Elementary Connections Trivia Quiz

Answer: copper

Gifted by France to the US in the 1880s, the Statue of Liberty ("Liberty Enlightening the World") is covered in copper plates, which have turned green through prolonged exposure to the elements. The patina that forms on copper (as well as brass and bronze, both copper-based alloys) is called verdigris.

Answer: iron

Prussian statesman Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898) was known as the Iron Chancellor because of his strong, domineering personality and political skill, which were instrumental in achieving German unification in 1871.

Answer: mercury

One of classic rock's most iconic songs, "Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975) was written by Freddie Mercury, lead singer of British band Queen. "Bohemian Rhapsody" is also the title of Mercury's biopic, released in 2018.

Answer: lead

Lead is still widely used in the making of bullets and shot, though in modern times - especially in the case of projectiles used for hunting - it is often replaced by other, nontoxic metals or alloys. The word lead is often used metonymically to refer to bullets.

Answer: copper

The name copper comes from Latin "cuprum" (hence its chemical symbol Cu), which is a corrupted form of the phrase "aes cyprium" (metal from Cyprus). In Roman times, the majority of copper mines were located on the island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Answer: iron

Though later used as a metaphor for a motorcycle, the phrase "iron horse" originally applied to the steam locomotive - introduced at a time (early 19th century) when most machines were still powered by horses. Both locomotives and railroads were primarily made of iron.

Answer: mercury

Frequently seen outside medical buildings, the caduceus is the staff of the Greek god Hermes - known in Latin as Mercury. In Roman iconography, Mercury is depicted holding the caduceus - a winged staff entwined by two snakes - in his left hand. The caduceus is also used as a symbol of the planet Mercury and the chemical element named after it.

Answer: copper

The southwestern US state of Arizona, admitted to the Union on 14 February 1912, has been nicknamed the Copper State because of its abundant copper deposits, which have been extensively mined since the mid-19th century. Arizona is also known as the Grand Canyon State and the Valentine State.

Answer: lead

To produce crystal (also known as lead glass), lead oxide is added to glass to increase its refractive index, creating an attractive effect. However, due to the health risks posed by lead, in modern times other oxides are used if crystal glassware is meant to be used to store or serve drinks rather than for purely decorative purposes.

Answer: mercury

Due to its physical properties, mercury has long been an essential component of devices that measure temperature and pressure, such as thermometers and barometers. However, because of mercury's toxicity, its use in medical (mercury-in-glass) thermometers has been banned or strictly regulated in a number of countries.

Answer: lead

The word plumber comes from "plumbum", the Latin word for lead; originally, a "plumbarius" was any craftsman who worked with lead. In the past, water pipes were often made of lead - which has now been phased out because of its toxicity. Lead pipes, however, still exist in many countries, though they are not permitted any longer in new buildings.

Answer: copper

The large kettles used to brew beer are traditionally made of copper, which is prized for its excellent heat conductivity. For the same reason, copper cookware is considered essential by any serious chef. Copper is also the preferred material for stills (vessels used for distillation of spirits).

Answer: iron

The phrase "iron curtain", used to describe the strict separation between Western Europe and the countries of the Warsaw Pact, has been widely attributed to Winston Churchill. However, the iconic British statesman did not coin it, but probably borrowed it from a metaphor that described the fireproof curtains used in theatres since the early 19th century.

Answer: lead

Featured on their fourth, untitled album, "Stairway to Heaven" (1971) is the signature song of British rock band Led Zeppelin. Though spelled without an "a", the "Led" in the band's name is a reference to the chemical element lead, hinting at the heaviness of their sound.

Answer: mercury

Hinted at in the eccentric behaviour of the character in Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland", mad hatter syndrome is a mainly neurological condition (also known as erethism) caused by chronic mercury poisoning. This condition was once common in hat makers because of the widespread use of mercury in the production of felt.

Answer: iron

The undisputed symbol of the city of Paris, the Eiffel Tower - built to be the centrepiece of the 1889 World's Fair - is affectionately called "la dame de fer" (the Iron Lady) by Parisians. Made of wrought iron in a distinctive lattice pattern, it is 330 m (1,083 ft) tall from base to tip.