to keep things cold. It is also used in the cryopreservation of biological samples and blood. Scientists often use liquid nitrogen when performing low temperature science experiments.

How was it discovered?

Nitrogen was first isolated by Scottish chemist Daniel Rutherford in 1772. He called the gas "noxious air."

Where did nitrogen get its name?

Nitrogen was named by French chemist Jean-Antoine Chaptal in 1790. He named it after the mineral niter when he found that niter contained the gas. Niter is also called saltpeter or potassium nitrate.

Isotopes

There are two stable isotopes of nitrogen: nitrogen-14 and nitrogen-15. Over 99% of the nitrogen in the universe is nitrogen-14.

Interesting Facts about Nitrogen

Liquid nitrogen is very cold and will immediately freeze skin on contact causing severe damage and frostbite.

It is thought to be around the seventh most abundant element in the universe by mass.

Nitrogen is the fourth most abundant element in the human body by mass. It accounts for around three percent of the mass of the human body.

It is produced deep inside stars by a process called fusion.

Nitrogen plays an important role in DNA molecules.

More on the Elements and the Periodic Table

Elements
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Symbol: N Atomic Number: 7 Atomic Weight: 14.007 Classification: Gas and nonmetal Phase at Room Temperature: Gas Density: 1.251 g/L @ 0°C Melting Point: -210.00°C, -346.00°F Boiling Point: -195.79°C, -320.33°F Discovered by: Daniel Rutherford in 1772 Nitrogen is the first element in column 15 of the periodic table.

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Oxygen Facts

Enjoy these interesting oxygen facts and learn more about how it relates to the air we breathe, water, the ozone layer and much more. Oxygen plays an essential role in the lives of humans and other living organisms.

As well as being important for health and medical treatments it also helps us burn fuels, treat water and even protects us from dangerous UV light thank to the ozone layer. Read on for its other uses and more amazing oxygen facts!

Oxygen is an element with the chemical symbol O and atomic number 8.

Oxygen is a very reactive element that easily forms compounds such as oxides.

Under standard temperature and pressure conditions two oxygen atoms join to form dioxygen (O ₂), a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas.

Oxygen is essential to human life, it is found in the air we breathe and the water we drink (H ₂ 0).

Oxygen makes up around 21% of the air you breathe. It is also the most common element in the Earth's crust (around 47%) and the third most common element in the Universe (but far less than hydrogen and helium, the two most common).

The large amount of oxygen on Earth is supported by the oxygen cycle which involves the movement of oxygen between the air, living things and the Earth's crust. Photosynthesis (a process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds using sunlight) plays a major role in this cycle.

Ozone (O ₃) is an allotrope (different form) of oxygen that combines three oxygen atoms together. While ground level ozone is an air pollutant, the ozone layer in the Earth's upper atmosphere provides protection from the suns harmful rays by filtering UV light.

The sun's mass is made up of around 1% oxygen.

Between 1770 and 1780, Swedish pharmacist Carl Wilhelm Scheele, British clergyman Joseph Priestley and French chemist Antoine Laurent Lavoisier researched, documented and helped discover oxygen. The name oxygen was first used by Lavoisier in 1777.

Oxygen therapy is used as a common medical treatment. You may have seen patients on TV or in real life using an oxygen mask or nasal cannula (a plastic tube that fits behind the ears and delivers oxygen through the nostrils).

Oxygen has a number of other practical uses such as smelting metal from ore, water treatment, as an oxidizer for rocket fuel and a number of other industrial, chemical and scientific applications.

Concentrated oxygen promotes fast combustion. While a spark or heat is still needed to start a fire, having concentrated oxygen near various fuels can be very dangerous.

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Oxygen Facts - Air, Gas, Atom, Uses, Properties, Water, Ozone, Element O, Mask

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Oxygen Facts Enjoy these interesting oxygen facts and learn more about how it relates to the air we breathe, water, the ozone layer and much more. Oxygen plays an essential role in the lives of humans and other living organisms. As well as being important for health and medical treatments it also helps us burn fuels, treat water and even protects us from dangerous UV light thank to the ozone layer.

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Symbol: O

Atomic Number: 8

Atomic Weight: 15.999

Classification: Gas and nonmetal

Phase at Room Temperature: Gas

Density: 1.429 g/L

Melting Point: -218.79°C, -361.82°F

Boiling Point: -182.95°C, -297.31°F

Discovered by: Joseph Priestley in 1774 and C. W. Scheele independently in 1772

Oxygen is an important element that is needed by most life forms on Earth to survive. It is the third most abundant element in the universe and the most abundant element in the human body. Oxygen has 8 electrons and 8 protons. It is located at the top of column 16 in the periodic table.

The oxygen cycle plays an important role in life on Earth. Click here to read more about theoxygen cycle.

Characteristics and Properties

Under standard conditions oxygen forms a gas that is composed of molecules consisting of two oxygen atoms (O₂). This is called a diatomic gas. In this form oxygen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas.

Oxygen also exists as the allotrope ozone (O₃). Ozone exists in the upper region of the Earth's atmosphere forming the ozone layer which helps to protect us from the harmful rays of the sun.

Oxygen is a very reactive element in its pure state and can make compounds from many other elements. Oxygen readily dissolves in water.

Where is oxygen found on Earth?

Oxygen is found all around us. It is one of the most important elements on planet Earth. Oxygen makes up around 21% of theEarth's atmosphere and 50% of the mass of the Earth's crust. Oxygen is one of the atoms that makes up water (H₂O).

Oxygen is an important element to life on Earth. It is the most abundant element in the human body making up around 65% of the body's mass.

How is oxygen used today?

Oxygen is used by animals and plants in therespiration (breathing) process. Tanks of oxygen are used in medicine to treat people with breathing problems. They are also used as life support for astronauts and scuba divers.

The majority of the oxygen used in industry is used in the manufacturing of steel. Other applications include making new compounds such as plastics and creating a very hot flame for welding. Liquid oxygen is combined with liquid hydrogen to make rocket fuel.

How was it discovered?

Swedish chemist C. W. Scheele first discovered oxygen in 1772. He called the gas "fire air" because it was needed for fire to burn. Scheele did not publish his results right away and the element was independently discovered by British scientist Joseph Priestley in 1774.

Where did oxygen get its name?

The name oxygen comes from the Greek word "oxygenes" meaning "acid producer". It was called this because early chemists thought that oxygen was necessary for all acids.

Isotopes

There are three stable isotopes of oxygen. Over 99% of stable oxygen is made up of the isotope oxygen-16.

Interesting Facts about Oxygen

Oxygen dissolves in cool water easier than in warm water.

Water can be converted into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis.

The oxygen that is found in the air is produced by photosynthesis. Without plants, there would be very little oxygen in the air.

In the solar system, only the Earth has a high percentage of oxygen.

Oxygen atoms make up an essential part of proteins and DNA in our bodies.

The process of oxygen combining with other atoms to make compounds is called oxidation.

More on the Elements and the Periodic Table

Elements
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Symbol: O Atomic Number: 8 Atomic Weight: 15.999 Classification: Gas and nonmetal Phase at Room Temperature: Gas Density: 1.429 g/L Melting Point: -218.79°C, -361.82°F Boiling Point: -182.95°C, -297.31°F Discovered by: Joseph Priestley in 1774 and C. W. Scheele independently in 1772 Oxygen is an important element that is needed by most life forms on Earth to survive.

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Silicon Facts for Kids - Element Si, Properties, Uses, Glass, Silica

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Silicon's use as an important part of computer semiconductors and high-technology devices has seen its name used around the world as a nickname for areas that contain a number of technology-related companies and industries. The original being Silicon Valley in California, but there are over 10 other areas that have silicon in their name for example 'Silicon Roundabout' in North London.

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Symbol: N

Atomic Number: 7

Atomic Weight: 14.007

Classification: Gas and nonmetal

Phase at Room Temperature: Gas

Density: 1.251 g/L @ 0°C

Melting Point: -210.00°C, -346.00°F

Boiling Point: -195.79°C, -320.33°F

Discovered by: Daniel Rutherford in 1772

Nitrogen is the first element in column 15 of the periodic table. It is part of the group of "other" nonmetal elements. Nitrogen atoms have seven electrons and 7 protons with five electrons in the outer shell.

Nitrogen plays an important role in the life of plants and animals on Earth through the nitrogen cycle. Click here to learn more about thenitrogen cycle.

Characteristics and Properties

Under standard conditions nitrogen is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas. It forms diatomic molecules, which means that there are two nitrogen atoms per molecule in nitrogen gas (N₂). In this configuration nitrogen is very inert, meaning that it doesn't typically react with other compounds.

Nitrogen becomes a liquid at -210.00 degrees C. Liquid nitrogen looks like water.

Common compounds with nitrogen atoms include ammonia (NH₃), nitrous oxide (N₂O), nitrites, and nitrates. Nitrogen is also found in organic compounds such as amines, amides, and nitro groups.

Where is nitrogen found on Earth?

Although we often refer to the air we breathe as "oxygen", the most common element in our air is nitrogen. TheEarth's atmosphere is 78% nitrogen gas or N₂.

Even though there is so much nitrogen in the air, there is very little in the Earth's crust. It can be found in some fairly rare minerals such as saltpeter.

Nitrogen can also be found in all living organisms on Earth including plants and animals. It plays an important role in proteins and nucleic acids.

How is nitrogen used today?

The primary industrial use of nitrogen is to make ammonia. The process by which nitrogen is used to make ammonia is called the Haber process where nitrogen and hydrogen are combined to make NH₃ (ammonia). Ammonia is then used to create fertilizers, nitric acid, and explosives.

Many explosives contain nitrogen such as TNT, nitroglycerin, and gun powder.

Some applications for nitrogen gas include the preservation of fresh foods, the manufacturing of stainless steel, reducing fire hazards, and as part of the gas in incandescent light bulbs.

Liquid nitrogen is used as a refrigerant to keep things cold. It is also used in the cryopreservation of biological samples and blood. Scientists often use liquid nitrogen when performing low temperature science experiments.

How was it discovered?

Nitrogen was first isolated by Scottish chemist Daniel Rutherford in 1772. He called the gas "noxious air."

Where did nitrogen get its name?

Nitrogen was named by French chemist Jean-Antoine Chaptal in 1790. He named it after the mineral niter when he found that niter contained the gas. Niter is also called saltpeter or potassium nitrate.

Isotopes

There are two stable isotopes of nitrogen: nitrogen-14 and nitrogen-15. Over 99% of the nitrogen in the universe is nitrogen-14.

Interesting Facts about Nitrogen

Liquid nitrogen is very cold and will immediately freeze skin on contact causing severe damage and frostbite.

It is thought to be around the seventh most abundant element in the universe by mass.

Nitrogen is the fourth most abundant element in the human body by mass. It accounts for around three percent of the mass of the human body.

It is produced deep inside stars by a process called fusion.

Nitrogen plays an important role in DNA molecules.

More on the Elements and the Periodic Table

Elements
Periodic Table

More Chemistry Subjects

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Symbol: N Atomic Number: 7 Atomic Weight: 14.007 Classification: Gas and nonmetal Phase at Room Temperature: Gas Density: 1.251 g/L @ 0°C Melting Point: -210.00°C, -346.00°F Boiling Point: -195.79°C, -320.33°F Discovered by: Daniel Rutherford in 1772 Nitrogen is the first element in column 15 of the periodic table.

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Silver Facts

Enjoy these amazing silver facts. Silver is a precious metal that has had a number of different uses over the years, including jewelry, coins, silverware, electronics and photography.

Find out more about the silver atom and its properties by checking out our interesting facts about silver.

Silver is a chemical element. Its chemical symbol is Ag and atomic number is 47.

Silver is a soft, shiny metal that is a good conductor of electricity.

Silver is precious metal that has been used for many years to make fine pieces of jewelry, coins, utensils and various pieces of art.

In modern times silver is also used in dentistry, electronics, photography, mirrors and in a number of industrial applications that make use of its unique properties.

You may have heard of the term sterling silver, this is the name given to an alloy (combination of metals) that is at least 92.5% silver by weight. The other 7.5% is made up of other metals, usually copper.

Silver is found naturally by itself, as an alloy with gold or in an ore (a rock containing various metals and elements). Silver is often found in copper and lead ores.

The price of silver has fluctuated dramatically over the last century, climbing as demand increases but dropping when large silver deposits are found.

As of November 2009, gold was valued at around 65 times the value of silver by mass.

The word silver is one of the few words in the English language that is nearly impossible to rhyme. Words such as orange, purple, breadth, wolf, depth, angst, gulf, ninth and twelfth are also difficult or impossible to rhyme. While there are some words that do actually rhyme with these examples they are usually very rare or hardly used in the modern English language.

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Silver Facts - Properties, Uses, Atom, Element Ag, Price, Coins, Sterling, Jewelry

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Silver Facts Enjoy these amazing silver facts. Silver is a precious metal that has had a number of different uses over the years, including jewelry, coins, silverware, electronics and photography. Find out more about the silver atom and its properties by checking out our interesting facts about silver.

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Symbol: Ag

Atomic Number: 47

Atomic Weight: 107.8682

Classification: Transition Metal

Phase at Room Temperature: Solid

Density: 10.49 grams per cm cubed

Melting Point: 961°C, 1763°F

Boiling Point: 2162°C, 3924°F

Discovered by: Known about since ancient times

Silver is the second element in the eleventh column of the periodic table. It is classified as a transitional metal. Silver atoms have 47 electrons and 47 protons with 60 neutrons in the most abundant isotope.

Characteristics and Properties

Under standard conditions silver is a soft metal that has a shiny metallic finish. It is very ductile (meaning it can be pulled into a wire) and malleable (meaning it can be hammered into a flat sheet).

Silver has the highestelectrical conductivity of all the elements as well as the highest thermal conductivity of the metals. It is also very reflective.

Silver is not very reactive. It will not react with air or water. It will tarnish, however, when coming into contact with sulfur compounds.

Where is it found on Earth?

Silver is a relatively rare element found in the Earth's crust. It is found both in its free form and in minerals such as argentite. It is often mined with other metal ores including copper, lead, zinc, and gold. Most of the silver mined in the United States is from the state of Nevada. The major worldwide producers of silver are Peru, Mexico, and China.

How is silver used today?

Sliver has been used since ancient times to make jewelry and silverware. Today, standard silver is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper called sterling silver.

Another ancient use of silver was to make coins. Silver has been used as money for thousands of years. Today, few coins are still made from silver because of its high cost.

Silver is used in the electronics industry because of its excellent electrical conductivity. It is mostly used in high end applications where the cheaper metal copper can't do the job. It is also used in long life batteries.

Other applications for silver include mirrors, dental fillings, musical instruments, and nuclear reactors.

How was it discovered?

Silver was one of the first metals discovered by ancient peoples. Silver artifacts have been found in many ancient civilizations such as the Sumer from 3000 BC.

Where did silver get its name?

It comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "seolfor" for the element. The symbol Ag comes from the Latin word "argentum" for silver.

Isotopes

There are two naturally occurring stable isotopes of silver: silver-107 and silver-109.

Interesting Facts about Silver

Its two stable isotopes are nearly the same in abundance, which is rare for an element.

The official currency of the United Kingdom is called the pound sterling which was originally equal in value to one pound of silver.

Up until the recent advancement of digital cameras, around 30% of silver production was used for photography in the compound silver nitrate.

The silver compound silver iodide (AgI) is used in cloud seeding to produce rain.

Silver nanoparticles are sometimes added to clothing as they can help to prevent the growth of fungi and bacteria.

More on the Elements and the Periodic Table

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Kids learn about the element silver and its chemistry including atomic weight, atom, uses, sources, name, and discovery. Plus properties and characteristics of silver.

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Sulfur Facts for Kids - Element S, Properties, Uses, Sulphur Crystals

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Sulfur (also spelt sulphur) in its element form is found in volcanic and hot spring areas and is usually a yellow color. Read on for more interesting facts and properties of sulfur.

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Kids learn about the element sulfur and its chemistry including atomic weight, atom, uses, sources, name, and discovery. Plus properties and characteristics of sulfur.

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Symbol: Ti

Atomic Number: 22

Atomic Weight: 47.867

Classification: Transition metal

Phase at Room Temperature: Solid

Density: 4.506 grams per cm cubed

Melting Point: 1668°C, 3034°F

Boiling Point: 3287°C, 5949°F

Discovered by: William Gregor in 1791. First pure titanium produced by M. A. Hunter in 1910.

Titanium is the first element in the fourth column of the periodic table. It is classified as a transition metal. Titanium atoms have 22 electrons and 22 protons.

Characteristics and Properties

Under standard conditions titanium is a hard, light, silvery metal. At room temperature it can be brittle, but it becomes more malleable at higher temperatures.

One of titanium's most valuable qualities is its high strength-to-weight ratio. This means it is both very strong, but also very light. It is twice as strong as aluminum, but only weighs 60% more. It is also as strong as steel, but weighs much less.

Titanium is fairly inactive and is very resistant to corrosion from other elements and substances like acids and oxygen. It has a relatively low electrical and thermal conductivity.

Where is titanium found on Earth?

Titanium is not found as a pure element in nature, but is found in compounds as part of minerals in the Earth's crust. It is the ninth most abundant element in the Earth's crust. The most important minerals for mining titanium are rutile and ilmenite. The top producing countries of these ores are Australia, South Africa, and Canada.

How is titanium used today?

The majority of titanium is used in the form of titanium dioxide (TiO₂). Titanium dioxide is a very white powder that has a number of industrial uses including white paint, paper, plastics, and cements.

Titanium is used to alloy with different metals such as iron, aluminum, and manganese where it helps to produce strong and lightweight alloys for use in spacecraft, naval ships, missiles, and as armor plating. Its resistance to corrosion makes it especially useful in sea water applications.

Another valuable characteristic of titanium is that it is biocompatible. This means that it will not be rejected by the human body. This quality, coupled with its strength, durability, and light weight, make titanium an excellent material for medical use. It is used in various applications such as hip replacements and dental implants. Titanium is also used in jewelry to make rings and watches.

How was it discovered?

Titanium was first recognized as a new element by Reverend William Gregor in 1791. The English clergyman enjoyed studying minerals as a hobby. He named the element menachanite. The name was later changed to titanium by German chemist M.H. Kalproth. The first pure titanium was produced by American chemist M. A. Hunter in 1910.

Where did titanium get its name?

Titanium gets its names from theTitans who were Greek gods.

Isotopes

Titanium has five stable isotopes including titanium-46, 47, 48, 49, and 50. The majority of titanium found in nature is in the form of the isotope titanium-48.

Interesting Facts about Titanium

It is the only element that will burn in pure nitrogen gas.

Titanium oxide is often used with graphite to make high-end golf clubs and tennis rackets.

Titanium containers are used to store nuclear waste.

It is found in meteorites, on the Moon, and in some types of stars.

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain is covered with titanium plated tiles.

More on the Elements and the Periodic Table

Elements
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Symbol: Ti Atomic Number: 22 Atomic Weight: 47.867 Classification: Transition metal Phase at Room Temperature: Solid Density: 4.506 grams per cm cubed Melting Point: 1668°C, 3034°F Boiling Point: 3287°C, 5949°F Discovered by: William Gregor in 1791. First pure titanium produced by M. A. Hunter in 1910.

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Titanium Facts

Enjoy our list of interesting titanium facts. Learn about the uses and properties of titanium and how important its unique strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance is for modern product development.

Find out what products are made using titanium, how abundant the element is in the Earth's crust, what other metals are alloyed with titanium and much more with our fun titanium facts.

British pastor William Gregor discovered titanium in 1791. It was later named by German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth who called it titanium after the Titans of Greek mythology. It was not until 1910 that titanium was produced to 99.9% purity by New Zealander Matthew A. Hunter, the method became known as the Hunter Process.

Titanium has a melting point of 3,034 °F (1,668 °C) and a boiling point of 5,949 °F (3,287 °C).

Many elements such as iron, aluminium, nickel and vanadium are alloyed with titanium to produce strong lightweight alloys. These titanium alloys are used in the manufacturing of naval ships, spacecraft, missiles and aircraft, with around two thirds of all titanium metal produced is used in aircraft engines and frames.

Titanium's strength-to-weight superiority has seen the metal used as a component in many other products in recent times including, laptops, firearms, tennis rackets, golf clubs, lacrosse sticks, football helmet grills, bicycles frames, camping cookware and utensils.

Around 95% of all titanium is used to produce the compound titanium dioxide, which is a very bright and refractive white pigment that is used in paints, plastics, toothpaste, sunscreens, sports equipment and paper.

The fact that titanium is strong, light, non-toxic and does not react with out bodies makes it a valuable medical resource. Its used to make surgical implements and implants, such as hip joint replacements that can stay in place for up to 20 years.

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Titanium Facts - Uses, Properties, Element Ti, Strength, Jewelry, Alloys

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Titanium Facts Enjoy our list of interesting titanium facts. Learn about the uses and properties of titanium and how important its unique strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance is for modern product development. Find out what products are made using titanium, how abundant the element is in the Earth's crust, what other metals are alloyed with titanium and much more with our fun titanium facts.

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Kids learn about the element uranium and its chemistry including atomic weight, atom, uses, sources, name, and discovery. Plus properties and characteristics of uranium.

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Uranium Facts

Check out these amazing uranium facts, uses and properties. Uranium is a radioactive metal that can produce massive amounts of energy, it has been used as far back as ancient Rome as a coloring for glass.

Learn more about this famous metal and its unique nuclear properties with our interesting facts about uranium.

Uranium is hard, malleable, ductile, and a poor electrical conductor. The metal has a very high density, around 70% denser than lead, yet less dense than gold.

Uranium has a melting point of 2,075 °F (1,135 °C) and a boiling point of 7,468 °F (4,131 °C).

The first atomic bomb used in World War II, dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945, contained a uranium core. Today nuclear bombs are usually made from other materials such as plutonium.

Over 33% of the world's uranium is mined in Kazakhstan. Other uranium mining countries include Canada, Australia, Namibia, Niger, and Russia.

Marie Curie's discovery of radium in uranium ore meant uranium mining increased so radium could be extracted to make glow-in-the-dark paints. It takes 3 tonnes of uranium to get 1 gram of radium, leaving massive amounts of uranium waste material which was sent for use in the glazing and tiling industry.

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Uranium Facts - Uses, Properties, Element U, Radioactive, Nuclear, Energy

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Uranium Facts Check out these amazing uranium facts, uses and properties. Uranium is a radioactive metal that can produce massive amounts of energy, it has been used as far back as ancient Rome as a coloring for glass. Learn more about this famous metal and its unique nuclear properties with our interesting facts about uranium.

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Information about mass, volume, and density

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BrainPOP - Animated Educational Site for Kids - Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Arts & Music, Health, and Technology

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A solution is a mixture of two or more substances that stays evenly mixed. Substances that are combined to form a solution do not change into new substances. Some examples of...

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This experiment is cheap and fast! Each layer takes a max of 2 minutes to do. It's filled with educational fun. Have a blast little Einsteins!

½ Cup Rubbing Alcohol (Dollar Store)

½ Cup Blue Dawn Dish Soap (Dollar Store)

½ Cup Large Mason Jar or Vase (Dollar Store)

½ Cup Corn Syrup (Walmart)

Food Coloring (Walmart)

½ Cup Olive Oil/Vegetable Oil/ Canola Oil (Dollar Store)

½ Cup of Water

(2 Minutes to make each layer)

(Total Time 10 min)

Purple Layer - Mix ½ Cup corn syrup with 1 drop of blue dye and 2 drops of red dye.

Pour ½ Cup blue dish soap slowly down the side of your jar into the purple layer. Tip: They should separate as long as you pour slowly down the side of the jar. Same goes for each layer.

Green Layer - Mix together 2-3 drops of green dye with ½ Cup of water and pour slowly (on the side of the jar) on top of the blue layer.

Pour the ½ Cup of olive oil down the side of the jar for the yellow layer.

Red Layer - Mix ½ Cup of rubbing alcohol with 1-3 drops of red dye. Pour this slowly on the side of the jar.

Then you're done! You should get a rainbow layered vase of different density liquids!

What's the science behind it?

With each layer you are using a different liquid. Each liquid has a different density (weighing a different amount). So when layered the right way, they will stay separated for days! But if the order isn't added the same way as directed, the experiment won't work. The heavier density liquids are the ones at the bottom and so on.

Jenna is a staff writer and production assistant at Creative Child Magazine. She is currently attending University of Nevada - Las Vegas.

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This experiment is cheap and fast! Each layer takes a max of 2 minutes to do. It's filled with educational fun. Have a blast little Einsteins!

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Understanding density has never been easier or more colorful! The Sugar Rainbow is a creative and engaging way to see how liquids of different densities stack on top each other. There's an additional lesson about adhesion and cohesion in the mix for you, too. A simple combination of some sugar and water with vivid colors leads to an awesome science experience about density.

Experiment

Fill each of the six glasses with water. NOTE: The glasses need to be stable and about as deep as the straw is long. As you fill the straw with solutions, it has to be plunged deeper and deeper into the liquids.

Use coloring tablets or food coloring to dye the water a different, bright color in each glass. Stir it completely.

The first of the six glasses will be just colored water with no sugar. The second color receives one rounded teaspoon of sugar. The third color receives two rounded teaspoons of sugar. The fourth gets three teaspoons and so on to five teaspoons of sugar in the last glass. Stir the solution in each glass until the sugar is completely dissolved. NOTE: Using warm or room temperature water will speed up this process.

Grab the straw and, if you haven't already, remove the wrapper. Hold the straw near one end, wrapping four fingers around the straw and placing your thumb over the straw's top opening. To make your Sugar Rainbow, lift your thumb off the opening, dunk the lower end of the straw about 1" (3 cm) into the plain water. Cap the straw firmly with your thumb, lift it out of the water, and dip it quickly into the 1 tsp solution. This time, go a little deeper than you did into the first glass. You want the layers to be about the same thickness. With the straw in the liquid, lift your thumb but quickly replace it. Lift the straw and you'll have the first and second colored solutions in a stack inside the straw. Continue the dipping process until you have all six colored solutions inside the straw. It's a density column of sugar water, a Sugar Rainbow!

When you're ready, hold the straw over the dish and lift your thumb to empty the straw. Rinse it and make another one.

How Does It Work

Density is the measurement of how much "stuff" is packed into a measured space. That's how we get the equation for density: Density = Mass (the stuff) ÷ Volume (a measured space). Nearly every substance and material imaginable has a different density. This is especially true for the six solutions you made using sugar and water.

By increasing the amount of sugar in the solution but keeping the amount of water constant, you create solutions that have increasing densities. The more sugar that's mixed into a measured amount of water, the higher the density of the mixture. As the Sugar Rainbow reveals, a solution with a low density stacks on top of a mixture with a high density.

So, density explains why the solutions stack on top of each other inside the straw, but what keeps the solutions in the straw? You could expect them to just pour out of the straw as you lift the straw from a solution. However, thanks to cohesion (similar molecules attracting each other) and adhesion (different molecules attracting each other), there is surface tension sealing the water at the bottom of the straw. The surface tension is strong enough to help hold the solutions in the straw... as long as air pressure inside the straw is lower than the air pressure outside the straw. Gravity tugs the solutions downward which creates a slight vacuum in the empty part of the straw. That lowers the air pressure inside the straw which is why you need your thumb to cap the straw. This prevents air pressure from equalizing inside the straw. Remove your thumb, air pressure equalizes, and gravity simply moves the colored solutions out.

Take It Further

Use a turkey baster as a replacement for the straw to slowly layer the colored sugar solutions into a larger glass to create an even bigger rainbow. Hold the tip of the baster against the side of the container close to the surface of the liquid already in the glass. Squeeze the baster gently so the water flows slowly down the side of the container and then onto the previous layer. If you try to rush it, the layers will just mix together. Rinse the baster between each layer. Move the baster upward on the side of the glass as needed so it doesn't touch the surface of the solution. Layer all the sugar solutions in the same way. This can be hard to do but it's worth the effort when you finish. Get some pictures!

Fun Fact

A dramatic salt water density change can be experienced in real life. While humans will (sort of) float in an ocean, they really float in bodies of water like Utah's Great Salt Lake and the Dead Sea in Israel and the West Bank. They are so salty that it's nearly impossible to sink in them! Just be sure to rinse off really well when you get out.

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Sugar Rainbow | Experiments | Steve Spangler Science

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Understanding density has never been easier or more colorful! The Sugar Rainbow is a creative and engaging way to see how liquids of different densities stack on top each other. There's an additional lesson about adhesion and cohesion in the mix for you, too.