The Elements Trivia Quiz

Answer: Noble Gases

The second most common element in the universe, helium is a gas at room temperature. Discovered by Pierre Janssen in 1868, helium appears on the periodic table with an atomic number of 2, and is classified as a noble gas. It is used today in balloons and airships to make them float because it is less flammable than hydrogen.

One of the characteristics of noble gasses is that they are inert and stable. For this reason they rarely form compounds with other elements.

Answer: Noble Gases

With an atomic number of 10, neon was discovered by Sir William Ramsay and M.W. Travers in 1898. The fifth most abundant element in the universe, it is used to make reddish-orange neon lights, in refrigeration, and in television and vacuum tubes.

Under typical conditions noble gasses are odorless and colorless.

Answer: Noble Gases

With an atomic number of 18, argon was discovered by Lord Rayleigh and Sir William Ramsay in 1894. Since it is the most abundant noble gas, it is used in many items, like light bulbs, where an inert gas is required. In fact, the argon in light bulbs helps to shield the filament from hot temperatures. Argon is also the substance that keeps the glass in a light bulb from turning black.

The melting point and boiling point of nobles gases are close together and are very low. Noble gases, therefore, are liquefied at low temperatures.

Answer: Noble Gases

Krypton has an atomic number of 36, and was discovered in 1898 by William Ramsay and Morris Travers. A gas at room temperature, Krypton is odorless, tasteless, and nontoxic. Believed to be a primordial element, krypton was present when Earth was formed. It is normally found today in neon lights, photographic flashes, and fluorescent lamps.

Another name for a noble gas is inert gas.

Answer: Alkali Metals

Lithium has an atomic number of 3 and is a solid, silvery-white color at room temperature. Discovered by Johann August Arfgvedson in 1817, lithium is used today in batteries, and in the production of glass and ceramics; it is even used in anti-depression medications.

Alkali metals are described as being shiny and soft enough to be cut with a knife.

Answer: Alkali Metals

Discovered by Sir Humphry Davy in 1807, potassium as an atomic number of 19. It is described as a silvery-white metal and is very soft. The heat from candles can cause potassium to melt because it has such a low melting point. Today it is used in the manufacture of fertilizers, soaps, dyes, and even gunpowder.

When alkali metals come into contact with air, they tarnish.

Answer: Alkali Metals

Discovered in 1939 by Marguerite Perey, a student of Marie Curie's, francium is extremely radioactive and rare. With an atomic number of 87 it forms and decays very quickly and really has no use except in scientific research. This is probably a good thing because scientists think that if enough francium is put together it will become highly reactive and catch fire!

All alkali metals have odd atomic numbers.

Answer: Alkali Metals

Dr. Hunphry Davy discovered sodium in 1807. Like the other alkali metals, it is silvery-white in appearance, however, sodium burns with a yellow flame. With an atomic number of 11, sodium is one of the most abundant elements on earth. It easily forms compounds with other elements; for example, NaCl is the compound of sodium chloride that is common table salt.

Alkali metals can react so violently with water that they are typically stored in oil.

Answer: Transition Metals

Nickel was discovered in 1751 by Axel Cronstedt. With an atomic number of 28, nickel is usually a silvery-white metal that is pliable even though it is fairly hard. Did you know that it is magnetic at room temperature? Today it is used to make nickel steel and strong magnets.

Transition metals have high densities and can conduct electricity.

Answer: Transition Metals

Silver was one of the first metals used by ancient people, and its use dates back thousands of years. The oldest evidence of silver, that has an atomic number of 47, dates back to approximately 3000 BC in modern day Turkey. It has the highest electrical conductivity out of all the elements, and is highly reflective. Although it was used at one time to make coins, it is highly prized today for jewelry, musical instruments, and nuclear reactors.

Transition metals are paramagnetic, which means that are weakly attracted by the poles of a magnet, but do not retain any long-lasting magnetism.

Answer: Transition Metals

Another metal that has been in use since ancient times, iron was used by approximately 1,000 BC. Because it required special knowledge to produce, it was very valuable. Iron, with an atomic number of 26, is considered to be one of the most abundant elements on earth, and is used more than any other metal to produce alloys such as cast iron and steel. Today it is used in the manufacture of cars, buildings, tools, appliances and a host of other goods.

Transition metals have high melting and boiling points, as well as relatively high densities.

Answer: Transition Metals

The use of copper dates back to at least 5000 BC; it was the first metal used during the Age of Metals. It's ductility, however, made it unusable for necessary items such as tools or weapons. Copper has an atomic number of 29, and is orange-colored; it is one of just a few of the transition metals that is not silvery-gray. Because it conducts electricity so well, it is valuable and in high demand today for use in wiring and pipes, as well as cookware.

Transition metals can form compounds with different colors.

Answer: Nonmetal

With an atomic number of 6, carbon was discovered in ancient times, as it forms the basis of all plant and animal life. It forms three different allotropes, which are materials that are made from the same element, but the atoms link together differently. In its diamond allotrope, carbon is the hardest substance known on earth. Its other two allotropes are graphite and amorphous. Today carbon is found in many everyday items, such as jewelry, pencils, fuels, and plastics.

Except for carbon, nonmetals have lower melting and boiling points than metals.

Answer: Nonmetal

Oxygen, which was discovered by C.W. Scheele (1772) and Joseph Priestley (1774), has an atomic number of 8. It comprises about 65% of the human body's mass, and also makes up about 21% of Earth's atmosphere. Oxygen is used in the making of steel and plastics today, and is also important in the medical field as life support for breathing. Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen are also used to produce rocket fuel.

Nonmetals are not malleable.

Answer: Nonmetal

Sulfur has an atomic number of 16, and is considered to be the tenth most abundant element in the universe. It was discovered in ancient times in many locations; in the Bible it is called brimstone. Sulfur is used to make sulfuric acid today, which is found in car batteries and fertilizers. It is also used in the manufacture of rubber, gunpowder, and cement.

Nonmetals do not conduct heat or electricity well.

Answer: Nonmetal

Nitrogen, which has an atomic number of 7, was discovered by Daniel Rutherford in 1772. In normal conditions it is a gas, but it can become a liquid at cold enough temperatures. It is the most common element in the air that we breathe, and is found in all living organisms. Today it is used to make ammonia, explosives, and gas in incandescent light bulbs.

Nonmetals are either gas or solid, and are very brittle in their solid form.