Thursday, 28 July 2011

Vanadium (V)

Atomic Number: 23

Relative Atomic Mass: 50.94151

Electronegativity: 1.63


Atomic Radius (Picometers): 135


Appearance: Blue-Silver-Grey


Occurrence: Natural

Melting Point (Kelvin): 2183

Boiling Point (Kelvin): 3680


Stable Isotopes: 51

Discoverer: Nils Sefstrom in 1830

Properties: Soft, Ductile

First Use: Cars (1927)

Modern Uses: Fusion Reactor, Ceramics


File:Vanadium etched.jpg


Picture Courtesy of Alchemist-hp


©2011 Grant Dwyer

Monday, 25 July 2011

Titanium (Ti)

Atomic Number: 22

Relative Atomic Mass: 47.8671

Electronegativity: 1.54


Atomic Radius (Picometers): 140


Appearance: Silvery Grey-White


Occurrence: Natural

Melting Point (Kelvin): 1941

Boiling Point (Kelvin): 3560


Stable Isotopes: 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

Discoverer: William Gregor in 1791

Properties: Low Density, Ductile, High Strength-Weight Ratio

First Use: Military (1950's)

Modern Uses: Toothpaste, Paper, Cement

File:Titan-crystal bar.JPG

Picture Courtesy of Alchemist-hp


©2011 Grant Dwyer

Scandium (Sc)

Atomic Number: 21

Relative Atomic Mass: 44.9559126

Electronegativity: 1.36


Atomic Radius (Picometers): 160


Appearance: Silvery White


Occurrence: Natural

Melting Point (Kelvin): 1814

Boiling Point (Kelvin): 3109

Stable Isotopes: 45


Discoverer: Lars Fredrik Nilson in 1879

Properties: Soft, Dissolves in Most Dilute Acids

First Use: Aluminium Alloys (1971)

Modern Uses: Lamps, Tracing Agents

File:Scandium sublimed dendritic and 1cm3 cube.jpg

Picture Courtesy of Alchemist-hp


©2011 Grant Dwyer

Calcium (Ca)

Atomic Number: 20

Relative Atomic Mass: 40.0784

Electronegativity: 1.00


Atomic Radius (Picometers): 180


Appearance: Dull Grey

Occurrence: Natural


Melting Point (Kelvin): 1115

Boiling Point (Kelvin): 1757

Stable Isotopes: 40, 42, 43, 44


Discoverer: Sir Humphry Davy in 1808

Properties: Soft, Good Electrical Conductor

First Use: Medicine (975)

Modern Uses: Making Acetylene Gas, X-ray Studies


File:Calcium unter Argon Schutzgasatmosphäre.jpg


Picture Courtesy of Matthias Zepper


©2011 Grant Dwyer

Friday, 22 July 2011

Potassium (K)

Atomic Number: 19

Relative Atomic Mass: 39.09831

Electronegativity: 0.82


Atomic Radius (Picometers): 220


Appearance: Silvery-Grey

Occurrence: Natural


Melting Point (Kelvin): 336.53 

Boiling Point (Kelvin): 1032

Stable Isotopes: 39, 41


Discoverer: Sir Humphry Davy in 1808

Properties: Very Reactive with Water, Soft

First Use: Clothing (Middle Ages)

Modern Uses: Fertiliser, Food

File:Potassium-2.jpg


Picture Courtesy of images-of-elements.com


©2011 Grant Dwyer

Argon (Ar)

Atomic Number: 18

Relative Atomic Mass: 39.9481

Electronegativity: Unknown


Atomic Radius (Picometers): Unknown


Appearance: Colourless (Lilac/Violet when subjected to a High Voltage Electric Field)

Occurrence: Natural


Melting Point (Kelvin): 83.80

Boiling Point (Kelvin): 87.80

Stable Isotopes: 36, 38, 40


Discoverer: Sir William Ramsay in 1894

Properties: Odorless, Non-toxic, Inert, Monotomic

First Use: Unknown

Modern Uses: Medicine, Scientific Research

File:Argon discharge tube.jpg

Picture Courtesy of Alchemist-hp


©2011 Grant Dwyer

Wednesday, 20 July 2011

Chlorine (Cl)

Atomic Number: 17

Relative Atomic Mass: 35.4532

Electronegativity: 3.16


Atomic Radius (Picometers): 100


Appearance: Yellow-Green

Occurrence: Natural


Melting Point (Kelvin): 171.6

Boiling Point (Kelvin): 239.11 


Stable Isotopes: 35, 37

Discoverer: Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1774

Properties: Highly Reactive, Poisonous

First Use: Brine (6000 BC)

Modern Uses: Disinfection, Purification

File:Chlorine ampoule.jpg

Picture Courtesy of W.Oelen


©2011 Grant Dwyer