Primary Chemical Elements: Names

Question 1

Name the element.

Answer 1

Hydrogen is a very important element in compounds of living systems, but is rarely found in its molecular gas form (H₂) naturally.

Question 2

Name the element.

Answer 2

Most helium on Earth is generated by radioactive decay of other elements like thorium or uranium.

Question 3

Name the element.

Answer 3

Lithium derives from the Greek word for stone, ‘lithos’ as it was discovered from a mineral, unlike its other alkali metal counterparts.

Question 4

Name the element.

Answer 4

Beryllium is commonly used in gears and cogs, especially in aviation.

Question 5

Name the element.

Answer 5

Boron in its pure form is a dark, amorphous powder.

Question 6

Name the element.

Answer 6

Carbon is essential to life on Earth, due to its capacity to form a wide variety of chains and bonded structures.

Question 7

Name the element.

Answer 7

Nitrogen comes from the Greek ‘nitron’ and ‘genes’ to altogether mean ‘nitre forming’.

Question 8

Name the element.

Answer 8

Oxygen gets its name from ‘oxy genes’, the Greek for ‘acid forming’.

Question 9

Name the element.

Answer 9

Fluorine is a pale yellow-green gas.

Question 10

Name the element.

Answer 10

Neon comes from the Greek ‘neos’ meaning ‘new’.

Question 11

Name the element.

Answer 11

Sodium in its ionic form is essential for biological processes such as signal transmission between neurons (brain cells).

Question 12

Name the element.

Answer 12

Magnesium in its ionic form acts as an important cofactor for many enzymes (biochemical catalysts).

Question 13

Name the element.

Answer 13

(or Aluminum)

Aluminum gets its name from the latin ‘alumen’ meaning ‘bitter salt’.

Question 14

Name the element.

Answer 14

Silicon is a metalloid that is widely used in the production of computer microchips.

Question 15

Name the element.

Answer 15

Phosphorus comes from the very similar Greek word ‘phosphoros’, translating to ‘bringer of light’.

Question 16

Name the element.

Answer 16

(or Sulfur)

The most common allotrope of sulfur appears as yellow crystals or powder.

Question 17

Name the element.

Answer 17

Chlorine was once used to produce an anaesthetic called chloroform, but due to its damaging side effects its use was discontinued.

Question 18

Name the element.

Answer 18

It comes from the Greek ‘argos’ which translates to ‘idle’.

Question 19

Name the element.

Answer 19

Potassium is an essential element for the functioning of many organs, including the heart, kidneys, and muscles.

Question 20

Name the element.

Answer 20

The average human is made up of about 1kg of calcium.

Question 21

Name the element.

Answer 21

Scandium is a rare earth element that is used in the production of alloys.

Question 22

Name the element.

Answer 22

Titanium oxide is a common ingredient of suncreen as it protects skin from UV light rays.

Question 23

Name the element.

Answer 23

Vanadium comes from the old Norse name for the Goddess Freyja, ‘Vanadis’.

Question 24

Name the element.

Answer 24

Chromium is an essential trace mineral for humans, however only in small trace amounts - above this is toxic.

Question 25

# Name the element.

Answer 25

## Footnote Manganese is an important cofactor of some enzymes and helps us utilise vitamin B₁.

Question 26

# Name the element.

Answer 26

## Footnote In the Earth's crust, iron is the fourth most abundant element by mass.

Question 27

# Name the element.

Answer 27

## Footnote 'Cobalt' comes from the German word 'kobold', meaning 'goblin', which were believed to lead miners in their quest for tin astray.

Question 28

# Name the element.

Answer 28

## Footnote Nickel is an efficient catalyst for hydrogenation reactions.

Question 29

# Name the element.

Answer 29

## Footnote Genetic disorders such as Menkes' and Wilson's disease can disrupt the body's ability to utilise copper.

Question 30

# Name the element.

Answer 30

## Footnote Zinc sulfide is used in x-ray screens.

Question 31

# Name the element.

Answer 31

## Footnote Gallium is mainly produced as a byproduct of zinc refining.

Question 32

# Name the element.

Answer 32

## Footnote Due to being non-toxic to mammals in small amounts but shown to be effective against some bacteria, Germanium is studied for potential uses by some scientists in the pharmaceutical field.

Question 33

# Name the element.

Answer 33

## Footnote Arsenic bonds to atoms of the hair, and so samples can be studied for suspected arsenic poisoning or exposure.

Question 34

# Name the element.

Answer 34

## Footnote The Greek goddess of the moon, Selene, inspired the name for this element.

Question 35

# Name the element.

Answer 35

## Footnote Bromine comes from the Greek for 'stench', which is 'bromos'.

Question 36

# Name the element.

Answer 36

## Footnote Krypton only reacts with fluorine gas.

Question 37

# Name the element.

Answer 37

## Footnote Silver is a soft, white, lustrous transition metal with the highest electrical conductivity of any element.

Question 38

# Name the element.

Answer 38

## Footnote Iodine deficiency can lead to goitre (swelling of the thyroid gland).

Question 39

# Name the element.

Answer 39

## Footnote Early alchemy was fixated on attempting to turn other elements into gold - especially lead.

Question 40

# Name the element.

Answer 40

## Footnote Mercury is a silver-colored, heavy, liquid metal that is toxic to humans and animals.

Question 41

# Name the element.

Answer 41

## Footnote Lead can be used to store corrosive substances.