Name Sym AN Weight Period MP BP Group Description Hydrogen H 1 1.0079 1 -259.14 -252.87 1 1 Lightest of Gases. Highly explosive. Occurs free in natural gases, Water, minerals and natural organic materials. Also as H2. Helium He 2 4.0026 1 -272.2 -268.93 7 18 1 First of Noble gases. Cannot be solidified at atmospheric pressure. Liquid helium exhibits superconductivity. Lithium Li 3 6.941 2 180.54 1347 1 1 2 Lightest of the Alkali metals. Tarnishes rapidly in air and reacts with water, halogens, nitrogen and hydrogen. Beryllium Be 4 9.0121 2 1278 2970 2 2 2 Lightest alkaline earth metal. Hard, brittle, grey metal.Resistant to acids because of a layer of oxide. Boron B 5 10.81 2 2300 2550 6 13 2 Very inert and only slowly attacked by oxidising agents. Used to make enamels and glasses. Used in light-weight components. Carbon C 6 12.011 2 3550 4830 6 14 2 Occurs in both free and combined states. Crystalline forms are diamond and graphite. Carbon burns in oxygen and reacts with halogens. Radioactive Carbon 14 is used in carbon dating. Nitrogen N 7 14.0067 2 -209.86 -195.8 6 15 2 Colourless gas existing as N2 (Air consists of over 75% Nitrogen). Also exists and nitrates, ammonia and in proteins in animals and vegetable tissues. Oxygen O 8 15.9994 2 -218.4 -182.96 6 16 2 Colourless, odourless gas condensing to a pale-blue liquid and gas. Occurs in air (21%) and is by far the most abundant element. Fluorine F 9 18.9984 2 -219.62 -188.14 6 17 2 The lightest and most reactive of the halogens. Reacts with most elements. Used to prepare metals, in water treatment, toothpaste, aerosol propellants, refrigerants and inert plastics. Neon Ne 10 20.179 2 -248.67 -264.05 7 18 2 Relative abundant noble gas. Used in florescent tubes, lighting, electrical equipment and gas lasers. Sodium Na 11 22.9897 3 97.81 882.9 1 1 3 Widely occurring alkali metal which occurs widely, mainly as Sodium Chloride in sea water and salt deposits. Metal is soft and silvery white. Reacts rapidly with water, oxygen and halogens. Magnesium Mg 12 24.305 3 648.8 1090 2 2 3 Metal is silver-white and very light. Burns in air after ignition. Aluminium Al 13 26.9815 3 660.37 2467 5 13 3 Occurs as bauxite and in many silicates and clays. Aluminium and its alloys are used in applications requiring light weight and strength. Silicon Si 14 28.0855 3 1410 2355 6 14 3 Does not occur native but is the second most abundant element in the earth's crust, occurring as silica and in other silicates. Used in transistors and other solid state devices, glass, etc. Phosphorus P 15 30.9738 3 44.1 280 6 15 3 Phosphorus occurs in three main forms, white, red and black. White phosphorus spontaneously combust's while black phosphorous is almost non-inflammable. Used in fertilisers, matches, pesticides, special glasses and chinaware and many other uses. Sulphur S 16 32.06 3 112.8 444.67 6 16 3 Yellow nonmetalic element of the oxygen group. Sulphur is a reactive element, reacting with most other elements. Chlorine Cl 17 35.453 3 -100.98 -34.6 6 17 3 Occurs naturally as Sodium Chloride, MgCl2 and other chlorides. Chlorine occurs as a greenish poisonous gas containing Cl2 molecules. Used in water sterilisation, paper manufacture etc. Argon Ar 18 39.948 3 -189.2 -185.7 7 18 3 The most abundant of the noble gases. Separated from liquid air and used in light bulbs, as an inert shield in arc welding and for metal production. Potassium K 19 39.0983 4 63.65 774 1 1 4 Soft silver-white metal, reacts violently with water and is readily oxidised. Used in fertilisers, electrolyte in batteries, glass and ceramics. Calcium Ca 20 40.08 4 839 1484 2 2 4 Widely distributed in nature, occurring as marble, limestone, chalk, calcite, argonite, dolomite, gypsum, halides and silicates. Soft silvery white metal at room temperature. Tarnishes rapidly, reacts violently with water and combines with oxygen and the halogens. Scandium Sc 21 44.96 4 1539 2832 3 3 4 Used to strengthen alloys. ScC hardens TiC to make it the second hardest substance known. Titanium Ti 22 47.88 4 1660 3287 3 4 4 Common element occurring as ilmenite and rutile. Is used as a light weight construction material. Is used extensively as a white pigment. Vanadium V 23 50.9415 4 1890 3380 3 5 4 Soft grey or silver metal. Burns on heating in O2 or Cl3 . Used mainly as a steel additive and in Aluminium alloys. Chromium Cr 24 51.996 4 1857 2672 3 6 4 The most important chromium mineral is chromite. The metal is hard silver-white in colour. Widely used in electroplating and as an additive for steel. Also used as pigments and colouring for glass. Manganese Mn 25 54.9380 4 1244 1962 3 7 4 Principle ore is pyrolusite.Metal is soft grey with various low temperature forms which do not correspond to those adopted by other metals. Reactive metal. Main use is in steel as a deoxidising and desulphurizing agent. Also used in alloys, as dyes, paints, batteries etc. Iron Fe 26 55.847 4 1535 2750 3 8 4 Used extensively as a metal for fabrication, either as iron or steel.Main ores are haematite, brown haematite, magnitite, siderite or spathic iron ore, iron pyrites and chalcopyrite. Cobalt Co 27 58.9332 4 1495 2870 3 9 4 Silvery white metal, readily polished. Main use is as alloys. Also used in paints and varnishes. Essential element in human diet. Nickel Ni 28 58.69 4 1453 2732 3 10 4 Silver-white metal. Not tarnished by air, but is attacked by acids. Used extensively in alloys, particularly in steels and cast iron and as a coinage metal. Copper Cu 29 63,546 4 1083 2567 3 11 4 One of the coinage metals. Approximately 55% of copper is used for electrical purposes and about 15% in plumbing pipes. Zinc Zn 30 65.38 4 419.58 907 3 12 4 Bluish-white metal which is fairly hard and brittle. Burns in air and combines with halogens and sulphur. Used in anodes for protection against corrosion. Zinc Oxide used in paints, rubber, plastics, textiles etc and as an inert filler. Zinc Sulphide is used in luminous paint, X-ray and TV screens and florescent lights. Gallium Ga 31 69.72 4 29.78 2403 5 13 4 Complex in appearance and has a complex structure. Used in semi-conductors, light emiting diodes, electrical devices and phosphors. Germanium Ge 32 72.59 4 938.4 2830 5 14 4 Has a structure close to that of diamond. Main use as a semi-conductor. Forms alloys which expand on freezing and which are used in precision casting. Used in special glass. Arsenic As 33 74.9216 4 613 6 15 4 Normally bright and metallic in appearance. Yellow arsenic is formed by rapid condensation of the vapour. Used in insecticides, in solid-state devices and in alloys where it has a hardening effect. Arsenic compounds in quantity are poisonous. Selenium Se 34 78.96 4 217 684.9 6 16 4 Metallic in appearance. Is a photoconductor (xerography, photo-electric cells). Used as a steel additive and in glass. Essential trace element but is toxic in excess. Bromine Br 35 79.904 4 -7.2 58.78 6 17 4 Dark red as liquid. Vapour is red and poisonous. Occurs naturally as bromides in sea-water and some natural brines and salt deposits. Chief use in the manufacture of anti-knock agents but is also used in the manufacture of fumigants, flame proofing agents, disinfectants and water purification materials and photographic materials. Krypton Kr 36 83.80 4 -156.6 -152.3 7 18 4 One of the noble gases. Used with argon in florescent lights and in certain photographic flash lights. Rubidium Rb 37 85.468 5 38.89 688 1 1 5 An alkali metal which occurs in traces in salt deposits and also in the lithium mineral lepidolite.Silver-white and very reactive. Used in photocells. May find use in ion-propulsion rocket motors. Strontium Sr 38 87.62 5 769 1384 2 2 5 Silvery-white metal which reacts vigorously with water and on warming with H2, N2, N2 and halogens. Used in fireworks and flares. in glasses and ceramics and for permanent magnets. Yitrium Y 39 88.91 5 1523 3337 3 3 5 Used as a red phosphor in colour televisions. Yttrium iron garnets are used as microwave filters. Zirconium Zr 40 91.22 5 1852 4377 3 4 5 Steel like in appearance, very resistant to corrosion but is dissolved by aqua regia of Hydrogen Fluoride and burns in oxygen at high temperatures. Used in reactor construction due to its low neutron absorption. Also used in laboratory ware and super-conducting magnets. Niobium Nb 41 92.91064 5 2468 4742 3 5 5 Once known as columbium. Remains lustrous in air but reacts with oxygen or steam at high temperatures. Used in special steels and as an alloy with Titanium as a superconductor. Molybdenum Mo 42 95.94 5 2617 4612 3 6 5 The massive metal is lustrous and attacked only by HNO3-HF or fused KNO3-NaOH or Na2O2. Mo metal combines with oxygen at red heat and slowly assumes a blue patina in air. Used extensively in steels, particularly cutting steels for high temperature use, and as a filament material. MoS2 is an important solid lubricant and Mo compounds are used in pigments. Technetium Tc 43 98.9062 5 2172 4877 3 7 5 Obtained from fission products. All isotopes are radioactive. Is silvery grey in colour. Used in corrosion inhibitors. Has been used in clinical medicine. Ruthenium Ru 44 101.07 5 2310 3900 3 8 5 One of the platinum metals and occurs native as an alloy with the other platinum metals. The metal is grey-white in colour. Attacked by most acids, O2 and F2. Reacts at high temperatures and the metal dissolves in fused Na2O3, KClO3 etc. Its compounds are used in catalysis and in anode plating in chlorine production. Also used in alloys and electrical applications. Rhodium Rh 45 102.9055 5 1966 3727 3 9 5 One of the platinum group metals. Found with other platinum metals and often in Ni-Cu deposits.Is used as an alloying agent for Pt or Pd as a catalyst. Palladium Pd 46 106.42 5 1552 3140 3 10 5 Least noble of the platinum metals. Used in alloys (white gold, Au plus Pd) as a catalyst, in dental work and in electrical components. Silver Ag 47 107.8682 5 962 2212 3 11 5 Occurs as the metal and also as sulphide ores. Frequently recovered after the work up of copper and lead ores and is generally extracted as a complex cyanide or thiosulphate complex. The metal is a pure white ductile material. Used extensively in jewellery, electrical components, particularly conductors, contacts and batteries. And also in dental and surgical components. Formerly used extensively in mirrors formed by depositing silver on glass and as a coinage metal. Extensively used in photography and catalysis. Cadmium Cd 48 112.41 5 320.9 765 3 12 5 White lustrous metal.Used extensively for electroplating and in alloys (Cu for tramway wires, Al for casting and with Sn and Bi in fusible alloys). Also used in batteries, atomic reactors, cadmium compounds and pigments, plasticisers and as phosphors in colour TV tubes. Cadmium telluride has many electronic applications. Indium In 49 114.82 5 156.61 2080 5 13 5 Used in low melting alloys. Indium Phosphate is used in electric motors and Indium compounds are used in electronic components and semi-conductors. Indium compounds are toxic. Tin Sn 50 118.69 5 232 2270 5 14 5 The element has three allotropic forms, metallic tin is silvery in colour, soft and malleable. Below 13.5¡C the stable form is grey tin, diamond lattice, brittle powder. Another brittle modification is stable above 161¡C.Used in coating steel and in alloys. Compounds are used in glass coatings and as fungicides. Antimony Sb 51 121.75 5 630.74 1750 5 15 5 Most stable from has metallic appearance, white or bluish white in colour.Will burn in air but is unattacked by water or dilute acids. Widely used in alloys and its use in semi-conductors is important. Used in blame-proofing paints, ceramics, enamels, glass, pottery rubber technology and dye stuffs. Tellurium Te 52 127.60 5 449.5 989.9 6 16 5 The grey metallic form has a chain structure with low electrical conductivity. The amorphous form is grey-black in colour. Used in alloys (particularly with Lead and also in copper and stainless steel) Te compounds are poisonous. Iodine I 53 126.9045 5 113.5 184.35 6 17 5 Occurs as I- in brines, as iodates in caliche and in sea-water and seaweeds. The element is a black solid giving a violet vapour. Used in disinfectants, medically, synthesis, photography, food supplements, electric light bulbs (quartz-halogen lamps). Essential element to the diet. Xenon Xe 54 131.29 5 -111.9 -107.1 7 18 5 One of the noble gases. Used in lamps and discharge tubes and in bubble chambers. Moderately soluble in water. Caesium Cs 55 132.9054 6 28.40 678 1 1 6 The metal is extremely reactive and reacts violently with water, oxygen, halogens etc. Used as an oxygen-getter, in photoelectric cells, as a hydrogenation catalyst and in a number of specialised applications.Is an important fission product used in deep-ray therapy. Barium Ba 56 137.33 6 725 1640 2 2 6 Is silver white in colour and oxidises easily in air. Used as a getter for oxygen removal. Ba salts find extensive use in paints, X-ray diagnosis, glass, oil well drilling fluids and as rat poison. Ba compounds are poisonous. Lanthanum La 57 138.9055 6 920 3454 3 1 1 Metal is shiny. Used in steels and in Magnesium and Aluminium alloys. Used in glasses, as a glass polish, as a high temperature refactory and as a host matrix for fluorescent phosphors. Typical of other Lanthanides, (Lanthanum to Lutetium) Cerium Ce 58 140.12 6 798 3257 4 2 1 The most common of the lanthanides. Used in alloys for improving the malleability of cast iron and the mechanical properties of Mg alloys. Used as a glass polish, ceramic coatings and in incandescent gas mantles. Cerium sulphate is a catalyst in "self-cleaning ovens'. Praseodymium Pr 59 140.91 6 931 3212 4 3 1 Typical lanthanide. Used in glasses and in thermoelectric materials. Neodymium Nd 60 144.24 6 1010 3127 4 4 1 Typical lanthanide. Used in glasses and in capacitors. Promethium Pm 61 145 6 1080 2460 4 5 1 Traces occur naturally as a fission product of uranium. Obtained from nuclear reactors. Typical Lanthanide. Previously called illinium. Used in luminescent paint for watch dials. Samarium Sm 62 150.36 6 1072 1778 4 6 1 Typical lanthanide. used in permanent magnets. Oxide is used in optical glasses. Europium Eu 63 151.96 6 822 1597 4 7 1 Lanthanide. Used as a neutron absorber in reactor technology. Compounds are used as red-phosphors in colour television. Gadolinium Gd 64 157.5 6 1311 3233 4 8 1 Lanthanide. Largest use is in ferrites and as the selenide for electronic equipment. Compounds are extensively used as catalysts. Terbium Tb 65 158.93 6 1360 3041 4 9 1 Typical lanthanide. Oxide has potential as a green phosphor for colour television. Has been used as a laser material. Dysprosium Dy 66 162.50 6 1409 2335 4 10 1 Lanthanide. A metal foil is used to measure neutron fluxes. Compounds are used in lasers and phosphors. Holmium Ho 67 164.93 6 1470 2720 4 11 1 Lanthanide. No present uses for this element. Erbiume Er 68 167.26 6 1522 2510 4 12 1 Lanthanide.Used as an additive to improve the workability of vanadium. Oxide used in colouring glass. Thulium Tm 69 168.93 6 1545 1727 4 13 1 Typical lanthanide. The metal or its oxides are widely used as a portable source of X-radiation after neutron irradiation. Ytterbium Yb 70 173.04 6 824 1193 4 14 1 Typical lanthanide. Some ytterbium based garnets are used as synthetic gemstones. Lutetium Lu 71 174.967 6 1656 3315 4 15 1 Last of the lanthanide elements.After neutron irradiation lutetium nuclides emit pure beta radiation which can be used in cracking, polymerisation and other catalytic processes. Hafnium Hf 72 178.49 6 2227 4602 3 4 6 Has very similar properties to zirconium and is separated by ion-exchange. In contrast to zirconium it is a strong neutron absorber and is used as a control rod material for nuclear reactors. Tantalum Ta 73 180.9479 6 2996 5425 3 5 6 Remains lustrous in air but reacts with oxygen or steam at high temperatures. Used in resistant alloys, particularly construction for the chemical industry and in surgical appliances. Tungsten W 74 183.8 6 3410 5660 3 6 6 The fused metal is lustrous silver-white and is only attacked slowly even by HNO3-HF. Attacked by oxygen at red-heat. The metal is used extensively in steel alloys, in electric lamp and heating filaments and in electric contacts. Tungsten carbides are very hard and are used in cutting tools. Rhenium Re 75 186.207 6 3180 5627 3 7 6 A rare metal extracted from flue dusts after roasting Mo or Cu ores. Is silvery grey in colour. With a half-life of 7E10 years, can be used in determining the age of the universe. Osmium Os 76 190.2 6 3045 5027 3 8 6 In the platinum group of metals. Has very similar properties to ruthenium. Used for hardening purposes in alloys with other platinum metals. Iridium Ir 77 192.22 6 2443 4130 3 9 6 One of the platinum metals with similar properties to rhodium. The very high melting point is associated with good mechanical properties above 1600¡C. Used to encapsulate radioactive fuels in space. Main uses, electrochemical 25%, catalysts 8% and crucibles 11%. Platinum Pt 78 195.09 6 1772 3827 3 10 6 The most abundant of the platinum metals occurring naturally in traces in heavy metal sulphide ores. The metal is very malleable and ductile. The metal is used extensively in investment jewellery, laboratory ware, thermocouples, electrical contacts and catalysis. Used in fabrication of high quality glassware. Compounds have anti-tumour activity. Gold Au 79 196.9665 6 1064.4 2807 3 11 6 Gold occurs native, typically as small particles in quartz, but also as deposits after erosion of the quartz and sometimes as nuggets. Bright yellow metal. Good conductor of heat and electricity. Gold is not attacked by oxygen. The main use of gold is in monetary systems, but it is also used in jewellery, as an i.r. reflector, in electrical contacts and conductor systems, and its compounds in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Also used as a radiation source. Mercury Hg 80 200.59 6 -38.87 356.58 3 12 6 Mercury is a silver-white liquid metal. Mercury is used in electrical equipment as switches, vapour lamps and also in pumps and thermometers. Use of compounds include pesticides, dental fillings, batteries, catalysis. Mercury and many of its compounds are toxic and tend to accumulate in higher animals. Thallium Tl 81 204.3 6 303.5 1457 5 13 6 Soft metal is similar to lead. Fairly reactive metal. The metal itself is not used. Compounds are used in poisons, glasses and some electronic applications. Thallium compounds are very poisonous. Lead Pb 82 207.2 6 327.502 1740 5 14 6 Atomic is variable depending on the source. 207.2 is the approximate value. Lead is the ultimate product of the various radioactive-decay series. Occurs naturally as galena, lead sulphate and cerussite. Silvery-white metal. Used extensively in alloys, in storage batteries(25%), for covering electrical cable, in water and noise proofing, anti-knock agents, radiation and sound shields, in paints and high quality glass. Lead compounds are toxic and hazardous to health. Bismuth Bi 83 208.9808 6 271.3 1560 5 15 6 Metal is brittle, redish-white in colour. Burns in air and is only slowly attacked by acids. Is used extensively in low melting alloys and for making castings. Used in cosmetics and some compounds are used medically. Alloys used in electronics. Polonium Po 84 210 6 254 962 5 16 6 A decay product from heavier elements but prepared by neutron irradiation of bismuth. Has a half life of 138 days, is an alpha emitter and is a very hazardous material. Separated from bismuth by electrochemical methods and sublimed. Used to remove static electricity and as a neutron source. Astatine At 85 210 6 ? ? 6 17 6 Very little know about this element. Radon Rn 86 222 6 -71 -61.8 7 18 6 Radon is a product of radioactive decay of the heavy elements. Radon is radioactive and has been used as a radiation source and as a gaseous tracer. It is a considerable hazard in uranium mines. Francium Fr 87 223 7 27 680 1 1 7 Radioactive element which occurs as a member of the various natural decay series. Radium Ra 88 226.0254 7 700 1140 2 2 7 A radioactive element, various isotopes are member of various radioactive decay series. White metal which tarnishes in air and reacts with water. Used in self-luminous paints, as a neutron source and in radiotherapy. Actinium Ac 89 227 7 1050 3200 3 1 2 Boiling point is 320±300¡C. Occurs naturally as a minor constituent in uranium ores but difficult to seperate. Best prepared by bombardment of radium with neutrons.Most stable 227Ac is very radioactive, the metal glows blue and is oxidised in air. Thorium Th 90 232.04 7 1750 4790 4 2 2 Thorium is a plentiful element. Oxide was used in the production of incandescent gas mantles. Used in strengthening nickel. The metal used as an oxygen remover in the electronics industry. Protactiium Pa 91 231.0359 7 1565 ? 4 3 2 Originally separated from pitchblende residues. Now separated from residues from uranium extraction plants. Silvery metal. Compounds are very hazardous to health. Uranium U 92 238.029 7 1132.3 3818 4 4 2 Uranium is widely spread in nature and its important ores are pitchblende, uraninite, carnotite, coffinite, autunite and tobernite. The metal is rapidly tarnished in air and attacked by hot water or acids. both fissile isotopes 235U and the more common isotope 238U are of importance in nuclear reactions and in the formation of the actinide elements. Fissile 235U is used in nuclear weapons. Used as an additive in steels and as a catalyst in the formation of NH3. Neptunium Np 93 237.0482 7 640 3902 4 5 2 Occurs naturally, being formed by neutron capture by natural uranium, but is normally prepared artificially by neutron irradiation of 238U or 235U. Converted to Plutonium as a power source. Plutonium Pu 94 244 7 641 3232 4 6 2 Traces occur naturally being formed by neutron capture by natural uranium. Is normally prepared by neutron irradiation of uranium238. Plutonium 239 is used in nuclear weapons and reactors. Plutonium 238 is used as a nuclear power source (e.g. space exploration). Inhalation of its compounds is very dangerous. Americium Am 95 242 7 994 2600 4 7 2 Boiling point estimated only.Metal is electropositive, silvery in appearance and dissolves in acid. Hazard to health because of its radioactivity. Is proposed as a neutron target for use in producing higher actinides. Curium Cm 96 247 7 1340 2540 4 8 2 Formed by multiple neutron irradiation of plutonium 239. The metal is silvery in colour and is rapidly oxidised. Curium244 on neutron irradiation is a potential source of higher actinides. Berkelium Bk 97 247 7 986 ? 4 9 2 Formed by action of neutrons on Americium243. Is much more stable but can only be produced in an accelerator. Californium Cf 98 251 7 ? ? 4 10 2 Formed by neutron bombardment of Americium243 and Curium244. Californium249 formed by decay of Berkelium249. Einsteinium Es 99 252 7 ? ? 4 11 2 May be formed by multiple neutron irradiation of Am, Pu and Cm. Metal has not yet been prepared. Fermium Fm 100 257 7 ? ? 4 12 2 May be formed by multiple neutron irradiation of Amn and Cm. The metal has not yet been prepared and as the element is so radioactive its preparation is unlikely. Mendelevium Md 101 258 7 ? ? 4 13 3 Has been formed by bombardment of Einsteinium with Helium 4 particles in a cyclotron or linear accelerator. Nobelium No 102 259 7 ? ? 4 14 3 Produced by the action of Carbon 12 and 13 on a curium target. Metal has not been prepared. Lawrencium Lr 103 260 7 ? ? 4 15 3 Has been formed by the bombardment of Californium with Boron 10 and 11 nuclei in a cyclotron or linear accelerator. Lawrencium256 with a half life of 27 secs if the most stable isotope. It is the last element in the actinide series. Is only known in the +3 oxidation state, no solid compounds are known. Ruthfordium Rf 104 ? 7 ? ? 5 4 7 Post actinide element. Hahnium Ha 105 ? 7 ? ? 5 5 7 Post actinide element.