| Hydrogen (A.N. =1, A.M. =1, H. Cavendish): |
The most abundant element in the universe (90-95% by mass). At temperature of -196*C and a pressure of 2.5 million of atmosphere pressure, hydrogen turns to black metal like solid. It is lightest gas at STP (.00008988 g/cm). Due to its dubious place in the periodic table, it is known as Rouge Element. |
| Helium (A.N. =2, A.M. =4, N. Locquier, J. Jensen): |
It is unique. On cooling it gives two different liquid phases. He-1 is the normal liquid, but He-2 is a super fluid. At 2.2 K, the liquid suddenly stops boiling and He-2 is formed. |
| Lithium (A.N. =3, A.M. =7, I. Arfvedsons): |
Lightest known metal at room temperature (.534 g/cm3). Name from the Greek, Lithios = stone. |
| Beryllium (A.N. =4, A.M. =9, L. Vanquelin): |
Transparent to X-rays and hence used in X-ray equipment. Alloyed with other metal and used in nuclear reactors. The most toxic non radioactive element in the air (.000002 g/cm3). |
| Boron (A.N. =5, A.M. =11, J. Gay Lussac, L. Thenard): |
It is only the non metal of the group. Their compounds are regarded as electron deficient compound and consequently they behave as Lewis acid. |
| Carbon (A.N. =6, A.M. =12, Antiquity): |
It is a typical non metal forming covalent bond. It occurs in free (diamond, graphite, coal) state as well as combined (carbonates of calcium & magnesium) state. It also occurs in hydrocarbon in natural gases, petroleum, coal tar and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide plays vital role in respiration as well as in the photosynthesis processes. Naturally occurring carbon has two stable isotopes (C-12, 98.9%) and C-13, 1.1%) in addition of trace of radioactive C-14, with half life 5770 years which is used in the carbon dating. |
| Nitrogen (A.N. =7, A.M. =14, D. Rutherford): |
It is typical non metal with high electronegativity next only to Flourine and oxygen. It occurs in free (78% by volume, in volcanic gases) state and combined (sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and many ammonium compounds) state. |
| Oxygen (A.N. =8, A.M. =16, J. Priestley, C. Scheele): |
It makes up 21% by volume of air. Essential for life on the earth, having main three isotopes (O-16, 99.762%), (O-17, .038%), (O-18, .204%). The most abundant element in the earth crust. Oxygen is also called fire air and vital air. Its radioactive isotope is widely used in studying the mechanism of organic reactions. Name from the Greek, Oxy genes = acid forming. |
| Flourine (A.N. =9, A.M. =19, C. Scheele): |
It has highest electronegativity in whole of the periodic table (3.98), but its electron affinity (328 KJ/mol) is lower than that of Chlorine have (348.8 KJ/mol). |
| Neon (A.N. =10, A.M. =20, W. Ramsay, M. Travers): |
Inert gas present in the air (.0018% by volume). It is used in the ornamental lighting under the neon sign. |
| Sodium (A.N. =11, A.M. =23, H. Davy): |
Lighter than water having density .971 g/cm3. Its symbol is derived from the Latin word Natrium meaning ‘Soda Metal’ a reference to natron or soda a sodium carbonate mineral used in ancient time. Sodium is most common of all alkali metals. |
| Magnesium (A.N. =12, A.M. =24, H. Davy): |
Essential to all life on the earth. It is integral part of chlorophyll molecules. Used in the flash bulb and military lightening. |
| Aluminium (A.N. =13, A.M. =27, H. Orested): |
Most abundant in the earth crust, about 8.2% by mass. Excessive accumulation in the body causes Alzheimer’s diseases. |
| Silicon (A.N. =14, A.M. =28, J. Berzelius): |
Solid metalloids. It is an important electronic matter and the second most abundant element in the earth crust. |
| Phosphorus (A.N. =15, A.M. =31, H. Brandt): |
Essential to life. Name from a Greek word Phosphorus-Bringer of light. |
| Argon (A.N. =18, A.M. =40, W. Ramsay, W. Rayleigh): |
An inert gas comprises 1% of atmosphere. Used in the filling of electronic light bulb with nitrogen gas. |
| Potassium (A.N. =19, A.M. =39, H. Davy): |
It is essential to all the living things. Its symbol is derived form Kalium Latinized version of Arabic word from English potash. It is lighter than water. |
| Scandium (A.N. =21, A.M. =45, L. Nilsson): |
It is the first transition element and is lightest of all the transition elements. |
| Titanium (A.N. =22, A.M. =48, M. Klaproth): |
Named after titan son of earth goddess. It is major constituent of Zeigler Natta catalysts. Shining white paint titan box is the mixture of titanium dioxide and barium sulphate. |
| Vanadium (A.N. =23, A.M. =51, A. Sefstrom): |
Essential to some species. Named after Vanandis, a Scandinavian goddess, because of its beautiful multicolored compound. In the form of vanadium pent oxide, it is used as catalysts in the contact process foe the manufacture of sulphric acid. |
| Manganese (A.N. =25, A.M. =55, C. Scheele): |
Essential to all life. Excess may causes cancer in human beings. |
| Iron (A.N. =26, A.M. =56, Antiquity): |
Second most abundant metal in the earth crust (4.7% by mass). It is integral part of hemoglobin. Cementite (Fe3C) is the hardest form of iron. It is the most abundant transition element. |
| Nickel (A.N. =28, A.M. =59, A. Cronstedt): |
Named from German, Kupfer nickel- copper demon, so called by miners, because it was mistakenly thought to contain copper. |
| Zinc (A.N. =30, A.M. =63, Andreas Marggraf): |
Essential to all living species. Named from German, Zink. Zinc is chief constituent of alloy (brass, delta metals, German silver etc.). It is used in the galvanizing and sherardizing of iron. |
| Gallium (A.N. =31, A.M. =70, P. Lecoq de Boisbaudran): |
Used in the light emitting diode and microwave equipments. The compounds of gallium arsenides are used as semiconductor material like silicon to make computer chip. Liquid gallium expands when it form solid, has very low m. p. of 30*C. |
| Selenium (A.N. =34, A.M. =79, J. Berzelius): |
Allotropic solid non metal. As essential trace element for animals. Named from Greek, Selene- moon, because it was found associated with tellurium= named from earth. The process of Xeroxing is based on the photo conducting nature of selenium. |
| Bromine (A.N. =35, A.M. =80, A. Ballard): |
A non metal in the liquid state. |
| Rubidium (A.N. =37, A.M. =85, R. Bunsen, G. Kirchhoff’s): |
Highly active chemically, Named from the Latin, rubidius= deepest red color of two prominent red lines of its spectrum. |
| Strontium (A.N. =38, A.M. =88, A. Crawford): |
Name after Latin, Strontium= Scotland. Sr-90 is bone seeking beta emitter, destroy the bone marrow. |
| Zirconium (A.N. =40, A.M. =91, M. Kalaproth): |
Named after the Persian; Zargum- golden, because of the color of the gem stone, zircon, chemically zirconium silicate. It is used in making bullet proof alloy sheet. |
| Technetium (A.N. =43, A.M. =99, C. Perrier, E. Segre): |
A transition element radioactive in nature does not occur in the nature. It is the first chemical element to be artificially produced, hence its name from Greek, Technitos= Artificial. |
| Silver (A.N. =47, A.M. =108, Antiquity): |
It was known to ancient civilization symbol, Ag is derived from the Latin name for the metal Argentums. It is the best conductor of heat and electricity. |
| Tin (A.N. =50, A.M. =119, Antiquity): |
Its symbol is derived from the Latin name of metal Stannum. It has 37 isotopes. Tin cans are used for storing food and drinks. Solder is an important alloy of tin and lead. |
| Xeon (A.N. =54, A.M. =131, W. Ramsay, M. Travers): |
An inert gas present in the air in minute amount. Named from Greek, Xenias= Stranger. It is chemically, most reactive among all the inert gases. |
| Cesium (A.N. =55, A.M. =133, R. Bunsen, G. Kirchhoff’s): |
An alkali metal used in the photo cell and radiation monitoring equipments. It has highest thermal expansion at room temperature. Just a heat of hand (37*C) is just sufficient to melt a bar of metal m. p. 28.4*C. |
| Tungsten (A.N. =74, A.M. =184, C. Scheele): |
Among all the metals it has highest m. p. 3407*C and its b. p. 5657*C, using in making filaments of electric bulb. Named from Swedish, Tungsten= Heavy stone. Formally called Wolfram, because its source was mineral wolf Amite. Tungsten bronzes are used as metallic paints. |
| Osmium (A.N. =76, A.M. =190, S. Tennant): |
Second heaviest known element with density 22.57 g/cm3. Named from Greek, Osme= Smell, so named because of unpleasant smell of some of its compound. |
| Iridium (A.N. =77, A.M. =192, S. Tennant): |
Named after Greek, Goddess of rainbow, and Iris in reference to various color of compound. It is the heaviest element with density 22.61 g/cm3. |
| Platinium (A.N. =78, A.M. =195, Antiquity): |
Precious metal. Named from the Spanish, Platina= Silver, for its resemblances with silver. Pt/PtO is called Adam’s catalysts. |
| Gold (A.N. =79, A.M. =197, Antiquity): |
Most ductile metal i.e. 1g metal can be drawn to 2.4 km. Its symbol comes from Roman word Aurum. Colloidal solution of gold is called the Purple of Cassius. Gold is only soluble in mercury. |
| Mercury (A.N. =80, A.M. =201, Antiquity): |
Its symbol is derived from Greek word hydra gyros= water silver. Lowest mp (-38.827*C) and B.P. (356.58*C). Reactivity of very reactive metal can be reduced by alloying them with mercury. The process is called the amalgamations. Fe and Pt do not form amalgams. |
| Thallium (A.N. =81, A.M. =204, W. Crooker): |
White malleable metal resembling lead, Name from Greek, Thallos= green twig, after green lines of spectrum. Used in semiconductor devices. It shows as many as 41 isotopes. |
| Polonium (A.N. =84, A.M. =210, Marie Curie and Pirie Curie): |
The first element to be discovered by radio chemical analysis. Discovered in France in 1898. Named after Poland, the discoverer Marie curie’s native land. |
| Astatine (A.N. =85, A.M. =210, D. Corson, K. Mackenzie): |
A radioactive non metal solid (halogen). First produced artificially in US in 1940. It is rarest in the earth crust. |
| Radon (A.N. =86, A.M. =222, E. Rutherford, R. Owens): |
Naturally occurring radioactive gas, formed by radioactive decay of radium. It is heaviest gas known and chemically belongs to inert gas group. It is rarest in the earth atmosphere only 6x10-20 ppm by volume. |
| Francium (A.N. =87, A.M. =223, M. Perry): |
Extremely rare alkali metal, occurring in minute amount in uranium ore and radioactive in nature. |
| Radium (A.N. =88, A.M. =226, Marie Curie and Pirie Curie): |
Naturally occurring radioactive element. Its most toxic radioactive isotopes in water is radium-228. Radium-226 is bone seeking alpha emitter destroys the bone marrow. |
| Thorium (A.N. =90, A.M. =232, J. Berzelius): |
Naturally occurring ore is monazite sand. All thorium occurs in the form of isotopes. Th-232 isotopes is non fissionable in nature. In nuclear reactors it gives U-233. |
| Uranium (A.N. =92, A.M. =238, M. Klaproth): |
U-238 is non fissionable isotopes and U-235 is fissionable in nature. Most of the uranium is found as U-238 in nature. Uranium fission was discovered by Otto. Hahn in Dec. 1938.Enrico Fermi used the fission process to create first man made nuclear chain reaction on 2nd Dec. 1942. This leads to the Manhattan project to make atomic bombs, to the discovery of the Transuranics elements and the development of nuclear power. Two atomic bombs were used against Japan in 1945. |