Name the symbol.
Hydrogen is the most widely occurring element in the universe.
Name the element.
Hydrogen is a very important element in compounds of living systems, but is rarely found in its molecular gas form (H2) naturally.
Name the symbol.
Helium has the lowest boiling point of any element.
Name the element.
Most helium on Earth is generated by radioactive decay of other elements like thorium or uranium.
Name the symbol.
Lithium is the lightest metal and has the highest specific heat capacity of any solid element.
Name the element.
Lithium derives from the Greek word for stone, ‘lithos’ as it was discovered from a mineral, unlike its other alkali metal counterparts.
Name the symbol.
Beryllium is a rare and toxic element that is not found in nature as a free element.
Name the element.
Beryllium is commonly used in gears and cogs, especially in aviation.
Name the symbol.
Boron is a metalloid with properties that are intermediate between those of metals and nonmetals.
Name the element.
Boron in its pure form is a dark, amorphous powder.
Name the symbol.
Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass.
Name the element.
Carbon is essential to life on Earth, due to its capacity to form a wide variety of chains and bonded structures.
Name the symbol.
Nitrogen gas makes up approximately 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Name the element.
Nitrogen comes from the Greek ‘nitron’ and ‘genes’ to altogether mean ‘nitre forming’.
Name the symbol.
Oxygen gas is essential for respiration in living organisms.
Name the element.
Oxygen gets its name from ‘oxy genes’, the Greek for ‘acid forming’.
Name the symbol.
Fluorine is the most electronegative element and is highly reactive.
Name the element.
Fluorine is a pale yellow-green gas.
Name the symbol.
Neon is a noble gas that is most commonly used in advertising signs.
Name the element.
Neon comes from the Greek ‘neos’ meaning ‘new’.
Name the symbol.
Sodium is a highly reactive metal that is essential for life.
Name the element.
Sodium in its ionic form is essential for biological processes such as signal transmission between neurons (brain cells).
Name the symbol.
Magnesium is a lightweight metal that is important for many biochemical processes in the body.
Name the element.
Magnesium in its ionic form acts as an important cofactor for many enzymes (biochemical catalysts).
Name the symbol.
Aluminum is a lightweight and strong metal that is widely used in construction.
Name the element.
Aluminum gets its name from the latin ‘alumen’ meaning ‘bitter salt’.
Name the symbol.
Diatoms (photosynthesising algae) uniquely have cell walls made up of silica (hydrated silicon dioxide).
Name the element.
Silicon is a metalloid that is widely used in the production of computer microchips.
Name the symbol.
Phosphorus is an essential component of DNA, RNA, and ATP.
Name the element.
Phosphorus comes from the very similar Greek word ‘phosphoros’, translating to ‘bringer of light’.
Name the symbol.
Sulfur is a nonmetal that is used in the production of sulfuric acid.
Name the element.
The most common allotrope of sulfur appears as yellow crystals or powder.
Name the symbol.
Chlorine is a highly reactive nonmetal that is commonly used as a disinfectant.
Name the element.
Chlorine was once used to produce an anaesthetic called chloroform, but due to its damaging side effects its use was discontinued.
Name the symbol.
Argon is a noble gas that is used to fill incandescent light bulbs.
Name the element.
It comes from the Greek ‘argos’ which translates to ‘idle’.
Name the symbol.
The reason potassium has the symbol ‘K’ is because it comes from the word ‘kalium’, a stem of ‘alkali’, which derives from the arabic word ‘al qalyah’ meaning ‘plant ashes’.
Name the element.
Potassium is an essential element for the functioning of many organs, including the heart, kidneys, and muscles.
Name the symbol.
Calcium is an important mineral for the human body that is necessary for strong bones and teeth.
Name the element.
The average human is made up of about 1kg of calcium!
Name the symbol.
Scandium is a rare earth element that is used in the production of alloys.
Name the element.
Scandium is a rare earth element that is used in the production of alloys.
Name the symbol.
Titanium is a lightweight but strong metal that is widely used in aerospace and marine applications.
Name the element.
Titanium oxide is a common ingredient of suncreen as it protects skin from UV light rays.
Name the symbol.
Vanadium is a transition metal that is used in the production of steel.
Name the element.
Vanadium comes from the old Norse name for the Goddess Freyja, ‘Vanadis’.
Name the symbol.
Chromium is a transition metal that is commonly used in the production of stainless steel.
Name the element.
Chromium is an essential trace mineral for humans, however only in small trace amounts - above this is toxic.
Name the symbol.
Manganese is a transition metal that is important for many biological processes.
Name the element.
Manganese is an important cofactor of some enzymes and helps us utilise vitamin B1.
Name the symbol.
Iron is a transition metal that is essential for many biological processes, including oxygen transport in blood.
Name the element.
In the Earth’s crust, iron is the fourth most abundant element by mass.
Name the symbol.
Cobalt is a transition metal that is used in the production of rechargeable batteries.
Name the element.
‘Cobalt’ comes from the German word ‘kobold’, meaning ‘goblin’, which were believed to lead miners in their quest for tin astray.
Name the symbol.
Nickel is a transition metal that is commonly used in the production of coins.
Name the element.
Nickel is an efficient catalyst for hydrogenation reactions.
Name the symbol.
Copper is a transition metal that is highly conductive and is widely used in electrical wiring.
Name the element.
Genetic disorders such as Menkes’ and Wilson’s disease can disrupt the body’s ability to utilise copper.
Name the symbol.
Zinc is a transition metal that is used in the production of galvanized steel.
Name the element.
Zinc sulfide is used in x-ray screens.
Name the symbol.
Gallium is a rare element that is used in the production of semiconductors.
Name the element.
Gallium is mainly produced as a byproduct of zinc refining.
Name the symbol.
Germanium is a metalloid that is widely used in the production of transistors.
Name the element.
Due to being non-toxic to mammals in small amounts but shown to be effective against some bacteria, Germanium is studied for potential uses by some scientists in the pharmaceutical field.
Name the symbol.
Arsenic is a metalloid that is highly toxic and can cause a variety of health problems.
Name the element.
Arsenic bonds to atoms of the hair, and so samples can be studied for suspected arsenic poisoning or exposure.
Name the symbol.
Selenium is a nonmetal that is used in the production of solar cells.
Name the element.
The Greek goddess of the moon, Selene, inspired the name for this element.
Name the symbol.
Bromine is a highly reactive nonmetal that is used as a disinfectant.
Name the element.
Bromine comes from the Greek for ‘stench’, which is ‘bromos’.
Name the symbol.
Krypton is a noble gas that is used in some types of photographic flashes.
Name the element.
Krypton only reacts with fluorine gas.
Name the symbol.
The symbol ‘Ag’ comes from the latin for silver, ‘argentum’.
Name the element.
Silver is a soft, white, lustrous transition metal with the highest electrical conductivity of any element.
Name the symbol.
Iodine is a nonmetallic element with a deep violet color that is commonly used in antiseptics and disinfectants.
Name the element.
Iodine deficiency can lead to goitre (swelling of the thyroid gland).
Name the symbol.
Gold is a soft, yellow, dense metal that is highly valued for its beauty and rarity.
Name the element.
Early alchemy was fixated on attempting to turn other elements into gold - especially lead.
Name the symbol.
Although its biological role is not fully known, mercury is widespread throughout living systems.
Name the element.
Mercury is a silver-colored, heavy, liquid metal that is toxic to humans and animals.
Name the symbol.
Lead is a dense, soft, grey metal that is highly toxic and can cause a variety of health problems.
Name the element.
Lead can be used to store corrosive substances.
