Sodium is the chemical element with atomic number 11 and the symbol Na. It is a soft, silvery alkali metal in group 1 of the periodic table that reacts vigorously with water and tarnishes within seconds in air. The metal itself has limited uses, but its compounds, above all common salt, are among the most
A soft, silvery alkali metal with atomic number 11 that reacts vigorously with water and is best known as part of common salt.
Strontium is the chemical element with atomic number 38 and the symbol Sr. It is a soft, silvery alkaline earth metal in group 2 of the periodic table that burns in air and reacts with water. Strontium salts give fireworks and flares their brilliant red color, and one of its radioactive isotopes is a well-known
A soft, silvery alkaline earth metal with atomic number 38 whose salts color fireworks red and whose isotope strontium-90 is radioactive.
Sulfur is the chemical element with atomic number 16 and the symbol S. It is a bright yellow, brittle nonmetal in group 16 of the periodic table, found as crystals or powder at room temperature. Sulfur has been known since ancient times, and today most of it is used to make sulfuric acid. History of
A bright yellow nonmetal with atomic number 16 that is used mainly to make sulfuric acid and is essential to all living things.
Tin is the chemical element with atomic number 50 and the symbol Sn. It is a soft, pliable post-transition metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin has been important since ancient times because, when alloyed with copper, it makes bronze, and today it coats steel food cans and forms the basis of many
A soft, pliable post-transition metal with atomic number 50 that is alloyed with copper to make bronze and used to coat steel cans.
Titanium is the chemical element with atomic number 22 and the symbol Ti. It is a hard, shiny, silvery transition metal in group 4 of the periodic table that is as strong as steel but much less dense. Titanium resists corrosion extremely well, which is why it appears in aircraft, ships and medical implants. History
A strong, light, corrosion-resistant transition metal with atomic number 22 used in aircraft, implants and white pigment.
Tungsten is the chemical element with atomic number 74 and the symbol W. It is a shiny, silvery-white metal with the highest melting point of all metals, at about 3422 degrees Celsius. Tungsten and its alloys are used in high-temperature equipment, and tungsten carbide is a leading material for cutting and drilling tools. History of
A hard, silvery-white metal with atomic number 74 and the highest melting point of any metal, used in alloys and cutting tools.
Vanadium is the chemical element with atomic number 23 and the symbol V. It is a hard, silvery transition metal in group 5 of the periodic table that resists corrosion. About four-fifths of the vanadium produced goes into steel, where small amounts make it much tougher. History of vanadium Vanadium was discovered twice. The first
A hard, silvery transition metal with atomic number 23 used mainly as a steel additive and in flow batteries.
Xenon is the chemical element with atomic number 54 and the symbol Xe. It is a colorless, odorless noble gas that makes up only about 0.086 parts per million of the atmosphere by volume. Xenon is best known for the bright light it gives off in flash lamps and for its role as a propellant
A colorless, odorless noble gas with atomic number 54, used in flash lamps and ion propulsion and obtained from liquid air.
Zinc is the chemical element with atomic number 30 and the symbol Zn. It is a silvery-white metal with a blue tinge that tarnishes in air, and it sits in group 12 of the periodic table. Most zinc is used to protect steel from rusting, and the element is also essential to every living thing.
A silvery-white metal with atomic number 30, used mainly to galvanize steel and essential to all living things.
Zirconium is the chemical element with atomic number 40 and the symbol Zr. It is a hard, silvery transition metal in group 4 of the periodic table, and it is very resistant to corrosion. More than 90 percent of the metal is used in nuclear power stations, because it hardly absorbs neutrons. History of zirconium
A hard, silvery, corrosion-resistant transition metal with atomic number 40 that is used mostly in nuclear reactors and ceramics.