1.008

6.941

22.99

39.10

85.47

132.9

(223)

9.012

24.31

40.08

87.62

137.3

(226)

44.96

88.91

47.87

91.22

178.5

(265)

50.94

92.91

180.9

(268)

52.00

95.96

183.8

(271)

54.94

(98)

186.2

(272)

55.85

101.1

190.2

(277)

58.93

102.9

192.2

(276)

58.69

106.4

195.1

(281)

63.55

107.9

197.0

(280)

65.38

112.4

200.6

(285)

10.81

26.98

69.72

114.8

204.4

(284)

12.01

28.09

72.64

118.7

207.2

(289)

14.01

30.97

74.92

121.8

209.0

(288)

16.00

32.07

78.96

127.6

(209)

(293)

19.00

35.45

79.90

126.9

(210)

(294)

4.003

20.18

39.95

83.80

131.3

(222)

(294)

138.9

(227)

140.1

232.0

140.9

231.0

144.2

238.0

(145)

(237)

150.4

(244)

152.0

(243)

157.3

(247)

158.9

(247)

162.5

(251)

164.9

(252)

167.3

(257)

168.9

(258)

173.1

(259)

175.0

(262)

ElementsTHE

Series funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and PBS viewers. Major funding for “Hunting the Elements” is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Additional funding for “Hunting the Elements” is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy and by the Millicent and Eugene Bell Foundation.

This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy under Award Number DE-SC0007358. Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendations, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.PHOTO CREDITS: Bismuth and Iron: images-of-elements.com (CC BY), Manganese: Heinrich Poink (CC BY-NC-ND), Sodium: Dnn87 (CC BY). Atomic weight is consistent with NIST SP 966 (September 2010).

AtomicNumber

Chemical Symbol

Chemical Name

1.008 AtomicWeight

CopperCopper is one of the most important metals on the periodic table. Because it is an excellent conductor of electricity, copper is used in wires and electric motors. It is also resistant to corrosion and is widely used as a roofing material.

29 CarbonCarbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe and arguably the most important element on the periodic table. It is the only element capable of forming the complex molecular structures on which all life forms are based.

6 GoldGold is an excellent conductor of electricity, rarely tarnishes, and is the most malleable element on the periodic table. Today, the U.S. government holds nearly 9,000 tons of gold in reserve depots around the country.

79 AntimonyAntimony is a soft, toxic semi-metal with a rich history dating back to ancient Egypt. Today, chemical engineers incorporate nontoxic antimony compounds into a wide variety of products, including batteries, bullets, glass, and paints.

51 ManganeseManganese is a biologically important metal for both plants and animals. The human body contains 10 to 20 milligrams of manganese, which is embedded in enzymes and used to catalyze a variety of biological processes.

25

BismuthBismuth is the most stable radioactive element on the periodic table. For example, if you were to monitor a cluster of bismuth atoms for 1.9 billion-billion years, you would find that, on average, only 50% would have undergone radioactive decay.

83 MercuryPure mercury is highly toxic and almost always found as a metallic liquid. Today, mercury is used in thermometers, barometers, electric switches, and compact fluorescent light bulbs.

80 SodiumA highly reactive metal, sodium exists in nature only in combination with other elements and not in its elemental form. Sodium compounds and ions are critical to many physiologic functions in all animals and some plants.

11 IronIron bonds readily with oxygen and pure iron quickly forms iron oxide, or rust, in damp environments. Iron’s affinity for oxygen also allows the iron-rich hemoglobin in our blood cells to bond to and transport oxygen throughout our bodies.

26 SulfurSulfur is a naturally occurring element often found around volcanic vents and other fissures in Earth’s surface. Known since ancient times, sulfur is a key component in many proteins, and largely responsible for their structural integrity.

16

pbs.org/nova/elements

pbs.org/nova/education

Alkali Metals

Alkaline Earth Metals

Transition Metals

Lanthanides

Actinides

Other Metals

Metalloids

Other Nonmetals

Halogens

Noble Gases

Flerovium Livermorium