School Science Lessons
Table of the elements
2009-10-11
See: Periodic Table
Symbol of an element, e.g. H for hydrogen
Atomic number, the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Atomic weight, relative atomic mass, is the approximate ratio of the average mass of an atom to 1/12 of a carbon-12 atom.
Group, vertical column in the periodic table in periodic table.
Most metallic elements have a silvery white colour.
Metals labelled "free element" are found in the free elemental form and not as compounds.
Radioactive elements are shown with *, e.g. Actinium *.
Lanthanoids (lanthanide series) are also called rare-earth elements.
The state at s.t.p. (0oC and 1 atmosphere pressure): solid, liquid, gas.
Metalloids have properties between metals and non-metals.
Copper, lead, zinc and other metals are called "heavy metals" if they cause pollution.
Symbol Atomic
number
 Atomic
weight
 Group
 Name Interesting facts
Ac 89 227
 3
 Actinium * Actinoid, transition metal, naturally occurring in all uranium ores, rare
Al 13 27
 13
 Aluminium Metal, low density, soft, compounds abundant, protective oxide
Am 95 243
 9
 Americium * Actinoid, synthetic, in smoke detectors
Sb 51 122
 15
 Antimony Metalloid silvery, brittle, found in stibnite, toxic in excess, in alloys
Ar 18 40 18
 Argon Noble gas, colourless, odourless, in air, no chemical compounds
As 33 75
 15
 Arsenic Metalloid, grey, brittle, crystalline, tarnishes, sublimes, poisonous compounds
At 85 210
 17
 Astatine * Halogen, longest life of an isotope
Ba 56 137
 2
 Barium Alkaline earth metal, silvery-white, soft, oxidizes easily
Bk 97 247
 11
 Berkelium * Actinoid, synthetic, few compounds, element not yet isolated, no uses,
Be 4 9
 2
 Beryllium Alkaline earth metal, high m.p., slowly oxidizes in air, toxic compounds
Bi 83 209
 15
 Bismuth Metal or metalloid, silvery-pink, brittle, hard alloys with low m.p., diamagnetic
Bh
 107
 262
 7
 Bohrium *
 Transition metal, synthetic, decays quickly, few atoms produced
B 5 11
 13
 Boron Metalloid, solid, in borax, very hard, semiconductor, inert, poor conductor
Br 35 80
 17
 Bromine Halogen, red, only liquid non-metallic element, volatile, bleach, dangerous vapour
Cd 48 112
 12
 Cadmium Transition metal, blue-white, toxic, soft, in solders and electroplating
Cs 55 133 1
 Caesium Alkali metal, silvery, soft, ductile, melts in boiling water, occurs in minerals
Ca 20 40
 2
 Calcium Alkaline earth metal, grey, soft, in many natural compounds and living organisms
Cf 98 251
 12
 Californium * Actinoid, synthetic, radiation source
C 6 12
 14
 Carbon non-metal, amorphous carbon, graphite, diamond, atomic weights base is12C
Ce 58 140
 4
 Cerium Lanthanoid, iron-grey, lustrous, malleable, most reactive and abundant rare-earth
Cl 17 35.5
 17
 Chlorine Halogen, yellow-green gas, combines with most elements, respiratory irritant
Cr 24 52
 6
 Chromium Transition metal, steel-grey, lustrous, hard, protective oxide, toxic compounds
Co 27 59
 9
 Cobalt Transition metal, brittle, hard, magnetic, salts colour glass blue
Cu 29 64
 11
 Copper Transition metal, orange-red, lustrous, malleable, ductile, conduct electricity
Cm 96 247
 10
 Curium * Actinoid, synthetic, glows in dark, no uses
Ds
 110
 281
 10
 Darmstadtium
 Transition metal, synthetic, decays to emit alpha particles
Db
 105
 262
 5
 Dubnium *
 Transition metal, synthetic, small amount made, never observed
Dy 66 163
 12
 Dysprosium Lanthanoid, soft, lustrous, stable, found in some minerals
Es 99 254
 13
 Einsteinium * Actinoid, synthetic, few compounds, no uses
Er 68 167
 14
 Erbium Lanthanoid, lustrous, soft, malleable, stable, oxidizes slowly in air
Eu 63 152
 9
 Europium Lanthanoid, soft, ductile, most reactive rare-earth, television screen red colour
Fm 100 257
 14
 Fermium * Actinoid, synthetic, no uses
F 9 19
 17
 Fluorine Halogen, yellow gas, most reactive and electronegative, poisonous, corrosive gas
Fr 87 223
 1
 Francium * Alkali metal, one of most unstable elements, occurs only as compounds, rare
Gd 64 157
 10
 Gadolinium Lanthanoid, soft, malleable, ductile, lustrous, ferromagnetic, oxidizes slowly in air
Ga 31 69
 13
 Gallium Metal, soft, stable in air, conchoidal fracture, melts at 298K, in LEDs
Ge 32 72.5
 14
 Germanium Metalloid, grey-white, stable in air, crystalline, brittle, lustrous, in semiconductors
Au 79 197
 11
 Gold Transition metal, dense, shiny, most malleable and ductile, unreactive, free element
Hf 72 178.5
 4
 Hafnium Transition metal, silvery, ductile, toxic
Hs
 108
 265
 8
 Hassium *
 Transition metal, synthetic, few atoms made
He 2 4
 18
 Helium Noble gas, odourless, colourless, light
Ho 67 165
 13
 Holmium Lanthanoid, soft, malleable, lustrous, free element not made
H 1
 1.008
 1
 Hydrogen
 Colourless, odourless gas, lightest element
In 49 115
 13
 Indium Metal, silver-white, soft, rare, in semiconductors
I
 53 127
 17
 Iodine Halogen, brown-black solid, purple-violet vapour, sublimes, trace element
Ir 77 192
 9
 Iridium Transition metal, silvery, free element, in alloys
Fe 26 56
 8
 Iron Transition metal, malleable, ductile, strong, abundant, in steel, trace element
Kr 36 84
 18
 Krypton Noble gas, colourless, in air, inert, few compounds, in fluorescent lamps
La 57 139
 3
 Lanthanum Lanthanoid (rare-earth) transition metal, in lighter flints and optical glass
Lw 103 256
 17
 Lawrencium * Actinoid, synthetic, half-life 8 seconds
Pb 82 207
 14
 Lead Metal, grey, dull, soft, ductile, dense, unreactive, alloys, in batteries
Li 3 7
 1
 Lithium Alkali metal, silvery, soft, least dense metal, rare, alloys, in batteries
Lu 71 175
 17
 Lutetium Lanthanoid, silver-white, stable in air, catalyst, least abundant element
Mg 12 24
 2
 Magnesium Alkaline earth metal, silvery, strong, light, protective oxide, essential element
Mn 25 55
 7
 Manganese Transition metal, grey-white, brittle, hard, manganese dioxide catalyst
Mt 109
 266
 9
 Meitnerium *
 Transition metal, synthetic, few atoms produced
Md 101 258
 15
 Mendelevium * Actinoid, synthetic, half life 1.3 hours
Hg 80 201
 12
 Mercury Transition metal, silvery liquid, lowest m.p., in thermometers and amalgams
Mo 42 96
 6
 Molybdenum Transition metal, silvery-white, very hard
Nd 60 144
 6
 Neodymium Lanthanoid, silver-white, oxidizes easily, pink compounds
Ne 10 20
 18
 Neon Noble gas, in air, colourless, odourless, in electric lights
Np 93 237
 7
 Neptunium * Actinoid, synthetic, silvery, rare
Ni 28 59
 10
 Nickel Transition metal, resists corrosion
Nb 41 93
 5
 Niobium Transition metal, shiny white, soft, ductile (columbium)
N 7 14
 5
 Nitrogen non-metal, colourless inert gas, 78% of air
No 102 254
 16
 Nobelium * Actinoid, synthetic, short lived
Os 76 190
 8
 Osmium Transition metal, most dense element, free element
O 8 16
 16
 Oxygen non-metal, colourless gas, 20% of air
Pd 46 106
 10
 Palladium Transition metal, free element
P 15 31
 15
 Phosphorous non-metal, soft, ignites easily
Pt 78 195
 10
 Platinum Transition metal, silvery, inert, free element, electroplating
Pu 94 244
 8
 Plutonium * Actinoid, synthetic, for nuclear fission
Po 84 210
 16
 Polonium * Metalloid, toxic, for nuclear fission, synthetic or rare
K 19 39
 1
 Potassium Alkali metal, silver-white, soft, low density, waxy
Pr 59 41
 5
 Praseodymium Lanthanoid, silvery, soft, malleable, ductile
Pm 61 145
 7
 Promethium * Lanthanoid, synthetic, poisonous
Pa 91 231
 5
 Protactinium * Actinoid, rare, silver-white, toxic, in uranium ores
Ra 88 226
 2
 Radium * Alkali earth metal, silver-white, carcinogen
Rn 86 222
 18
 Radon * Noble gas, colourless, odourless, heaviest gas
Re 75 186
 7
 Rhenium Transition metal, silver-white, dense, rare
Rh 45 103
 9
 Rhodium Transition metal, free element, hard, inert, electroplating, jewellery
Rg
 111
 280
 11
 Roentgenium
 Transition metal, synthetic
Rb 37 85
 1
 Rubidium Alkali metal, soft, silvery-white, reactive, rare
Ru 44 101
 8
 Ruthenium Transition metal, hard, grey, brittle, free element
Rf
 104
 261
 4
 Rutherfordium
 Transition metal, synthetic
Sm 62 150
 8
 Samarium Lanthanoid, oxide coat in moist air
Sc 21 45
 3
 Scandium Transition metal, silvery but yellow-pink tarnish in air, soft, rare
Sg
 106
 263
 6
 Seaborgium *
 Transition metal, synthetic, appearance unknown
Se 34 79
 16
 Selenium Metalloid, red and grey crystalline forms, semiconductor
Si 14 28
 14
 Silicon Metalloid, never in free form, slowly dissolves in water, most abundant element
Ag 47 108
 11
 Silver Transition metal, best conductor of heat and electricity
Na 11 23
 1
 Sodium Alkali metal, soft, very active, low density
Sr 38 88
 2
 Strontium Alkaline earth metal, hard, active
S 16 32
 16
 sulfur non-metal, yellow, solid
Ta 73 181
 5
 Tantalum Transition metal, shiny silvery, soft if pure, protective oxide
Tc 43 98
 7
 Technetium Transition metal, heavy, oxidizes slowly in moist air,
Te 52 128
 16
 Tellurium Metalloid, silver-white and dark grey powder, lustrous, crystalline, brittle,
Tb 65 158
 11
 Terbium Lanthanoid, soft, malleable, ductile, stable in air but slowly oxidizes, rare
Tl 81 204
 13
 Thallium Metal, metallic lustre then blue-grey tinge, soft, malleable, poisonous salts
Th 90 232
 4
 Thorium * Actinoid, grey, lustrous, stable in air, high m.p., radioactive compounds
Tm 69 169
 15
 Thulium Lanthanoid, soft, oxidizes slowly, rare
Sn 50 119
 14
 Tin Metal, silvery, soft, pliable, protective oxide, coating for "tin cans"
Ti 22 48
 4
 Titanium Transition metal, lustrous, low density, strong, hard, protective oxide
W
 74
 184
 6
 Tungsten
 Transition metal, lustrous, highest m.p., electric filaments (wolfram)
U 92 238
 6
 Uranium * Actinoid, silver-white, hard, very dense, malleable, ductile, protective oxide
V 23 51
 5
 Vanadium Transition metal, grey-white, soft, ductile, protective oxide, rare
Xe 54 131
 18
 Xenon Noble gas, colourless, in air, tasteless, chemically unreactive, rare
Yb 70 173
 16
 Ytterbium Lanthanoid, bright silvery lustre, soft, malleable, ductile, protective oxide
Y 39 89
 3
 Yttrium Transition metal, iron-grey, crystalline, most abundant, protective oxide
Zn 30 65
 12
 Zinc Transition metal, blue-white, lustrous, brittle, crystalline, protective oxide
Zr 40 91
 4
 Zirconium Transition metal, silver-grey, lustrous, strong, malleable, ductile,