Element

Hydrogen

He

Helium

Li

Lithium

Be

Beryllium

Boron

Carbon

7
8

N
O

Nitrogen
Oxygen

Flourine

10
11

Ne
Na

12

Mg

Neon
Sodium
(Natrium)
Magnesium

13

Al

Aluminum

14
15

Si
P

Silicon
Phosphorus

Description
Physical
characteristics
of
the element in
its pure form.
explosive gas,
lightest element
inert gas,
second-lightest
element
lightest metal,
soft, reactive
lightweight
metal
hard black solid
hard diamond,
soft graphite
colorless gas
colorless gas
yellowish
poison gas,
most reactive
element
inert gas
soft metal,
reactive
lightweight
metal
lightweight noncorroding metal
hard metalloid
glowing white
waxy solid (also

Use or Occurrence
How it is (or was) used or where it is found.
(Click links to search for more info.)

90% of atoms in the universe, sun and stars, H2O, life's organic molecules
fuel for nuclear fusion in sun and stars, balloons, lasers,supercold refrigerant

lightweight aluminum alloys, batteries, impact-resistant ceramic cookware (Corningware), mood stabilizer
non-sparking copper alloy tools, aerospace, X-ray windows,beryl gems: emeralds and aquamarines
borax soap, fertilizer, stiff fibers, sports equipment (golf clubs, tennis rackets, skis), heat-resistant borosilicate
glass (Pyrex), semiconductors
basis of life's organic molecules, animals, plants, CO2, wood,paper, cloth, plastic, coal, oil
78% of air, organic molecules, protein, muscles, DNA, ammonia,fertilizer, explosives (TNT), refrigerants
21% of air, H2O, 65% of the human body, organic molecules,blood, breathing, fire, half of earth's
crust, minerals, oxides
glowing fluorite, toothpaste, nonstick cookware (Teflon), CFC refrigerants (Freon)

orange-red neon tubes for advertising signs, lasers, supercold refrigerant

salt (NaCl), nerves, baking soda, antacids, lye, soap, soda ash,glass, papermaking, street lamps
chlorophyll in green plants, talc, basalt, aluminum alloys, cars,planes, bikes, flares, sparklers, antacids
common
metal, kitcheware, cans, foil, machinery, cars, planes,bikes, feldspar, granite, clay, ceramics, corundum, gems
quartz, granite, sand, soil, clay, ceramics, glass, algae, diatoms,semiconductors, computer chips, silicone rubber
bones, DNA, energy-storing phosphates (ATP), fertilizer, acids,detergents, matches

16

Sulfur

17

Cl

Chlorine

18
19

Ar
K

20

Ca

Argon
Potassium
(Kalium)
Calcium

21

Sc

Scandium

22

Ti

Titanium

23
24

V
Cr

Vanadium
Chromium

25
26

Mn
Fe

27

Co

Manganese
Iron
(Ferrum)
Cobalt

28

Ni

Nickel

29

Cu

Copper
(Cuprum)

30

Zn

Zinc

31

Ga

Gallium

red and black

forms)
brittle yellow
solid
greenish poison
gas
inert gas
soft metal,
reactive
soft metal

skin, hair, egg yolks, onions, garlic, skunks, hot springs, volcanos,gypsum, rubber, acids, papermaking
salt (NaCl), bleach, stomach acid, disinfectant, drinking water,swimming pools, PVC plastic pipes and bottles
1% of air, most abundant inert gas on earth, light bulbs, "neon" tubes, lasers, welding gas
salts, nerves, nutrient in fruits and vegetables, soap, fertilizer,potash, matches, gunpowder

bones, teeth, milk, leaves, vegetables, shells, coral, limestone,chalk, gypsum, plaster, mortar, cement, marble, an
tacids
soft lightweight aluminum alloys, racing bikes, stadium lamps, furnace bricks,aquamarines
metal
strongest
aerospace, racing bikes, artificial joints, white paint, blue sapphires
lightweight
metal, heatresistant
hard metal
hard strong resilient steel, structures, vehicles, springs,driveshafts, tools, aerospace, violet sapphires
hard shiny
stainless steel (Fe-Cr-Ni), kitchenware, nichrome heaters, car trim, paints, recording tape, emeralds and rubies
metal
hard metal
hard tough steel, earthmovers, rock crushers, rails, plows, axes,batteries, fertilizer, amethysts
medium-hard
steel alloys are mostly iron, structures, vehicles, magnets,earth's core, red rocks, blood
metal, magnetic
hard metal,
hard strong steel, cutting tools, turbines, magnets (Al-Ni-Co),blue glass and ceramics, vitamin B-12
magnetic
medium-hard
stainless steel (Fe-Cr-Ni), kitchenware, nichrome heaters, coins,nicad batteries, earth's core
metal, magnetic
colored metal, wires, cookware, brass (Cu-Zn), bronze (Cu-Sn), coins, pipes,blue crab blood
conducts heat
and electricity
well
non-corroding galvanized steel, brass (Cu-Zn), batteries, white paint,phosphors in TVs and lamps, fertilizer
metal
soft metal,
semiconductors, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (GaAs), signal lights, tiny lasers
melts on a hot

32
33
34
35
36
37

Ge
As
Se
Br
Kr
Rb

Germanium
Arsenic
Selenium
Bromine
Krypton
Rubidium

38
39
40

Sr
Y
Zr

Strontium
Yttrium
Zirconium

41

Nb

Niobium

42

Mo

Molybdenum

43

Tc

Technetium

44

Ru

Ruthenium

45

Rh

Rhodium

46

Pd

Palladium

47

Ag

Silver
(Argentum)

48

Cd

Cadmium

day
brittle metalloid semiconductors, transistors, rectifiers, diodes, photocells,lenses, infrared windows
brittle metalloid poisons, semiconductors, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (GaAs),signal lights, tiny lasers
brittle gray solid semiconductors, photocopiers, laser printers, photocells, red glass, dandruff shampoo, rubber
dark red liquid disinfectant, pools and spas, photo film, flame retardant, leaded gas, sedatives
inert gas
high-intensity lamps, headlights, flashlights, lanterns, "neon" tubes, lasers
soft metal,
atomic clocks, global navigation (GPS), vacuum tube scavenger
reactive
soft metal
red fireworks, flares, phosphors, nuclear batteries, medical diagnostic tracer, nuclear fallout
soft metal
phosphors in color TVs, lasers (YAG, YLF), furnace bricks, high-temperature superconductors
non-corroding chemical pipelines, nuclear reactors, furnace bricks, abrasives,zircon gems
neutronresistant metal
high-meltingchemical pipelines, superconductors, magnetic levitation trains,MRI magnets
point noncorroding metal
high-meltinghard steel, cutting tools, drill bits, armor plate, gun barrels,fertilizer
point metal
radioactive,
first human-made element, only traces on earth but found in stars, medical diagnostic tracer
long-lived
non-corroding electric contacts, leaf switches, pen tips, catalyst, hydrogen production
hard metal
non-corroding labware, reflectors, electric contacts, thermocouples, catalyst,pollution control
hard shiny
metal
non-corroding labware, electric contacts, dentistry, catalyst, pollution control
hard metal,
absorbs
hydrogen
soft shiny metal, jewelry, silverware, coins, dentistry, photo film
conducts
electricity best
of all elements
non-corroding electroplated steel, nicad batteries, red and yellow paints, fire sprinklers
soft metal, toxic

49
50

In
Sn

51

Sb

52
53

Te
I

Indium
Tin
(Stanum)
Antimony
(Stibium)
Tellurium
Iodine

soft metal
solders, glass seals, glass coatings, liquid crystal displays (LCD),semiconductors, diodes, photocells
non-corroding solders, plated food cans, bronze (Cu-Sn), pewter cups,glassmaking, fire sprinklers
soft metal
brittle metalloid solders, lead hardener, batteries, bullet, semiconductors,photocells, matches, flame retardant

54
55

Xe
Cs

Xenon
Cesium

56

Ba

Barium

57
58
59
60
61

La
Ce
Pr
Nd
Pm

Lanthanum
Cerium
Praseodymium
Neodymium
Promethium

62
63
64

Sm
Eu
Gd

Samarium
Europium
Gadolinium

65

Tb

Terbium

brittle metalloid
violet-black
solid
inert gas
soft metal,
melts on a hot
day, reactive,
largest stable
atoms
soft metal,
absorbs X-rays
soft metal
soft metal
soft metal
soft metal
radioactive,
long-lived
soft metal
soft metal
soft metal, best
neutron
absorber,
magnetic
soft metal

66
67
68
69

Dy
Ho
Er
Tm

Dysprosium
Holmium
Erbium
Thulium

soft metal
soft metal
soft metal
soft metal

alloys, semiconductors, photocopiers, computer disk, thermo-electric coolers and generators

disinfectant for wounds and drinking water, added to salt to prevent thyroid disease, photo film
high-intensity lamps, headlights, stadium lamps, projectors,strobes, lasers, spacecraft ion engines
atomic clocks, global navigation (GPS), vacuum tube scavenger

stomach X-ray contrast enhancer, green fireworks, whitener and filler for paper
optical glass, telescope eyepieces, camera lenses, lighter flints,arc lamps
most abundant rare earth metal, lighter flints, arc lamps, gas lamp mantles, self-cleaning ovens, glass polishing
torchworkers' didymium eyeglasses, lighter flints, arc lamps,magnets, yellow glass
strong magnets (Nd-Fe-B), electric motors, speakers and headphones, lasers, lighter flints
human-made, small traces in nature, luminous dials, sheet thickness gauges
magnets (Sm-Co), electric motors, speakers and headphones,infrared sensors, infrared-absorbing glass
phosphors in color TVs and trichromatic fluorescent lamps,luminous paint, lasers
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancer, phosphors,neutron radiography

phosphors in color TVs and trichromatic fluorescent lamps,computer disks, magnetostrictive "smart" materials
(Fe-Dy-Tb) (Terfenol-D)
nuclear control rods, MRI phosphors, computer disks,magnetostrictive "smart" materials (Fe-Dy-Tb) (Terfenol-D)
infrared lasers, laser surgery, eye-safe laser rangefinders,computer disks, yellow glass filters
fiber optic signal amplifiers, infrared lasers, laser surgery, pink glass, sunglasses, vanadium alloys
rarest stable rare earth metal, infrared lasers, laser surgery,phosphors

70
71

Yb
Lu

Ytterbium
Lutetium

72

Hf

Hafnium

73

Ta

Tantalum

74

Tungsten
(Wolfram)

75

Re

Rhenium

76

Os

Osmium

77

Ir

Iridium

78

Pt

Platinum

79

Au

Gold
(Aurum)

80

Hg

81

Tl

Mercury
(Hydrargium)
Thallium

soft metal
soft metal,
densest and
hardest rare
earth metal
non-corroding
metal, absorbs
neutrons
high-meltingpoint noncorroding metal
highest-meltingpoint metal,
dense
high-meltingpoint dense
metal
non-corroding
high-meltingpoint hard
metal, densest
element (same
as Ir)
non-corroding
hard metal,
densest
element (same
as Os)
non-corroding
dense metal
most malleable
element, dense
non-tarnishing
colored metal
liquid metal,
toxic
soft metal, toxic

fiber optic signal amplifiers, infrared fiber lasers, stainless steel alloys
cancer-fighting photodynamic (light-activated) medicine

nuclear reactor control rods in submarines, plasma torch electrodes

labware, surgical tools, artificial joints, capacitors, mobile phones

filaments in lamps and TVs, cutting tools, abrasives,thermocouples

rocket engines, heater coils, laboratory filaments, electric contacts, thermocouples, catalyst

electric contacts, pen tips, needles, fingerprint powder

labware, spark plugs, pen tips, needles

labware, spark plugs, catalyst, pollution control, petroleum cracking, processing fats
jewelry, coins, ultra-thin gold leaf, electric contacts

thermometers, barometers, thermostats, street lamps,fluorescent lamps, dentistry

low-melting-point mercury alloys, low-temperature thermometers, undersea lamps, photocells

82

Pb

Lead
(Plumbum)

83

Bi

Bismuth

84

Po

Polonium

85

At

Astatine

86

Rn

Radon

87

Fr

Francium

88

Ra

Radium

89

Ac

Actinium

90

Th

Thorium

91

Pa

Protactinium

92

Uranium

93

Np

Neptunium

94

Pu

Plutonium

95

Am

Americium

96

Cm

Curium

97

Bk

Berkelium

dense, soft,
non-corroding
metal, toxic
low melting
point, brittle
metal
radioactive,
long-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive gas,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived,
atoms larger
than cesium
radioactive,
long-lived
radioactive,
long-lived
radioactive,
long-lived
radioactive,
long-lived
radioactive,
long-lived,
dense
radioactive,
long-lived
radioactive,
long-lived
radioactive,
long-lived
radioactive,
long-lived
radioactive,

weights, solders, batteries, bullets, crystal glass, old plumbing,radiation shield

solders, fuses, fire sprinklers (plugs melt when hot), cosmetics pigment

first radioactive element found, small traces in nature, anti-static brushes, tobacco
small traces in nature, cancer medicine
environmental hazard, surgical implants for cancer treatment
small traces in nature, studied in laser atom traps

luminous watches (now banned), medical radon production,radiography, radwaste

small traces in nature, cancer medicine, neutron source, radwaste
most abundant radioactive element, nuclear reactor fuel, gas lamp mantles, tungsten filaments, radwaste
small traces in nature, no uses, radwaste
nuclear reactor fuel, nuclear weapons, counterweights, armor-piercing bullets

small traces in nature, neutron detectors, dosimeters, possibly nuclear weapons, radwaste
small traces in nature, nuclear reactor fuel, nuclear weapons,radwaste
never found in nature, smoke detectors, sheet thickness gauges,radwaste
never found in nature, scientific instruments, mineral analyzers,radwaste
never found in nature, no uses, radwaste

98

Cf

Californium

99

Es

Einsteinium

100 Fm

Fermium

101 Md

Mendelevium

102 No

Nobelium

103 Lr

Lawrencium

104 Rf

Rutherfordium

105 Db

Dubnium

106 Sg

Seaborgium

107 Bh

Bohrium

108 Hs

Hassium

109 Mt

Meitnerium

110

Ds

Darmstadtium

111

Rg

Roentgenium

112

Cn

Copernicium

113
114

unnamed
Fl

Flerovium

long-lived
radioactive,
long-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived

never found in nature, scientific instruments, mineral analyzers,radwaste

never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses

115
116

unnamed
Lv

Livermorium

117

unnamed

118

unnamed

radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived
radioactive,
short-lived

never found in nature, no uses

never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
never found in nature, no uses
(heaviest element yet made when this was written)

Note: On this chart, a radioactive element is called long-lived if the half-life of any of its isotopes is more than one year; otherwise it is called shortlived. Some super-heavy elements marked short-lived may in future be found to be long-lived (see island of stability).