Hydrogen (H)

Hydrogen (H)• Discovered in 1766 by Henry

Cavendish• Pilatre de Rozier lost his eyebrows

when he breathed in Hydrogen and blew it over a flame

• He found it was released when metals were put in Sulphuric acid

• Hydro means water• It is the most abundant element in

the universe• When mixed with Oxygen it

explodes, so it is used to fuel Rockets (like the Saturn 5) Hydrogen is glowing red in the

Orion Nebula

Oxygen (O)• Discovered in 1774 by Joseph Priestly and Carl Wilhelm

Scheele• It is the most abundant element on Earth, but when the

Earth was formed there was none of it• One plants appeared they made it • Oxygen does not burn, but it allows other things to burn

in it• It is stored in canisters for hospitals, aeroplanes and

divers• It allows people to fly at high altitudes where there is

very little Oxygen

Carbon (C)

• One of the oldest known elements because it occurs in nature as Coal and Diamond

Left: Cut Diamond

Middle: Graphite

Right: Uncut Diamond

Carbon (2)

• Diamond is the hardest substance known to Scientists

• Carbon Monoxide is an extremely poisonous gas• Living things are made of Carbon, Hydrogen,

Oxygen and small amounts of Nitrogen• Carbon Dioxide does not burn so it is used in fire

extinguishers

Helium (He)• Discovered in 1868 by Pierre Janssen

Helium is very light (not dense) so it is used for balloons and Zeppelins

It makes peoples voice higher

It is the second most abundant element in the universe

Helios is Greek for the Sun where there is lots of Helium

Nitrogen

Neon (Ne)• Discovered

in1898 by William Ramsay and Morris Travers

• It is colourless, but looks red when electricity is passed through it

Neon Lights

Magnesium (Mg)

• Discovered in 1775 by Joseph Black

• It reacts with acid, but not air or water

• Milk of Magnesia is Magnesium Hydroxide

• Epsom Salts are Magnesium Sulphate

• It is used in danger flares and fireworks

Chlorine (Cl)

• Discovered in 1774 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele

• It is a greenish- yellow gas• It was used by the Germans as a

chemical weapon in WW1• Bleach contains Chlorine• It is used to sterilize swimming

pools

Gassed (1918) by John Sargant

• Gas!Gas!77 Gas! Quick, boys! –  An ecstasy of fumbling,  Gas! Quick, boys! –  An ecstasy of fumbling,  Fitting the clumsy helmetsFitting the clumsy helmets just in time;  just in time;  But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,  But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,  And flound'ring like a man in fire or limeAnd flound'ring like a man in fire or lime . . .  . . .  Dim, through the misty panesDim, through the misty panes and thick green light,  and thick green light,  As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.  As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.  In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,  In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,  He plunges at me, guttering,He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. choking, drowning.  Dulce Et Decorum Est, Wilfred Owen

Iodine (I)

• Discovered in 1811 by Bernard Courtois

• It is a blue- black solid

• Seaweed contains a lot of Iodine

• Iodine is produced in the thyroid glands of the body to make people grow

• Iodine can be used to seed clouds

Silver (Ag)

• Known since prehistoric times

• It is the best conductor of heat and electricity

• Hydrogen Sulphides (rotten eggs) tarnish Silver

• Old mirrors have Silver backs

• It is used for Jewellery, money etc.

Copper (Cu)

• Known since prehistoric times

• It is widely used because it does not rust, and it conducts electricity (second only to Silver) and heat

• It is used to make Copper coins

• It is used for Power cables and the electrical wiring in houses

Iron (Fe)

• Known since prehistoric times (the Iron age)• Ferrum is latin for Iron• It is one of the four magnetic metals• Iron rusts in the presence of Oxygen and water• It is found in meteorites along with Nickel• Animals need it in their haemoglobin to allow

Oxygen to be transported through the body• A deficiency of Iron in the diet (not enough red

meat) causes anaemia

Nickel (Ni)

• Discovered in 1751 by Axel Cronstedt

• A magnetic metal

• It is used to make coins (25% Nickel, 75% Copper)

• It dissolves in dilute Nitric acid

• It is found in meteorites

Cobalt (Co)

• Discovered in 1735 by George Brandt

• It is the third magnetic metal

The blue in this Sapphire is Cobalt

Calcium (Ca)

• Discovered in 1808 by Sir Humphrey Davy• It is found in cement, marble, chalk and marble• Calcium Carbonate is limestone• Calcium Oxide (lime) is a neutralizer of soils and

is added to cement and mortar• Teeth and bones contain Calcium• Small amounts of Calcium help the blood clot

Potassium (K)

• Discovered in 1807 by Sir Humphrey Davy• Kalium is the latin for alkali• It is a soft metal that can be cut with a knife• It reacts violently with water• Saltpetre is used in explosives, fireworks

and red matches• Potassium is in fertilizer and is needed for

plants to grow

Sodium (Na)• Discovered in 1807 by Sir Humphrey Davy

• It is a soft metal

• Sea/ table salt is Sodium Chloride

• Baking Soda is Sodium Carbonate

Sulphur (S)

• Known since prehistoric times

• It used to be called brimstone

• Hydrogen Sulphide smells like rotten eggs

• Sulhpur Dioxide has no smell, but is poisonous and forms acid rain

• Sulphuric acid is the strongest acid

• It is used to make matches

Silicon (Si)

• Discovered in 1824 by Baron Jöns Jakob Berzelius

• It is the second most common element on Earth (sand is Silicon Dioxide)

• Silicon chips are used in computers• It is used to make glass• Silica gel is put in new shoes to stop them

smelling

Aluminium (Al)• Discovered in 1825 by Hans Christian Oersted

• It was initially called Aluminum, but because he had discovered several elements and gave them names with –ium at the end, he changed the name to Aluminium

• Americans still use Aluminum

• The french thought it was the new Silver and replaced their Silver cutlery with Aluminium knifes and forks

• It is the most abundant metal on the Earth

• It is very light for a metal (3 times lighter than Steel)

• It is used to make aeroplanes, cars, bikes, pots and pans, sandwich foils and Coke cans

Titanium (Ti)

• Discovered in 1791 by Willaim Gregor

• It is named after the mythological Greek Titans, because of it’s strength

• It is used in missiles and space capsules

• It is rarer than Aluminium making it more expensive

Chromium (Cr)

• Discovered in 1797 by Louis Nicolas Vauquelin

• They can be polished to look really shiny

• Used in alloy wheels

• It makes these wheels rust resistant, harder and stronger

• Stainless steel is 10% Chromium

Zinc (Zn)

• Known since prehistoric times

• Zinc is used to galvanize (strengthen) Steel

• Zinc Oxide is used in paints

• It is insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol and acids

Mercury (Hg)

• Known since prehistoric times• In latin hydragyrum means liquid Silver• The only liquid metal at room temperature• The name is latin and means liquid silver• It is also called quicksilver• It melts at -39°C• Mercury is used in thermometers• Breathing in Mercury vapour over time can cause

brain, liver and kidney damage

Gold (Au)

• Known since prehistoric times• Aurum is latin for Gold• It is very unreactive• It is malleable and ductile• Gold is a rare metal, but it can be found as nuggets

and flakes• It is used for money and jewellery• Dentists put in Gold fillings

Platinum (Pt)

• Discovered in 1735 by Antonio de Ulloa or Julius Scaliger

• It is inert and does not conduct electricity very well

• It is more valuable than Gold because it is rare and difficult to extract from it’s ore

• It is used for apparatus that are placed in high temperature

• It is also used to make jewellery

Lead (Pb)• Known since prehistoric times• The latin for Lead is plumbum (Pb)• It was used to make water pipes in biblical times• Unleaded petrol was created to stop Lead

poisoning (discovered by Clair Patterson in the 1920’s)

• Lead is very dense and prevents radiation getting through it

• Lead is used to make batteries, X-ray vests, and for soldering, lining pipes and tanks and sheathing electrical cables

Phosphorous (P)

• Discovered in 1669 by Hennig Brand• It is extremely poisonous• It catches fire at 34°C, so it has to be stored

in water• It is found in rocks, soil and even our bones

as Phosphates• Red match heads are made from

Phosphorus