Hydrogen

Discovery date 1766

Discovered by Henry Cavendish

Origin of the name The name is derived from the Greek 'hydro' and 'genes' meaning water forming.

Allotropes H2

Uses

Some see hydrogen gas as the clean fuel of the future generated from water and returning to water when it is
oxidised. Hydrogen-powered fuel cells are increasingly being seen as pollution-free sources of energy and are now
being used in some buses and cars.

Hydrogen also has many other uses. In the chemical industry it is used to make ammonia for agricultural fertiliser (the
Haber process) and cyclohexane and methanol, which are intermediates in the production of plastics and
pharmaceuticals. It is also used to remove sulfur from fuels during the oil-refining process. Large quantities of
hydrogen are used to hydrogenate oils to form fats, for example to make margarine.

In the glass industry hydrogen is used as a protective atmosphere for making flat glass sheets. In the electronics
industry it is used as a flushing gas during the manufacture of silicon chips.

The low density of hydrogen made it a natural choice for one of its first practical uses filling balloons and airships.
However, it reacts vigorously with oxygen (to form water) and its future in filling airships ended when the Hindenburg
airship caught fire.

Discovery date 1817

Discovered by Johan August Arfvedson

Origin of the
The name is derived from the Greek 'lithos' meaning stone.
name
Allotropes

Uses

The most important use of lithium is in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric
vehicles. Lithium is also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for things like heart pacemakers, toys and clocks.

Lithium metal is made into alloys with aluminium and magnesium, improving their strength and making them lighter. A
magnesium-lithium alloy is used for armour plating. Aluminium-lithium alloys are used in aircraft, bicycle frames and
high-speed trains.

Lithium oxide is used in special glasses and glass ceramics. Lithium chloride is one of the most hygroscopic materials
known, and is used in air conditioning and industrial drying systems (as is lithium bromide). Lithium stearate is used
as an all-purpose and high-temperature lubricant. Lithium carbonate is used in drugs to treat manic depression,
although its action on the brain is still not fully understood. Lithium hydride is used as a means of storing hydrogen for
use as a fuel.

Discovery date 1807

Discovered by Humphry Davy

Origin of the name The name is derived from the English word 'soda'.

Allotropes

Uses

Sodium is used as a heat exchanger in some nuclear reactors, and as a reagent in the chemicals industry. But
sodium salts have more uses than the metal itself.

The most common compound of sodium is sodium chloride (common salt). It is added to food and used to de-ice
roads in winter. It is also used as a feedstock for the chemical industry.

Sodium carbonate (washing soda) is also a useful sodium salt. It is used as a water softener.

Discovery date Identified as an element in 1746, but known to the Greeks and Romans before 20BC.

Discovered by Andreas Marggraf

Origin of the The name is derived from the German, 'zinc', which may in turn be derived from the Persian
name word 'sing', meaning stone.
Allotropes
Uses

Most zinc is used to galvanise other metals, such as iron, to prevent rusting. Galvanised steel is used for car bodies,
street lamp posts, safety barriers and suspension bridges.

Large quantities of zinc are used to produce die-castings, which are important in the automobile, electrical and
hardware industries. Zinc is also used in alloys such as brass, nickel silver and aluminium solder.

Zinc oxide is widely used in the manufacture of very many products such as paints, rubber, cosmetics,
pharmaceuticals, plastics, inks, soaps, batteries, textiles and electrical equipment. Zinc sulfide is used in making
luminous paints, fluorescent lights and x-ray screens.
Discovery date 1798

Discovered by Nicholas Louis Vauquelin

Origin of the
The name is derived from the Greek 'chroma', meaning colour.
name
Allotropes
Uses

Chromium is used to harden steel, to manufacture stainless steel (named as it wont rust) and to produce several
alloys.

Chromium plating can be used to give a polished mirror finish to steel. Chromium-plated car and lorry parts, such as
bumpers, were once very common. It is also possible to chromium plate plastics, which are often used in bathroom
fittings.

About 90% of all leather is tanned using chrome. However, the waste effluent is toxic so alternatives are being
investigated.

Chromium compounds are used as industrial catalysts and pigments (in bright green, yellow, red and orange
colours). Rubies get their red colour from chromium, and glass treated with chromium has an emerald green colour.

Discovery date Known to native South Americans before Columbus, and taken to Europe around 1750
Discovered by -
Origin of the
The name is derived from the Spanish 'platina', meaning little silver.
name
Allotropes -
Uses

Platinum is used extensively for jewellery. Its main use, however, is in catalytic converters for cars, trucks and buses.
This accounts for about 50% of demand each year. Platinum is very effective at converting emissions from the
vehicles engine into less harmful waste products.

Platinum is used in the chemicals industry as a catalyst for the production of nitric acid, silicone and benzene. It is
also used as a catalyst to improve the efficiency of fuel cells.

The electronics industry uses platinum for computer hard disks and thermocouples.

Platinum is also used to make optical fibres and LCDs, turbine blades, spark plugs, pacemakers and dental fillings.

Platinum compounds are important chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancers.

Discovery date 1791

Discovered by William Gregor

Origin of the
The name is derived from the Titans, the sons of the Earth goddess of Greek mythology.
name
Allotropes
Uses

Titanium is as strong as steel but much less dense. It is therefore important as an alloying agent with many metals
including aluminium, molybdenum and iron. These alloys are mainly used in aircraft, spacecraft and missiles because
of their low density and ability to withstand extremes of temperature. They are also used in golf clubs, laptops,
bicycles and crutches.

Power plant condensers use titanium pipes because of their resistance to corrosion. Because titanium has excellent
resistance to corrosion in seawater, it is used in desalination plants and to protect the hulls of ships, submarines and
other structures exposed to seawater.

Titanium metal connects well with bone, so it has found surgical applications such as in joint replacements (especially
hip joints) and tooth implants.

The largest use of titanium is in the form of titanium(IV) oxide. It is extensively used as a pigment in house paint,
artists paint, plastics, enamels and paper. It is a bright white pigment with excellent covering power. It is also a good
reflector of infrared radiation and so is used in solar observatories where heat causes poor visibility.

Titanium(IV) oxide is used in sunscreens because it prevents UV light from reaching the skin. Nanoparticles of
titanium(IV) oxide appear invisible when applied to the skin.

Discovery date approx 3000BC

Discovered by -
Origin of the The name is the Anglo-Saxon word for the metal and the symbol comes from the Latin
name aurum, gold.
Allotropes
Uses

Most mined gold is stored as bullion. It is also, however, used extensively in jewellery, either in its pure form or as an
alloy. The term carat indicates the amount of gold present in an alloy. 24-carat is pure gold, but it is very soft. 18-
and 9-carat gold alloys are commonly used because they are more durable.
The metal is also used for coinage, and has been used as standard for monetary systems in some countries.

Gold can be beaten into very thin sheets (gold leaf) to be used in art, for decoration and as architectural ornament.
Electroplating can be used to cover another metal with a very thin layer of gold. This is used in gears for watches,
artificial limb joints, cheap jewellery and electrical connectors. It is ideal for protecting electrical copper components
because it conducts electricity well and does not corrode (which would break the contact). Thin gold wires are used
inside computer chips to produce circuits.

Dentists sometimes use gold alloys in fillings, and a gold compound is used to treat some cases of arthritis.

Gold nanoparticles are increasingly being used as industrial catalysts. Vinyl acetate, which is used to make PVA (for
glue, paint and resin), is made using a gold catalyst.
Discovery date approx 3000BC

Discovered by -
Origin of the
The name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name, 'siolfur'.
name
Allotropes
Uses

Sterling silver contains 92.5% silver. The rest is copper or some other metal. It is used for jewellery and silver
tableware, where appearance is important.

Silver is used to make mirrors, as it is the best reflector of visible light known, although it does tarnish with time. It is
also used in dental alloys, solder and brazing alloys, electrical contacts and batteries. Silver paints are used for
making printed circuits.

Silver bromide and iodide were important in the history of photography, because of their sensitivity to light. Even with
the rise of digital photography, silver salts are still important in producing high-quality images and protecting against
illegal copying. Light-sensitive glass (such as photochromic lenses) works on similar principles. It darkens in bright
sunlight and becomes transparent in low sunlight.

Silver has antibacterial properties and silver nanoparticles are used in clothing to prevent bacteria from digesting
sweat and forming unpleasant odours. Silver threads are woven into the fingertips of gloves so that they can be used
with touchscreen phones.
Discovery date approx 3500BC

Discovered by -
Origin of the
The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon name 'iren'.
name
Allotropes
Uses

Iron is an enigma it rusts easily, yet it is the most important of all metals. 90% of all metal that is refined today is
iron.

Most is used to manufacture steel, used in civil engineering (reinforced concrete, girders etc) and in manufacturing.

There are many different types of steel with different properties and uses. Ordinary carbon steel is an alloy of iron
with carbon (from 0.1% for mild steel up to 2% for high carbon steels), with small amounts of other elements.

Alloy steels are carbon steels with other additives such as nickel, chromium, vanadium, tungsten and manganese.
These are stronger and tougher than carbon steels and have a huge variety of applications including bridges,
electricity pylons, bicycle chains, cutting tools and rifle barrels.
Stainless steel is very resistant to corrosion. It contains at least 10.5% chromium. Other metals such as nickel,
molybdenum, titanium and copper are added to enhance its strength and workability. It is used in architecture,
bearings, cutlery, surgical instruments and jewellery.

Cast iron contains 35% carbon. It is used for pipes, valves and pumps. It is not as tough as steel but it is cheaper.
Magnets can be made of iron and its alloys and compounds.

Iron catalysts are used in the Haber process for producing ammonia, and in the FischerTropsch process for
converting syngas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) into liquid fuels.