Assignment: Elements at Work

One of our most important tools as students of chemistry is the periodic table of elements. Although we sometimes find it useful to memorize things, chemistry is also made for looking things up!

In that spirit, create a one page paper that answers these questions about one of the elements. Pictures and other media may be appropriate to include.

A) Describe the element using the chemical tools learned in this course so far.

B) How was it discovered? What’s the story of its name?

C) How common is it on earth? What form does it take most commonly?

D) What does it look like? (In pure form, or in a form combined with other elements)

E) Does it have any applications? Name the top application.

F) What chemical groups does it fit into? (Metal? state of matter? Group?)

G) Name one unique thing about this element.