Is cobalt magnetic?

                A magnet attracts or repels other metals. Cobalt is magnetic; in fact, it is one of a handful of elements which are naturally magnetic. Cobalt maintains its magnetism, even at high temperatures.



               Cobalt resembles iron and nickel. In its pure form, it has a silvery blue colour. It is a brittle metal. It is generally found on Earth in its chemically combined forms.



               Georg Brandt, a Swedish chemist is recognized for isolating cobalt in 1735. However, even before its formal discovery, the metal has been in use throughout history. Pigments of cobalt, especially cobalt blue, have been used by painters for thousands of years. Researchers say that the use of cobalt as a colouring agent dates back to as far back as the Bronze Age.



               The ancient Egyptians made use of this element in their art and jewellery. The discovery of the metal in the ruins of Pompeii, an ancient city of Rome, has great archaeological significance too. Cobalt is also used in the medical field. A manmade isotope of the element, Cobalt-60 is commonly used in cancer treatments.



               Its atomic number is 27, and the symbol is Co.





 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



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Are we living on an enormous lump of iron?

              Yes, we are living on a huge mass of iron, the Earth! In fact, the centre of the Earth is almost all iron. The surface of the earth is also rich in this element. Due to its abundance, the metal is used widely for a host of utilities. From steel in the hulls of ships, and cast iron in pipes, to stainless steel in cutlery and wrought iron in gates, this element is the main ingredient contained in most objects you see and use every day.



              Iron is a heavy metal. At the same time, it is pliable too. Grayish in appearance, it is the most used of all elements, because it is extremely hard and strong.



              It is one of the most useful elements in our body. Iron is necessary throughout our body, and is especially essential to our blood. Through blood vessels, iron atoms carry oxygen from lungs to our heart and brain. They also take carbon dioxide back to our lungs to be blown out. Iron is stored in our blood cells, liver and other tissues. Its atomic number is 26, and the symbol is Fe.





 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 






Why is manganese a unique element?

            The name of the element manganese comes from the Latin word, ‘magnes’, which means magnet. However, do not think that manganese is magnetic as its name suggests. The name, in fact, derives from its compounds, which are used in the manufacture of glass.



            Manganese has been in use from ancient times. Researchers have found pigments of manganese in cave paintings dating from the Stone Age. Many alloys of manganese are in use today, especially in the manufacture of steel and glass.



           The element is mostly found in the Earth’s crust. However, it is very hard to discover it as a free element in nature, as it is often found in minerals that contain iron. It is the 12th most abundant element on earth’s crust and most of the world’s manganese is found in South Africa and Australia. Deposits of manganese are also found on the ocean bed.



           Manganese in it pure form is a reactive element. It burns in the presence of oxygen, and rusts when it comes in contact with water. It is silvery white in colour, and looks like iron.



           Manganese is an important nutrient for humans and animals, as it helps metabolic functions. Its atomic number is 25, and the symbol is Mn.





 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 




Is chromium a new element or was it known to the ancient world?

               Have you heard of the terracotta army of the Qin dynasty? It is a large collection of terracotta sculptures prepared to be buried along with the Chinese emperor when he died in the 3rd century BC. He would be protected by them in his after-life, they thought!



               Now, what should interest us are not the sculptures themselves, but the presence of an element which the modern world came to know about only in the late 18th century, namely chromium. The weapons of this army were tipped with chromium oxide so that they stayed without rusting for millennia! Chromium was primarily used to produce some highly sought after pigments of red and yellow.



               The precious ruby stone gets its natural red colour from chromium. Chromium has a silvery, shiny appearance, and is a favourite substance to coat cars, and other appliances to protect them from corrosion and to improve their looks.



               Chromium is generally found in its ores. It is rarely found in its pure form in nature. The most common ore from which chromium is extracted is chromite. Some forms of chromium are non-toxic. However, chromium (VI) is carcinogenic. The discoverer of chromium is Nicolas L. Vauquelin, who achieved the feat in 1797.



               Its atomic number is 24 and the atomic symbol is Cr.





 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 




What is the element that adds strength to steel?

               You may know that steel, an alloy of iron and carbon, is synonymous with strength. Can it be stronger? Adding various elements to steel will have varying effects on the alloy. Vanadium, a silvery grey metal, increases the hardness of steel.



               Vanadium is not usually found as a free element in nature. A wide variety of minerals in the Earth’s crust contain vanadium. Some minerals containing vanadium are vanadinite, carnotite, and magnetite. The majority of vanadium is procured from magnetite. It is in South Africa, Russia, and China that most of the vanadium is mined.



               The majority of vanadium used in industry is as an alloying element to add strength to steel. Vanadium steel is usually used in the manufacture of materials that need to be strong but light-weight, such as automobile parts.



               The element was first isolated by Sir Henry E. Roscoe, an English chemist, in 1867. However, the element was given the name by Nils Sefstrom, a Swedish chemist. Vanadium gets its name from the Scandinavian goddess of beauty, ‘Vanadis’. Its atomic number is 23, and the symbol is V.





 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 




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Which element did nations accumulate during the Cold War?

             The Cold War period was a time when nations such as the US and the USSR were scrambling for arms and weapons. Both these nations were stock-pilling an element called titanium, because they found it extremely useful for military and defence equipment. The strategic importance of the metal made it a much sought after substance.



             The element is named after the ‘Titans’ of Greek mythology. Titans, the mythical divine sons of the sky god Uranus and the Earth goddess Gaia, were strong and powerful rulers. Titanium is stronger than steel, but much lighter. So, it is widely used for making aircraft engines, ships, and artificial joints. Using titanium plates for supporting fractured bones is prevalent today.



              It was named by Martin Heinrich Klaproth, a German chemist, although the element was discovered by William Gregor, a British mineralogist, in 1791. Titanium is present in many minerals. It is generally found in rocks, and most bodies of water. The most common compound of titanium is titanium dioxide. Titanium is found in all living beings too.



             Titanium makes up less than one percent of the Earth’s crust. It is also the ninth most abundant metal on the Earth’s crust. Its atomic number is 22, and the symbol is Ti.





 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 




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How did scandium get its name?

             Sometimes naming an element is difficult and the discoverer would name it after the place where it was discovered. Our next element is an example. The name scandium comes from the Latin word ‘Scandia’, which stands for Scandinavia, a region in Northern Europe. The element was named after its first discovery in this region; and not many places outside the Scandinavian Peninsula have deposits of this element.



             Scandium is a fairly rare element. It is the 50th most common element in the Earth, and is generally found in small amounts in minerals. The element is very expensive due to its rarity.



             It is a light metal. Scandium is used in baseball bats because the element increases the bat’s striking power. It is also used in the manufacture of bright lights. Stadiums, sporting events, and movie production units make use of these lights. However, its cost is a discouraging factor and hence its popularity has severely suffered.



            It is Lars Fredrik Nelson, a Swedish chemist, who discovered scandium in 1879. Dmitri Mendeleev, referred to as the father of the periodic table, had predicted the existence of the element ten years before its actual discovery. Atomic number of this element is 21, and the symbol is Sc.





 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



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Is calcium the most important element in our body?

             Imagine humans and animals without bones and teeth! The thing that makes us walk, stand, sit and do anything with our body is this skeletal structure. Calcium is the element essentially necessary for the health of both our teeth and bones.



             Calcium regulates the electricity that passes through the nervous system, and helps muscle contractions in the body. This element plays a vital role in causing contractions in the heart. Ninety-nine per cent of the calcium in our body is accommodated in our teeth and bones. It is the most abundant metallic element in the human body. And thus, calcium assumes great importance in our body.



            The human race has used calcium for thousands of years. Cornish chemist Sir Humphry Davy successfully isolated this silver-coloured metal for the first time in 1808. Calcium is soft, and is always found combined with other elements in nature. It is found in many rocks such as limestone, chalk, and marble. Calcium is also found in minerals such as gypsum and fluorite.



            Calcium compounds are used in the manufacture of cement, glass, lime, bricks, and paint, and as a reduction agent in the preparation of other metals.



            Its atomic number is 20, and the symbol is Ca.





 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



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What happens when potassium comes in contact with water?

                    Water is usually used to put out fire, but if you drop a piece of potassium into water, you will see something incredible!



                    The element explodes with a purple flame the moment it is exposed to water. Because potassium is a highly reactive metal. It is very sensitive to the oxygen in the air too. Therefore, potassium has to be stored in mineral oil for safety. And for the same reason, the element is rarely seen in its natural form. However, people are familiar with potassium salts such as, saltpeter and potash and they have been in use for centuries.



                   The fertilizer industry makes great use of potassium, as it is an important nutrient for organisms. It plays a vital role in the human body and is the seventh most abundant element in the human body by weight. Potassium is also used in the production of soap, detergents, dyes, glass, gunpowder, batteries, and even gold. The element derives its name from the word potash.



                   Potassium is a very soft metal. You can easily slice it into pieces with a knife. It makes up roughly 1.5 per cent by mass of the Earth’s crust, and is the seventh most abundant material on Earth.



                   Potassium was the first elemental metal to be produced through electrolysis. Sir Humphry Davy is the scientist who isolated the element for the first time. Atomic number of potassium is 19. Its atomic symbol is K, which comes from its Latin name, Kalium, which means potash.





 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



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What keeps some incandescent lamps from burning out?

             Incandescent lamps were quite common before the advent of fluorescent and LED lights. It was a matter of wonder to see the filament of the bulb keep burning for days and weeks without dying out, or blackening the glass. It is an element called argon that does the trick. Argon does not react with the filament used in the light bulbs, even at high temperatures. And that helps the filament last longer, and keeps the glass of the bulb from blackening.



             The element is often used in the process of preservation. Important historical documents can be protected from decay with the help of argon. If the gas is pumped around such documents, the element will displace oxygen which is reactive and help the pages and ink of the delicate document from degrading.



             Argon is also used for the manufacture of decorative lightings. In the defence industry, the element is considered a blessing, because it is used to cool the heads of heat-seeking missiles.



             Argon was discovered and named by Lord Rayleigh, an English scientist, and Sir William Ramsay, a Scottish  chemist. Argon has no known biological significance. Large amounts of pure argon in enclosed areas will cause people to suffocate.



             Argon is the third most abundant gas on Earth. Its atomic number is 18, and the symbol is Ar.





 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



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Why chlorine is added in drinking water?

            You may have heard people living in cities complain that their water tastes of chlorine. Chlorine is used for sterilizing drinking water and disinfecting swimming pools. However, too much of it in water can cause poisoning.



            Chlorine is an element widely used for various purposes. If you have taken a prescription drug, driven a car, or drunk tap water, you are very likely to have been exposed to chlorine. It is used in the production of some commonly used commodities such as paper, textiles, paints and plastic, and especially PVC. Chlorine is also used in the manufacture of car interiors, as the presence of the element can make those materials, from seat cushions to bumpers, lighter.



           Man has been using chlorine for thousands of years. Chlorine had been discovered in the 18th century; however, it was not recognized as an element and named until 1810 by Sir Humphry Davy. When chlorine combines with other elements, it is known as chloride. Then, it becomes stable and its toxicity decreases. Sodium chloride, otherwise known as salt, is a common household item.



          Chlorine gas was used against the British troops in 1915, during World War I. The gas is dangerously toxic, affecting lungs, and even causing death. Its atomic number is 17, and the symbol is Cl.





 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



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Why does the titan arum give off a putrid smell?

              The titan arum is one of the largest flowers on Earth. It is 10 feet tall and beautiful, but you cannot go near it without closing your nose, as it emits an unbearable stench of rotting fish! The reason for the smell is the presence of sulphur compounds in the flower.



              Sulphur was a known substance from ancient times. However, it was Antoine Lavoisier who proved to the scientific community in 1777 that sulphur was indeed an element. It is a very fine, yellow coloured powder, and it stinks when burned in air. The English call this element brimstone.



              Volcanic eruptions and emissions through hot water vents in oceans are the main sources for the natural occurrence of sulphur on Earth. Despite its unpleasant smell, sulphur has a vital role in preserving life on Earth. It is a part of proteins, and hence, essential to all living beings. Our skin, hair, and nails get strength from the sulphur bond in the protein called keratin. Penicillin, an antibiotic that kills harmful bacteria, is a sulphur compound. Atomic number of this element is 16, and the symbol is S.





 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



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Which is the element that glows in the dark?

            People walking by graveyards at night have often reported sighting strange lights there. Many superstitions have originated out of such phenomena in the past. Such visions would certainly frighten people, if they did not know what caused it. White phosphorus deposited on the ground due to the decomposition of bodies is what causes this scary sight.



            Phosphorus has many crystal structures. White and red phosphorus structures are the most common among them. White phosphorus has a special characteristic: it glows in the dark. It will spontaneously ignite producing a peculiar glow when it comes in contact with air. And for this reason, it is used in fireworks and explosives.



            Phosphorus was the thirteenth element to be discovered. Number 13 being considered inauspicious, the element is sometimes called the ‘devil’s element’. Its glowing nature also adds to it notoriety.



            According to a study conducted in 2013 in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, phosphorus may have been brought to the Earth by meteorites. The study concluded that around 3.5 billion years ago, the element was abundant on Earth.



            Phosphorus is never found on Earth as a free element, because it is highly reactive. It is generally found in minerals. Phosphorus has an important role in the life of organisms as it is found in living cells, including nervous tissues, and bones. Its atomic number is 15, and the symbol is P.





 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



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Are silicon compounds easily available in our surroundings?

              You may have made sand castles on the seashore or a riverbank. If you have, you have come in contact with silicon already.



              Silica, an oxide of silicon, is the most common component of sand, which is found everywhere. Since sand and soil make up most of the crust of the Earth, about 27 per cent of it is silicon!



              Silicon is widely used for various industrial purposes. Do you use a computer? Computer chips, transistors, and other electronic circuits are made of silicon. Besides computers, silicon is used in cosmetic implants, skin and hair gels, rubber hoses etc.



              Most of the silicon on Earth is found in the form of silicon oxides such as sand and quartz. Silicon is extracted through a complex process. However, silicon is a prominent health hazard too. Inhalation of fine silica particles can cause a lung condition called ‘silicosis’.



             Asbestos, a compound of silica, was once a favourite substance for making building. Now, we know that it can lead to lung cancer; and therefore, people avoid it. Atomic number of this element is 14, and the symbol is Si.





 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 






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Is the precious stone sapphire just aluminium?

          No. Sapphire is not made up of only aluminium. However, aluminium is present in this precious stone. The metal is found in many other precious stones too, such as ruby, topaz, turquoise and jade. However, their amazing colours are due to the presence of other elements.



          Aluminium is an element commonly found across the globe. Although Man knew about this element for centuries, only recently did he start using it extensively. Aluminium is a well known conductor of electricity; and therefore, it is ideal for power cables. Due to its lightness, strength and protective qualities, aluminium is an easy choice for the manufacture of boats, car bodies, and aircraft parts.



          Aluminium has some very unique characteristics. It is malleable, meaning it can be shaped into thin sheets. You may have seen thin foils of silver coloured paper for wrapping food items. Aluminium is used for packaging food and drinks. It is tough, yet light-weight, and does not rust. Aluminium reflects heat and light. All these qualities make it an extremely useful element.



          Due to its utility, every year, 20 million tonnes of aluminium is produced from its ore world-wide. Its atomic number is 13, and the symbol is Al.





 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 





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