The Elements — Descriptions, Uses and Occurrences

1 H	Hydrogen explosive gas, lightest element 90% of atoms in the universe, sun and stars, H2O, life's organic molecules
2 He	Helium inert gas, second-lightest element nuclear fusion in sun and stars, balloons, lasers, supercold refrigerant
3 Li	Lithium lightest metal, soft, reactive lightweight aluminum alloys, batteries, impact-resistant ceramic cookware (Corningware©), mood stabilizer
4 Be	Beryllium lightweight metal non-sparking copper alloy tools, aerospace, X-ray windows, beryl gems: emeralds and aquamarines
5 B	Boron hard black solid borax soap, fertilizer, stiff fibers, sports equipment (golf clubs, tennis rackets, skis), heat-resistant borosilicate glass (Pyrex©), semiconductors
6 C	Carbon hard diamond, soft graphite basis of life's organic molecules, animals, plants, CO2, wood, paper, cloth, plastic, coal, oil
7 N	Nitrogen colorless gas 78% of air, organic molecules, protein, muscles, DNA, ammonia, fertilizer, explosives (TNT), refrigerants
8 O	Oxygen colorless gas 21% of air, H2O, 65% of the human body, organic molecules, blood, breathing, fire, half of Earth's crust, minerals, oxides
9 F	Fluorine yellowish poison gas, most reactive element glowing fluorite, toothpaste, nonstick cookware (Teflon©), CFC refrigerants (Freon©)
10 Ne	Neon inert gas orange-red neon tubes for advertising signs, lasers, supercold refrigerant
11 Na	Sodium Natrium soft metal, reactive salt (NaCl), nerves, baking soda, antacids, lye, soap, soda ash, glass, papermaking, street lamps
12 Mg	Magnesium lightweight metal chlorophyll in green plants, talc, basalt, aluminum alloys, cars, planes, bikes, flares, sparklers, antacids
13 Al	Aluminum or Aluminium lightweight non-corroding metal common metal, kitcheware, cans, foil, machinery, cars, planes, bikes, feldspar, granite, clay, ceramics, corundum, gems
14 Si	Silicon hard metalloid quartz, granite, sand, soil, clay, ceramics, glass, algae, diatoms, semiconductors, computer chips, silicone rubber
15 P	Phosphorus glowing white waxy solid (also red and black forms) bones, DNA, energy-storing phosphates (ATP), fertilizer, acids, detergents, matches
16 S	Sulfur Sulphur brittle yellow solid skin, hair, eggs, onions, garlic, skunks, hot springs, volcanos, gypsum, rubber, acids, papermaking
17 Cl	Chlorine greenish poison gas salt (NaCl), bleach, stomach acid, disinfectant, drinking water, swimming pools, PVC plastic pipes and bottles
18 Ar	Argon inert gas 1% of air, most abundant inert gas on Earth, light bulbs, "neon" tubes, lasers, welding gas
19 K	Potassium Kalium soft metal, reactive salts, nerves, nutrient in fruits and vegetables, soap, fertilizer, potash, matches, gunpowder
20 Ca	Calcium soft metal bones, teeth, milk, leaves, vegetables, shells, coral, limestone, chalk, gypsum, plaster, mortar, cement, marble, antacids
21 Sc	Scandium soft lightweight metal aluminum alloys, racing bikes, stadium lamps, furnace bricks, aquamarines
22 Ti	Titanium strongest lightweight metal, heat-resistant aerospace, racing bikes, artificial joints, white paint, blue sapphires
23 V	Vanadium hard metal hard strong resilient steel, structures, vehicles, springs, driveshafts, tools, aerospace, violet sapphires
24 Cr	Chromium hard shiny metal stainless steel (Fe-Cr-Ni), kitchenware, nichrome heaters, car trim, paints, recording tape, emeralds and rubies
25 Mn	Manganese hard metal hard tough steel, earthmovers, rock crushers, rails, plows, axes, batteries, fertilizer, amethysts
26 Fe	Iron Ferrum medium-hard metal, magnetic steel alloys are mostly iron, structures, vehicles, magnets, Earth's core, red rocks, blood
27 Co	Cobalt hard metal, magnetic hard strong steel, cutting tools, turbines, magnets (Al-Ni-Co), blue glass and ceramics, vitamin B-12
28 Ni	Nickel medium-hard metal, magnetic stainless steel (Fe-Cr-Ni), kitchenware, nichrome heaters, coins, nicad batteries, Earth's core
29 Cu	Copper Cuprum colored metal, conducts heat and electricity well wires, cookware, brass (Cu-Zn), bronze (Cu-Sn), coins, pipes, blue crab blood
30 Zn	Zinc non-corroding metal galvanized steel, brass (Cu-Zn), batteries, white paint, phosphors in TVs and lamps, fertilizer
31 Ga	Gallium soft metal, melts on a hot day semiconductors, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (GaAs), signal lights, tiny lasers
32 Ge	Germanium brittle metalloid semiconductors, transistors, rectifiers, diodes, photocells, lenses, infrared windows
33 As	Arsenic brittle metalloid poisons, semiconductors, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (GaAs), signal lights, tiny lasers
34 Se	Selenium brittle gray solid semiconductors, photocopiers, laser printers, photocells, red glass, dandruff shampoo, rubber
35 Br	Bromine dark red liquid disinfectant, pools and spas, photo film, flame retardant, leaded gas, sedatives
36 Kr	Krypton inert gas high-intensity lamps, headlights, flashlights, lanterns, "neon" tubes, lasers
37 Rb	Rubidium soft metal, reactive atomic clocks, global navigation (GPS), vacuum tube scavenger
38 Sr	Strontium soft metal red fireworks, flares, phosphors, nuclear batteries, medical diagnostic tracer, nuclear fallout
39 Y	Yttrium soft metal phosphors in color TVs, lasers (YAG, YLF), furnace bricks, high-temperature superconductors
40 Zr	Zirconium non-corroding neutron-resistant metal chemical pipelines, nuclear reactors, furnace bricks, abrasives, zircon gems
41 Nb	Niobium high-melting-point non-corroding metal chemical pipelines, superconductors, magnetic levitation trains, MRI magnets
42 Mo	Molybdenum high-melting-point metal hard steel, cutting tools, drill bits, armor plate, gun barrels, fertilizer
43 Tc	Technetium radioactive, long-lived first human-made element, only traces on Earth but found in stars, medical diagnostic tracer
44 Ru	Ruthenium non-corroding hard metal electric contacts, leaf switches, pen tips, catalyst, hydrogen production
45 Rh	Rhodium non-corroding hard shiny metal labware, reflectors, electric contacts, thermocouples, catalyst, pollution control
46 Pd	Palladium non-corroding hard metal, absorbs hydrogen labware, electric contacts, dentistry, catalyst, pollution control
47 Ag	Silver Argentum soft shiny metal, conducts electricity best of all elements jewelry, silverware, coins, dentistry, photo film
48 Cd	Cadmium non-corroding soft metal, toxic electroplated steel, nicad batteries, red and yellow paints, fire sprinklers
49 In	Indium soft metal solders, glass seals, glass coatings, liquid crystal displays (LCD), semiconductors, diodes, photocells
50 Sn	Tin Stanum non-corroding soft metal solders, plated food cans, bronze (Cu-Sn), pewter cups, glassmaking, fire sprinklers
51 Sb	Antimony Stibium brittle metalloid solders, lead hardener, batteries, bullet, semiconductors, photocells, matches, flame retardant
52 Te	Tellurium brittle metalloid alloys, semiconductors, photocopiers, computer disk, thermo-electric coolers and generators
53 I	Iodine violet-black solid disinfectant for wounds and drinking water, added to salt to prevent thyroid disease, photo film
54 Xe	Xenon inert gas high-intensity lamps, headlights, stadium lamps, projectors, strobes, lasers, spacecraft ion engines
55 Cs	Cesium Caesium soft metal, melts on a hot day, reactive, largest stable atoms atomic clocks, global navigation (GPS), vacuum tube scavenger
56 Ba	Barium soft metal, absorbs X-rays stomach X-ray contrast enhancer, green fireworks, whitener and filler for paper
57 La	Lanthanum soft metal optical glass, telescope eyepieces, camera lenses, lighter flints, arc lamps
58 Ce	Cerium soft metal most abundant rare earth metal, lighter flints, arc lamps, gas lamp mantles, self-cleaning ovens, glass polishing
59 Pr	Praseodymium soft metal torchworkers' didymium eyeglasses, lighter flints, arc lamps, magnets, yellow glass
60 Nd	Neodymium soft metal strong magnets (Nd-Fe-B), electric motors, speakers and headphones, lasers, lighter flints
61 Pm	Promethium radioactive, long-lived human-made, small traces in nature, luminous dials, sheet thickness gauges
62 Sm	Samarium soft metal magnets (Sm-Co), electric motors, speakers and headphones, infrared sensors, infrared-absorbing glass
63 Eu	Europium soft metal phosphors in color TVs and trichromatic fluorescent lamps, luminous paint, lasers
64 Gd	Gadolinium soft metal, best neutron absorber, magnetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancer, phosphors, neutron radiography
65 Tb	Terbium soft metal phosphors in color TVs and trichromatic fluorescent lamps, computer disks, magnetostrictive "smart" materials (Fe-Dy-Tb) (Terfenol-D©)
66 Dy	Dysprosium soft metal nuclear control rods, MRI phosphors, computer disks, magnetostrictive "smart" materials (Fe-Dy-Tb) (Terfenol-D©)
67 Ho	Holmium soft metal infrared lasers, laser surgery, eye-safe laser rangefinders, computer disks, yellow glass filters
68 Er	Erbium soft metal fiber optic signal amplifiers, infrared lasers, laser surgery, pink glass, sunglasses, vanadium alloys
69 Tm	Thulium soft metal rarest stable rare earth metal, infrared lasers, laser surgery, phosphors
70 Yb	Ytterbium soft metal fiber optic signal amplifiers, infrared fiber lasers, stainless steel alloys
71 Lu	Lutetium soft metal, densest and hardest rare earth metal cancer-fighting photodynamic (light-activated) medicine
72 Hf	Hafnium non-corroding metal, absorbs neutrons nuclear reactor control rods in submarines, plasma torch electrodes
73 Ta	Tantalum high-melting-point non-corroding metal labware, surgical tools, artificial joints, capacitors, mobile phones
74 W	Tungsten Wolfram highest-melting-point metal, dense filaments in lamps and TVs, cutting tools, abrasives, thermocouples
75 Re	Rhenium high-melting-point dense metal rocket engines, heater coils, laboratory filaments, electric contacts, thermocouples, catalyst
76 Os	Osmium non-corroding high-melting-point hard metal, densest element (same as Ir) electric contacts, pen tips, needles, fingerprint powder
77 Ir	Iridium non-corroding hard metal, densest element (same as Os) labware, spark plugs, pen tips, needles
78 Pt	Platinum non-corroding dense metal labware, spark plugs, catalyst, pollution control, petroleum cracking, processing fats
79 Au	Gold Aurum most malleable element, dense non-tarnishing colored metal jewelry, coins, ultra-thin gold leaf, electric contacts
80 Hg	Mercury Hydrargium liquid metal, toxic thermometers, barometers, thermostats, street lamps, fluorescent lamps, dentistry
81 Tl	Thallium soft metal, toxic low-melting-point mercury alloys, low-temperature thermometers, undersea lamps, photocells
82 Pb	Lead Plumbum dense, soft, non-corroding metal, toxic weights, solders, batteries, bullets, crystal glass, old plumbing, radiation shield
83 Bi	Bismuth low melting point, brittle metal solders, fuses, fire sprinklers (plugs melt when hot), cosmetics pigment
84 Po	Polonium radioactive, long-lived first radioactive element found, small traces in nature, anti-static brushes, tobacco
85 At	Astatine radioactive, short-lived small traces in nature, cancer medicine
86 Rn	Radon radioactive gas, short-lived environmental hazard, surgical implants for cancer treatment
87 Fr	Francium radioactive, short-lived, atoms larger than cesium small traces in nature, studied in laser atom traps
88 Ra	Radium radioactive, long-lived luminous watches (now banned), medical radon production, radiography, radwaste
89 Ac	Actinium radioactive, long-lived small traces in nature, cancer medicine, neutron source, radwaste
90 Th	Thorium radioactive, long-lived most abundant radioactive element, nuclear reactor fuel, gas lamp mantles, tungsten filaments, radwaste
91 Pa	Protactinium radioactive, long-lived small traces in nature, no uses, radwaste
92 U	Uranium radioactive, long-lived, dense nuclear reactor fuel, nuclear weapons, counterweights, armor-piercing bullets
93 Np	Neptunium radioactive, long-lived small traces in nature, neutron detectors, dosimeters, possibly nuclear weapons, radwaste
94 Pu	Plutonium radioactive, long-lived small traces in nature, nuclear reactor fuel, spacecraft power, nuclear weapons
95 Am	Americium radioactive, long-lived never found in nature, smoke detectors, sheet thickness gauges, radwaste
96 Cm	Curium radioactive, long-lived never found in nature, scientific instruments, mineral analyzers, radwaste
97 Bk	Berkelium radioactive, long-lived never found in nature, no uses, radwaste
98 Cf	Californium radioactive, long-lived never found in nature, scientific instruments, mineral analyzers, radwaste
99 Es	Einsteinium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
100 Fm	Fermium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
101 Md	Mendelevium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
102 No	Nobelium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
103 Lr	Lawrencium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
104 Rf	Rutherfordium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
105 Db	Dubnium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
106 Sg	Seaborgium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
107 Bh	Bohrium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
108 Hs	Hassium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
109 Mt	Meitnerium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
110 Ds	Darmstadtium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
111 Rg	Roentgenium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
112 Cn	Copernicium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
113 Nh	Nihonium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
114 Fl	Flerovium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
115 Mc	Moscovium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
116 Lv	Livermorium radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
117 Ts	Tennessine radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses
118 Og	Oganesson radioactive, short-lived never found in nature, no uses (heaviest element yet made when this was written)

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 short-lived. Some super-heavy elements marked short-lived may in future be found to have long-lived isotopes (see island of stability).

Reference: IUPAC is the world authority on the naming of elements (see IUPAC periodic table).