The Elements — Descriptions, Uses and Occurrences

with quick links to find out much more

Element			Description Physical characteristics of the element in its pure form.	Use or Occurrence How it is (or was) used or where it is found. Click links to find out more.
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	Flourine	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	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	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	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)

Note: 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).