The Elements Book A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table

The muddy water 118 Oganesson
from volcanic springs
Og
contains radon.

Hot springs in Lisvori, Greece Noble Gases

118 118 177

These pipes draw water containing Geothermal power plant State: Solid
radon from deep under the ground, Discovery: 2006
and this is then used to power the plant.
Yuri Oganessian
This kit collects radon from
the air so the amount of the gas The heaviest element yet made is oganesson. Scientists
think it would be solid at room temperature, but it may really
in the area can be measured. be an unreactive, noble gas. However, only a few atoms
have been created so far, so its properties are not well
adon home test kit understood. Oganesson was first produced by a team of
Russian and American scientists who smashed californium
and calcium atoms together at the Joint Institute for
Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia. The element was
named after Yuri Oganessian, the leader of the team.

R

Joint Institute For Nuclear Research, Russia 199

Glossary Glossary

Acid Alloy Battery Chemistry
A compound that contains A material made by mixing A device containing The scientific study of the
hydrogen, and releases a metal with tiny amounts of chemicals that react to properties and reactions of
ions of hydrogen when other metals or non-metals. produce an electric current. the elements.
it is dissolved in water. Steel is a common alloy used There are two main kinds
These ions make acids in buildings and railways. of battery: rechargeable Chemical
very reactive. and non-rechargeable. Another word for a substance,
Artificial generally meaning a compound
Actinide Something that does not Boiling point made from several elements.
A member of a group of exist in nature. Several The temperature at which
radioactive metals with elements, including all that a liquid gets hot enough Combustion
relatively large atoms. are heavier than uranium, are to change into a gas. A chemical reaction, involving
artificially produced by oxygen, in which a fuel burns
Alchemist scientists in laboratories. Bond to produce heat and light in
People who experimented The attraction between atoms the form of flames.
with chemicals before the Atmosphere that holds them together in an
science of chemistry began. The mixture of gases that element or a compound.
Alchemists thought they could surrounds a planet or moon.
turn ordinary metals into gold. Earth’s atmosphere is a Brittle
mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, A way of describing a hard
Alkali and argon, with tiny amounts solid that shatters easily.
A compound that takes of several other gases.
hydrogen ions from water Carbonate
molecules when it is Atom A compound that contains
dissolved in water. Alkalis The smallest unit of an carbon and oxygen atoms, as
react with acids. element. Atoms are composed well as atoms of other elements.
of protons, neutrons, and Many minerals are carbonates.
Alkali metal electrons. The atoms of a
A group of metals that particular element all have Catalyst Flames are the result
make alkalis when they the same number of protons. A substance that speeds up of combustion.
react with water. a chemical reaction.
Atomic number Compound
Alkaline earth metal The number of protons Chemist A substance made of the atoms
A group of metals that are in an atom of an element. A scientist who studies the of one or more elements that
found in nature, mainly in Every element has a unique, elements, their compounds, are bonded together in a
alkaline minerals. unchanging atomic number. and chemical reactions. particular combination.

These vanadinite Conductor
crystals contain A substance that lets heat or
electricity flow easily through it.
the element
vanadium.

Contract
To make or become smaller.
Solids, liquids, and gases
usually contract when the
temperature goes down.

Corrosion
A chemical reaction that
attacks a metal, or other
solid object, usually due to the
200 presence of oxygen and water.

Crystal Electrolysis Expand Hardness Glossary
A naturally occurring solid A process in which a To make or become bigger. A measure of how
substance whose atoms are compound is split into simpler Solids, liquids, and gases easy it is to scratch or
arranged in a regular three substances using an electric usually expand when the cut a substance with
dimensions pattern. current. Many elements, such temperature rises. another substance.
as aluminium, are purified
Decay from their compounds in Fission Hydroxide
A process in which ores in this way. A process in which the A type of compound
unstable atoms of nucleus of an unstable atom containing hydrogen and
radioactive elements break Electrode splits in two when it collides oxygen, and normally
apart. The atoms of one An electrical contact in an with a neutron. It releases a metallic element.
element are transformed electric circuit. Electrodes more neutrons that start the
into those of another can have a positive or cycle again, and this continues This is a chunk
element during decay. negative charge. as a chain reaction. Many of ytterbium,
unstable nuclei undergo fission a lanthanide.
Density Electron spontaneously, without being
The amount of matter A negatively charged particle hit by a neutron. Fission
held within a known inside an atom. Electrons releases a lot of energy. The
volume of a material. orbit the atom’s nucleus (or process is used to generate
core) in layers called shells. electricity in nuclear power
Dissolve They are also exchanged plants, and it can trigger
To become completely or shared by atoms to atom bomb explosions.
mixed into another substance. make bonds that hold
In most cases, a solid, such molecules together. Flammable
as salt, dissolves in a liquid, A way of describing a material
such as water. Element that can catch fire easily.
A pure substance that cannot
Earthenware be broken down into any Fusion
A basic form of simpler substances. Elements A process in which small
pottery, in which clay are the building blocks of atoms, such as those of
is heated to make it matter. There are 118 known hydrogen, are fused together
form hard structures. elements on Earth. with such force that they
merge to form larger
This element atoms, while releasing Ion
calcium is in a lot of energy. The Sun An atom or a group of atoms
crystal form. is powered by the fusion that have an electric charge.
of hydrogen atoms into While atoms have no overall
helium in its central core. charge, they become positive
ions if they lose electrons
Gas or negative ions if they
A state in which the particles gain electrons.
of matter (atoms or molecules)
are not attached to each other, Insulator
and move freely. A gas can A substance that does not let
flow, take any shape, and fill heat or electricity flow easily
any container. through it.

Group Isotope
A set of elements in a A form of an element with
column in the periodic table. atoms that have the same
Elements in a group have number of protons but a
similar properties because different number of neutrons.
each atom has the same
number of electrons in its
outer shell.

Halogen Lanthanide 201
A member of a group near A member of a set of metals
the far right of the periodic with relatively large atoms. The
table. Halogens form salts elements in this series sit with
with metals. They are reactive, the actinides, below the main
non-metallic elements. part of the periodic table.

Glossary Laser Magnetic are seawater, milk, and mud. Nucleus
A beam of light with a single Relating to a magnet. The contents of a mixture An atom’s core, which
wavelength, in which the can be separated by a physical contains its protons and
waves are all perfectly in step. Magnetic field process, such as filtration. neutrons. Nearly all the
Lasers are used in electronics The force field around mass of an atom is packed
and surgery. a magnet. Molecule into its nucleus.
A single particle of a compound.
Melting point Its two or more atoms are Ore
The temperature at which a bonded together. A rock or mineral from
solid gets hot enough to turn which a useful element such
into a liquid. Neutron as a metal can be purified
A neutral particle in the and isolated.
Milk is a type Metal nucleus of an atom. A
of mixture. A type of element that is likely neutron is about the same Oxide
to react by giving away the size as a proton but it does A compound in which oxygen
LED outermost electrons in its not have an electric charge. is bound to one or more
Short for light-emitting atoms. Most elements are other elements.
diode. An LED is a device metals, and they tend to be Noble gases
that produces light when hard, shiny solids. Mercury A group of elements that are Particle
an electric current passes is the only metal that is liquid unreactive and generally form A basic unit of which
through it. The colour at room temperature. no compounds with the other substances are made.
of its light depends on elements. This is because the Sub-atomic particles are
the compounds used in it. Mineral outermost shells in their atoms units of which atoms are
A naturally occurring solid are filled with electrons. This made including protons,
compound – or mixture of group sits on the extreme right neutrons, electrons, and
compounds – made up of the periodic table. many other smaller ones.
of different elements. Every
mineral has particular Non-metal Particle accelerator
characteristics, such as crystal A type of element that is A machine in which atoms or
shape and hardness. Minerals likely to react by acquiring sub-atomic particles are made
are mixed together to make electrons in the outermost to collide at high speeds. These
the rocks in Earth’s crust. shell of its atoms. Non-metals collisions are then studied by
are usually crystalline scientists. Particle accelerators
Liquid Mixture solids, such as sulfur, or are used to produce artificial
A state in which the particles A collection of substances gases, such as oxygen. elements as well as study
of matter (atoms or molecules) that fill the same space but are Bromine is the only particles smaller than atoms.
are only loosely attached to not connected by chemical non-metal that is liquid A cyclotron is a type of
each other, and move freely. bonds. Examples of mixtures at room temperature. particle accelerator.
A liquid can flow and take any
shape, but has a fixed volume. These petal-like shapes may form
when desert sand mixes with barite,
Mass
The amount of matter in an ore of barium.
a substance.

Matter
The material that makes
up everything around us.

Maglev
Short for magnetic levitation.
This refers to some kinds
of high-speed train that use
magnets to propel themselves
while hovering over a track.

Magnet
A solid object that produces
a magnetic field, which
attracts certain materials
to it and can attract or
202 repel other magnets.

Period or decays. When a nucleus Synthetic Toxic Glossary
A set of elements in a row in decays, it releases at least one Another word for artificial. Another word for poisonous
the periodic table. Each atom particle and its atomic number Out of the 118 known or harmful.
of the elements in the first changes, so that the atom elements on Earth, more than
period have one electron shell. becomes a different element. 25 are synthetically made. Transparent
Atoms in the second period Another word for see-through.
have two electron shells. Reaction Toughness Glass, water, and air are
A chemical process in A quality of a solid that transparent to light. Many
Periodic table which atoms or molecules shows how difficult it is to materials are transparent
A table that identifies and form bonds with each other break. Steel is very tough – to other forms of radiation.
classifies all known elements. to form a new compound – it may bend or twist, but is
or rearrange, to produce much harder to break. Vacuum
Photograph negative different compounds. An empty space that
A film or plate that has been Transition metal does not contain air
exposed to light to show an Renewable energy A member of the set of or any other substance.
image with reversed colours. A source of energy that will metals that sit in the middle
not run out, for example, wind. of the periodic table. Most Vapour
Photosynthesis metals belong to this set. A gas that can easily be
A complicated set of chemical Rust changed back to a liquid,
reactions by which plants make The common name for by cooling it or putting it
their food. They use the energy the compounds that form under pressure.
of sunlight to convert water when iron reacts with
and carbon dioxide into sugar oxygen and water. Verdigris
and oxygen. The green-grey layer that
Salt forms on copper when it
Pollution A compound that forms comes in contact with air.
Harmful substances that are when an acid reacts with
released into the environment. an alkali. Sodium chloride The Statue of
Pollution can be chemical – a is the most familiar example Liberty is covered
gas, liquid, or solid added to of a salt.
the air, water, or soil. with a layer
Semi-metal of verdigris.
Pressure An element that has properties
A measure of how hard a force of both metals and non-metals. 203
pushes on a surface. Pressure
depends upon the strength Smelting
of the force and the area of A chemical process that
the surface. involves great heat in which a
metal is extracted from its ore.
Proton
A positively charged particle Solid
in the nucleus of an atom. A state in which the particles
Protons attract electrons, and of matter (atoms or molecules)
they circle the nucleus. are bound to each other, so
they remain in fixed positions.
Radar A solid has a fixed shape
A system that detects the and volume.
positions and speed of distant
objects, such as aircraft. Stainless steel
An alloy of iron and carbon
Radiation that also contains other metals,
Energy released by atoms such as chromium, which stop
as light, infrared, ultraviolet the iron from rusting and
(UV), and X-rays. The term increase its toughness.
“radiation” is also used to
describe the rays given out Superconductor
by radioactive substances. A substance through which
an electric current flows
Radioactive with no resistance; most
Describes a substance that substances resist the flow
contains unstable atoms, in of electricity, and produce
which the nucleus breaks apart, heat when current flows.

Index Index

Page numbers in bold B calcite 42 copernicium 107
indicate a main entry. calcium 42–43, 44–45, 199 Copernicus, Nicolaus 107
Badlands National Park, USA californium 125, 199 copper 68–69, 70–71
A 92 cameras 40, 110, 148 cosmetics 51, 162, 163
cancer 86 covalent bonds 17
acid rain 169 Balard, Antoine–Jérôme 185 cans 149 crocoite 57, 150
actinides 119 balloons 21, 191 carbon 140–141, 142–143, Crookes, William 138
actinium 119, 120, bank notes 113 cryolite 178
barite 48 145 cubic zirconia 115
121 barium 36, 48–49 carbon monoxide testers 82 Curie, Marie 51, 124,
aerogel 147 barometers 101 cars 25, 79, 197
aeschynite 122 bastnasite 110 cassiterite 149 174
aircraft 54, 133, 134–135 batteries 25, 59, 86 catalytic converters 82, 83 Curie, Pierre 51, 174
airships 191 battery acid 169 caves 43, 59 curium 124
alchemy 9 bauxite 132 celestine 168 cutlery 85
alkali metals 23 benitoite 48 ceramics 47, 172, 179 cyclotron particle accelerator
alkaline earth metals berkelium 124 cerium 11, 111
beryllium 38–39 chalcopyrite 68 122, 127
37 Berzelius, Jacob 11 chalk 43
aluminium 132–133, bicycles 78, 143 Chandra X-ray Observatory D
bismuth 152, 162–163, 187
134–135 bleach 181 (CXO) 93 Dalton, John 11
Alvarez, Luis Walter body armour 55 chemical reactions 16–17 Damascus Steel 56
Bohr, Niels 104 china 159 Danakil Depression 170–171
93 bohrium 104 chlorine 180–181, 182–183 darmstadtium 106
americium 123 bombs 21, 174 chloroform 181 dating (rock) 33
amethyst 146 Boric acid 131 chlorophyll 41 Davy, Humphry 10, 46, 48
anaesthesia machines bornite 68 chromite 57 Dead Sea 184
boron 129, 130–131 chromium 57 death masks 97
197 Boyle, Robert 9 chrysoberyl 38
Andes Mountains, Peru braggite 82 cinnabar 100 Laboof rpautorreycsharmomplieum
Brand, Hennig 158 circuit boards 80, 85, 147
28–29 brimstone 168 clay 131
anglesite 150 bromine 184–185 Cleve, Per Teodor 115
antimony 161 brookite 55 clocks 34
apatite 159 Buddha 98 clouds 85
aphthitalite 30 Bunsen, Robert 11, 34 coal 142
aquamarine 38 buses 21 cobalt 52, 64–65
aragonite 42 coins 67, 83, 84
argenite 84 C colloids 17
argon 195 columbite 77
Armbruster, Peter 104 cadmium 86 combustion 166
arsenic 160 caesium 11, 34 compasses 93
artificial joints 55, 64, calaverite 96 compounds 17
conductors 68,
88
astatine 187 75, 133
astronauts 97
Atlas V (rocket) 167
atom bombs 174
atomic clocks 34
204 atoms 12–13

Diamond Gahn, Johan Gottlieb 59 helium 190–191, 192–193
galena 150 hemimorphite 72
Death Valley, USA 130 euxenite 54 gallium 128, 136 Hofmann, Sigurd 106
dental equipment 25, 76, 94 explosions 16 galvanised steel 73, 73 holmium 115
diamonds 142, 144–145 explosives 154 garnierite 66 Holtermann Nugget 97
diaspore 136 gases 8, 11, 20, 189 Hope, Thomas Charles 46
diving clothing 183 F Gay-Lussac, Joseph Louis hopper crystals 162
DNA 159 hot springs 170–171
dolomite 40 Fermi, Enrico 126 131 human body, elements in 9
drag racing 155, 156–157 fermium 126 geiger counters 121 hydrogen 18–19, 20–21, 157
drill bits 89 fertilizers 155, 159 geothermal power plants hydrogen bomb test 125
drugs see medicines fibreglass 81
dubnium 102 fibre optics 173 198 I
dyes 155 film projectors 197 germanite 148
dysprosium 115 fingerprinting 91 germanium 148 illuminated signs 194
fire 167 Ghiorso, Albert 102 indium 137
E fire protection suits 132–133, glass 31, 59, 112, 178 ink 186
glucometer tests 83 insulators 33
Earth’s atmosphere 9 185 glues 155 iodine 176, 186
Einstein, Albert 125 fireworks 27, 41, 47 gold 96–97, 98–99 ionic bonds 17
einsteinium 125 flares 47 Golden Buddha, Vietnam iridium 92–93
electrical equipment 68, Flerov, Georgy 151 iron 60–61
flerovium 151 98 iron ore 62
70–71, 80 flowers 168 graphite 142 isotopes 13, 65
electricity 47, 120 fluorine 178–179 greenockite 86
electrolysis 10 fluorite 178 groups 14, 15 J
electromagnetism 13, Fly Geyser, USA 44–45 guitars 67
francium 35 gunpowder 31 jet engines 64, 134–135
68 fuel cell 95 jewellery 81, 94, 97
electrons 12 H Joint Institute for Nuclear
electronic devices 25 G
electroplating 69 hafnium 87 Research, Russia 151, 175,
engines 167 Gadolin, Johan 74, 114 Hahn, Otto 105 199
erbium 116 gadolinite 54 halite 26, 180 Jupiter 20
Esplanade Theatre, gadolinium 114 halogens 177
hassium 104 205
Singapore 133 Heavy Ion Research Centre,
europium 108, 113
Germany 104, 106
helicopters 38–39

oratfopruyresaimropnle
Lab
o

IndexK

Nickkernite 130
Kirchhoff, Gustav 34 Mendeleev, Dmitri 15, 126, el balls periods 14, 15
kohl 161 148 perovskite 55
krypton 188, 196 Nobel, Alfred 127 pesticides 159
mendelevium 125, 126 nobelium 127 petalite 24
L mercury 100–101 noble gases 189 petrol 59
meteorites 60, 92 nuclear fuel 123 pewter 149
Lamy, Claude-Auguste 138 microchips 87, 148 nuclear reactors 187 Phoenix lander 155
lanthanides 109 microscopes 81, nucleus 13 phosphorus 158–159
lanthanum 109, 110 photocopy machines 172
Large Hadron Collider, 86, 91 O photography 85, 94, 185
military tanks pink diamonds 144–145
Switzerland 190 Oak Ridge National pipes 150
lasers 75, 117, 194, 196 131 Laboratory, USA 187 plants 167
Lavoisier, Antoine 10 millerite 81 Plaster of Paris 43
Lawrence Livermore mining 29, 96, 130 oceans 182–183 platinum 94–95
missiles 112 Oganessian, Yuri 163, 199 plutonium 123
National Laboratory, USA mixtures 17 oganesson 199 pnictogens 153
175 Moissan, Henri 179 oil 117, 143 poisons 160
Lawrence, Ernest 127 molybdenite 78, 90 onions 168 pollucite 32, 34
lawrencium 127 molybdenum 78–79 Orion Nebula 21 polonium 174
LCD screens 131 monazite 74 orpiment 160 polythene 143
lead 150–151 Morita, Kozuka 139 osmiridium 91 pools 28–29, 44–45
LED 74–75, 136 moscovium 139, 163 osmium 91 potash 30
lepidolite 24, 32 motorcycles 57 oxygen 164–165, 166–167, potassium 22, 30–31
leucite 32 MRI scanners 191 potassium bromide 184
life cycles 155 mummification 27 189 pottery 49, 116
light bulbs 89, 101, 114 musical instruments 67, 69, praseodymium 111
liquids 8, 11 P printing presses 161
lithium 24–25 83, 113 promethium 112
livermorium 165, 175 paints 50, 65, 86, 112 protactinium 121
lutetium 117 N palladium 82–83 protective clothing 183, 195
particle accelerators 103, proton 13
M NASA (National Aeronautics PVC 181
and Space Administration) 104, 106, 125, 127, 151, pyrargyrite 84
magnesium 10, 40–41 74, 77, 93 175, 187, 190 pyrite 60, 138
magnets 65, 67 pencils 143 pyrolusite 58
malachite 68 nebula 21, 192–193 pens 83
manganese 58–59 neodymium 112 pentlandite 66, 80 Q-R
Marggraf, Andreas 72 neon 194 Perey, Marguerite 35
medical imaging 33, 79, 114, neptunium 122 quartz 146
neutrons 13 radium 50–51
116 Nevada Desert, USA 44–45 radon 50, 198–199
medical procedures 49 nickel 66–67, 178 railway tracks 59
medicines 41, 95, 163, 169 nickeline 66 Ramsay, Sir William 190
Meitner, Lise 105 night-vision equipment 33 reactions, chemical 16–17
meitnerium 105 nihonium 139 rebreather 31
melonite 173 niobium 77 rhenium 90
206 melting points 89 nitratine 154
nitrogen 152–153, 154–155,

157
nitroglycerine 154
nitromethane 156
Nobel Prize in Chemistry

103

rhodium 81 space probes 124, 155 toothpaste 47, 179 watches 50–51, 55, 88, 147
rhodochrosite 58 spacecraft 21, 77, 174 touchscreens 137 water 20, 23, 166
RIKEN Nuclear Research spark plugs 49 tractors 61 waterproof clothing 179
spectacles 139 trains 191 weather stations 47
Centre, Japan 139 sperrylite 94 transition metals 53 welding 137, 195
rock salt 29 sphalerite 72, 137 tungsten 89 Welsbach, Carl Auer von
rockets 21, 167 stainless steel 57, 85 turbine, jet 134–135
Röntgen, Wilhelm 106 Statue of Liberty 69 Tutankhamun 97 112
roentgenium 106 steel 57, 85, 167 tyres 169 windows 137, 195
roofing materials 151 steelmaking 62–63 Winkler, Clemens A 148
Roscoe, Henry 56 stibnite 161 U wires, copper 70–71
rovers (spacecraft) 136, 174 strontianite 46 witherite 48
rubidium 32–33 strontium 46–47 ulexite 130 Wöhler, Friedrich 75
rust 17 suitcases 181 Ulloa, Antonio de 95 wolframite 89
Rutherford, Ernest 13, 102 sulfur 10, 48, 168–169, University of California, USA
rutherfordium 102 X
ruthernium 80 170–171 124
Sun 20 uraninite 35, 50, 187, 198 xenon 197
S sunglasses 85 uranite 120 xenotime 74
sunscreen 55 uranium 118, 122 X-rays 49, 90, 93, 116
salt 26–27, 28–29 Super Heavy Ion Linear
samarium 113 V Y
sand 146 Accelerator, USA 103
Saturn 190 supernova 193 vacuum tubes 120 ytterbium 117
scandium 54 suspensions (mixture) 17 vanadinite 56 yttrium 74–75
Seaborg, Glenn T 103, 124 swimming pools 181 vanadium 56
seaborgium 103 sylvite 30 variscite 132 Z
sealife 186 symbols, elements 15 Vauquelin, Louis Nicolas 39
Segrè, Emilio 187 volcanic activity 45, 194, zeolite 26
selenium 172 T zinc 72–73
serpentine 40 198 zircon 76, 87
shells (atom) 12 tantalite 88 zirconium 76
shells (sea) 42 tantalum 88 W
Sikkeland, Torbørn 127 technetium 79 Laboofrpatuorreyzsinacmple
silicon 146–147 telescopes 39 Walton, John R. 127
silver 84–85 televisions 70, 111 Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep,
silver nitrate 85 tellurium 164, 173
skunks 168 tennessine 187 Thailand 97
smelting 61, 63 terbium 114
smithsonite 73 thallium 138–139 207
smoke detectors 123 Thénard, Louis Jacques 131
sodalite 26 thermometers 101, 136
sodium 26–27 thorite 35
sodium chloride 26, 177, thorium 50, 120
thulium 116
180 tin 149
sodium hypochlorite 183 titanium 55
solar cells 172 TNT 154
solids 8, 11 toasters 67
solutions (mixture) 17 tools 56, 61, 142–143

Acknowledgements ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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