Selenium is used in solar cells.  Because selenium is in the same family as sulfur, its chemical characteristics are similar to sulfur.  Therefore, it should be no surprise that selenium can be used to vulcanize rubber.  next element                                   […]

Arsenic is a poison.  As3+ ions react with very strongly with sulfur atoms.  Proteins (molecules that are the building blocks for the structures in living things) in the body contain a lot of sulfur atoms.  When As3+ions react with the sulfur atoms contained proteins, the proteins are destroyed. next element             […]

Chemist Clemens Winkler named this element after his home country, Germany. next element                                          previous element

Gallium, in the form of gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) is the semiconductor used in red light emitting diodes (LED’s).  It is a metal with a melting point (30oC) only slightly greater than room temperature.  Because human body temperature is 37oC, gallium held in the hand will melt.   next element           […]

    Prior to 1982, pennies were made almost completely of copper.  After 1982, pennies have been made mostly from zinc.  The core of the penny is zinc, and a copper coating on the penny gives it a shiny, orange-brown color.   next element                       […]

The Statue of Liberty is made of copper.  When oxidized, copper forms green or blue salts.  A green oxidation of copper is often called a patina.   The oxidation of copper imparts a green color to the statue of liberty.  Copper is also used to make many coins.  The symbol for copper, Cu, comes from the […]

Electrodeposits of nickel result in beautiful, silvery nodules.  Nickel is also found in NiCd batteries.  The following reactions take place in these batteries: Cd(s) + 2 OH–(aq) →Cd(OH)2(s) + 2 e–                                                                     (negative electrode) 2 NiOOH(s) + 2 H2O(l) + 2 e–>→2 Ni(OH)2(s) + 2 OH–(aq)                   (positive electrode) next element               […]

The addition of cobalt to glass gives a deep blue color to the glass. next element                                        previous element

Iron is used to make stainless steel sinks and steel armor.  You might also recognize a famous superhero that uses iron in its name.  The Latin name for iron is “ferrum”. next element                                        previous element

Manganese is used in zinc batteries.  The chemical reaction that gives energy to zinc batteries is: Zn(s) + 2 MnO2(s) →ZnO(s) + Mn2O3 (s). Manganese is also found in the enzyme that catalyzes the initial reaction in photosynthesis, which happens to be: 2 H2O → 4 H+ + 4 electrons + O2 Finally, Manganese forms ions […]