types:
Edelgas
any of the chemically inert gaseous elements of the helium group in the periodic table
Metall
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
Actinium
a radioactive element of the actinide series; found in uranium ores
Argon
a colorless and odorless inert gas; one of the six inert gases; comprises approximately 1% of the earth's atmosphere
Arsen
a very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms; arsenic and arsenic compounds are used as herbicides and insecticides and various alloys; found in arsenopyrite and orpiment and realgar
Astat,
Astatin
a highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series); a decay product of uranium and thorium
Bor
a trivalent metalloid element; occurs both in a hard black crystal and in the form of a yellow or brown powder
Brom
a nonmetallic heavy volatile corrosive dark brown liquid element belonging to the halogens; found in sea water
Kohlenstoff
an abundant nonmetallic tetravalent element occurring in three allotropic forms: amorphous carbon and graphite and diamond; occurs in all organic compounds
Chlor
a common nonmetallic element belonging to the halogens; best known as a heavy yellow irritating toxic gas; used to purify water and as a bleaching agent and disinfectant; occurs naturally only as a salt (as in sea water)
Fluor
a nonmetallic univalent element belonging to the halogens; usually a yellow irritating toxic flammable gas; a powerful oxidizing agent; recovered from fluorite or cryolite or fluorapatite
Germanium
a brittle grey crystalline element that is a semiconducting metalloid (resembling silicon) used in transistors; occurs in germanite and argyrodite
Helium
a very light colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses; the most difficult gas to liquefy; occurs in economically extractable amounts in certain natural gases (as those found in Texas and Kansas)
Wasserstoff
a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe
Jod
a nonmetallic element belonging to the halogens; used especially in medicine and photography and in dyes; occurs naturally only in combination in small quantities (as in sea water or rocks)
Krypton
a colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses; occurs in trace amounts in air
Lawrencium
a radioactive transuranic element synthesized from californium
Mendelevium
a radioactive transuranic element synthesized by bombarding einsteinium with alpha particles (Md is the current symbol for mendelevium but Mv was formerly the symbol)
Neon
a colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube; one of the six inert gasses; occurs in the air in small amounts
Stickstoff
a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues
Nobelium
a radioactive transuranic element synthesized by bombarding curium with carbon ions; 7 isotopes are known
Sauerstoff
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
Phosphor
a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms
Plutonium
a solid silvery grey radioactive transuranic element whose atoms can be split when bombarded with neutrons; found in minute quantities in uranium ores but is usually synthesized in nuclear reactors; 13 isotopes are known with the most important being plutonium 239
Radon
a radioactive gaseous element formed by the disintegration of radium; the heaviest of the inert gasses; occurs naturally (especially in areas over granite) and is considered a hazard to health
Kurtschatowium
a radioactive transuranic element which has been synthesized
Selen
a toxic nonmetallic element related to sulfur and tellurium; occurs in several allotropic forms; a stable grey metallike allotrope conducts electricity better in the light than in the dark and is used in photocells; occurs in sulfide ores (as pyrite)
Silicium,
Silizium
a tetravalent nonmetallic element; next to oxygen it is the most abundant element in the earth's crust; occurs in clay and feldspar and granite and quartz and sand; used as a semiconductor in transistors
Schwefel
an abundant tasteless odorless multivalent nonmetallic element; best known in yellow crystals; occurs in many sulphide and sulphate minerals and even in native form (especially in volcanic regions)
Tellur
a brittle silver-white metalloid element that is related to selenium and sulfur; it is used in alloys and as a semiconductor; occurs mainly as tellurides in ores of copper and nickel and silver and gold
Xenon
a colorless odorless inert gaseous element occurring in the earth's atmosphere in trace amounts
Spurenelement
an element that occurs at very small quantities in the body but is nonetheless important for many biological processes
Aluminium
a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite
Americium
a radioactive transuranic metallic element; discovered by bombarding uranium with helium atoms
Antimon,
Stibium
a metallic element having four allotropic forms; used in a wide variety of alloys; found in stibnite
Barium
a soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group; found in barite
Berkelium
a radioactive transuranic element; discovered by bombarding americium with helium
Beryllium
a light strong brittle grey toxic bivalent metallic element
Bismut,
Wismut
a heavy brittle diamagnetic trivalent metallic element (resembles arsenic and antimony chemically); usually recovered as a by-product from ores of other metals
Cadmium
a soft bluish-white ductile malleable toxic bivalent metallic element; occurs in association with zinc ores
Calcium,
Kalzium
a white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light; the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust; an important component of most plants and animals
Californium
a radioactive transuranic element; discovered by bombarding curium with alpha particles
Cer
a ductile grey metallic element of the lanthanide series; used in lighter flints; the most abundant of the rare-earth group
Caesium,
Zäsium
a soft silver-white ductile metallic element (liquid at normal temperatures); the most electropositive and alkaline metal
Chrom
a hard brittle multivalent metallic element; resistant to corrosion and tarnishing
Kobalt
a hard ferromagnetic silver-white bivalent or trivalent metallic element; a trace element in plant and animal nutrition
Cuprum,
Kupfer
a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor
Curium
a radioactive transuranic metallic element; produced by bombarding plutonium with helium nuclei
Dysprosium
a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; forms compounds that are highly magnetic
Einsteinium
a radioactive transuranic element produced by bombarding plutonium with neutrons
Erbium
a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs with yttrium
Europium
a bivalent and trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group
Fermium
a radioactive transuranic metallic element produced by bombarding plutonium with neutrons
Francium
a radioactive element of the alkali-metal group discovered as a disintegration product of actinium
Gadolinium
a ductile silvery-white ductile ferromagnetic trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group
Gallium
a rare silvery (usually trivalent) metallic element; brittle at low temperatures but liquid above room temperature; occurs in trace amounts in bauxite and zinc ores
Hafnium
a grey tetravalent metallic element that resembles zirconium chemically and is found in zirconium minerals; used in filaments for its ready emission of electrons
Holmium
a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs together with yttrium; forms highly magnetic compounds
Indium
a rare soft silvery metallic element; occurs in small quantities in sphalerite
Iridium
a heavy brittle metallic element of the platinum group; used in alloys; occurs in natural alloys with platinum or osmium
Eisen,
Ferrum
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
Lanthan
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
Blei,
Plumbum
a soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element; bluish white when freshly cut but tarnishes readily to dull grey
Lithium
a soft silver-white univalent element of the alkali metal group; the lightest metal known; occurs in several minerals
Lutetium
a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; usually occurs in association with yttrium
Magnesium
a light silver-white ductile bivalent metallic element; in pure form it burns with brilliant white flame; occurs naturally only in combination (as in magnesite and dolomite and carnallite and spinel and olivine)
Mangan
a hard brittle grey polyvalent metallic element that resembles iron but is not magnetic; used in making steel; occurs in many minerals
Hydrargyrum,
Quecksilber
a heavy silvery toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element; the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures
Molybdän
a polyvalent metallic element that resembles chromium and tungsten in its properties; used to strengthen and harden steel
Neodym
a yellow trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs in monazite and bastnasite in association with cerium and lanthanum and praseodymium
Neptunium
a radioactive transuranic metallic element; found in trace amounts in uranium ores; a by-product of the production of plutonium
Nickel
a hard malleable ductile silvery metallic element that is resistant to corrosion; used in alloys; occurs in pentlandite and smaltite and garnierite and millerite
Niob
a soft grey ductile metallic element used in alloys; occurs in niobite; formerly called columbium
Osmium
a hard brittle blue-grey or blue-black metallic element that is one of the platinum metals; the heaviest metal known
Palladium
a silver-white metallic element of the platinum group that resembles platinum; occurs in some copper and nickel ores; does not tarnish at ordinary temperatures and is used (alloyed with gold) in jewelry
Polonium
a radioactive metallic element that is similar to tellurium and bismuth; occurs in uranium ores but can be produced by bombarding bismuth with neutrons in a nuclear reactor
Kalium
a light soft silver-white metallic element of the alkali metal group; oxidizes rapidly in air and reacts violently with water; is abundant in nature in combined forms occurring in sea water and in carnallite and kainite and sylvite
Praseodym
a soft yellowish-white trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; can be recovered from bastnasite or monazite by an ion-exchange process
Promethium
a soft silvery metallic element of the rare earth group having no stable isotope; was discovered in radioactive form as a fission product of uranium
Protactinium
a short-lived radioactive metallic element formed from uranium and disintegrating into actinium and then into lead
Radium
an intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores
Rhenium
a rare heavy polyvalent metallic element that resembles manganese chemically and is used in some alloys; is obtained as a by-product in refining molybdenum
Rhodium
a white hard metallic element that is one of the platinum group and is found in platinum ores; used in alloys with platinum
Rubidium
a soft silvery metallic element of the alkali metal group; burns in air and reacts violently in water; occurs in carnallite and lepidolite and pollucite
Ruthenium
a rare polyvalent metallic element of the platinum group; it is found associated with platinum
Samarium
a grey lustrous metallic element of the rare earth group; is used in special alloys; occurs in monazite and bastnasite
Scandium
a white trivalent metallic element; sometimes classified in the rare earth group; occurs in the Scandinavian mineral thortveitite
Natrium
a silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group; occurs abundantly in natural compounds (especially in salt water); burns with a yellow flame and reacts violently in water; occurs in sea water and in the mineral halite (rock salt)
Strontium
a soft silver-white or yellowish metallic element of the alkali metal group; turns yellow in air; occurs in celestite and strontianite
Tantal
a hard grey lustrous metallic element that is highly resistant to corrosion; occurs in niobite and fergusonite and tantalite
Technetium
a crystalline metallic element not found in nature; occurs as one of the fission products of uranium
Terbium
a metallic element of the rare earth group; used in lasers; occurs in apatite and monazite and xenotime and ytterbite
Thallium
a soft grey malleable metallic element that resembles tin but discolors on exposure to air; it is highly toxic and is used in rodent and insect poisons; occurs in zinc blende and some iron ores
Thorium
a soft silvery-white tetravalent radioactive metallic element; isotope 232 is used as a power source in nuclear reactors; occurs in thorite and in monazite sands
Thulium
a soft silvery metallic element of the rare earth group; isotope 170 emits X-rays and is used in small portable X-ray machines; it occurs in monazite and apatite and xenotime
Stannum,
Zinn
a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
Titan
a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite
Wolfram
a heavy grey-white metallic element; the pure form is used mainly in electrical applications; it is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite
Uran
a heavy toxic silvery-white radioactive metallic element; occurs in many isotopes; used for nuclear fuels and nuclear weapons
Vanadium
a soft silvery white toxic metallic element used in steel alloys; it occurs in several complex minerals including carnotite and vanadinite
Ytterbium
a soft silvery metallic element; a rare earth of the lanthanide series; it occurs in gadolinite and monazite and xenotime
Yttrium
a silvery metallic element that is common in rare-earth minerals; used in magnesium and aluminum alloys
Zink
a bluish-white lustrous metallic element; brittle at ordinary temperatures but malleable when heated; used in a wide variety of alloys and in galvanizing iron; it occurs naturally as zinc sulphide in zinc blende
Zirkonium
a lustrous grey strong metallic element resembling titanium; it is used in nuclear reactors as a neutron absorber; it occurs in baddeleyite but is obtained chiefly from zircon
Alkalimetall
any of the monovalent metals of group I of the periodic table (lithium or sodium or potassium or rubidium or cesium or francium)