An Elemental Acrostic Trivia Quiz

Answer: Molybdenum

Molybdenum was first discovered as a separate element in 1778 by the Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele. Its principal ore, Molybdenite, was often confused with galena, the ore of lead. Samples of molybdenum were also discovered on the moon by the Russian space mission Luna 24.

Answer: Arsenic

Arsenic was very difficult to detect since it was odourless and didn't leave any traces in the body after the person's death. Thus, it was one of the preferred poisons for murder. It was nicknamed the 'king of poisons' due to its use by members of royalty to get rid of other claimants to the throne or title.

The British chemist, James Marsh, developed a test for detecting the presence of arsenic in 1836.

Answer: Gallium

Gallium is a soft silvery metal which occurs along with zinc ores and bauxite in traces. The element was discovered by French chemist Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran who named it after Gaul, the Latin name for his country, France. At around 29 degree celsius, the melting point of gallium is slightly above the normal room temperature at places located in the mid-latitudes giving rise to this unique property.

Answer: No

The first noble gas on the periodic table is helium at number 2. Neon is next at number 10. Noble gases are also called inert gases since they are the least reactive among all the elements. The outermost shell of these elements is filled with the maximum number of possible electrons, thus making them highly non reactive.

Answer: Europium

Yttrium (Y), erbium (Er), terbium (Tb), and ytterbium (Yb) are all named after the Swedish village of Ytterby found on the island of Resaro. The rare earth mineral yttria was first mined at a quarry near this village and yielded these four elements which were not known at the time.

Europium is a silvery metal named after the continent of Europe. It was one of the last rare earth elements to be discovered.

Answer: Sulphur

Sulfur, also spelled as sulphur, was referred to in the Bible as brimstone which means burning stone. Sulfur has been used for fumigation and medication since ancient times and finds mention in the "Odyssey" and Pliny the Elder's "Natural History". It is commonly found near volcanoes and hot springs.

Answer: Indium

Indium was discovered in 1863 by Friedrich Reich and Theodor Richter. Indium was found within a zinc ore and was identified by the deep blue spectral light it emitted. This led to it being named indium, after indigo.

Polonium is named after Poland, Lutetium after Lutetia, the former name of Paris and Scandium after Scandinavia.

Answer: Uranium

Uranium was discovered by German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth within the mineral pitchblende and he named it after the planet, Uranus. Pitchblende, also called Uraninite, is a major ore of uranium. Apart from its uses in the nuclear power industry, it is also used to ascertain the age of different types of rocks through radiometric dating.

Answer: Mendelevium

Mendelevium has the atomic number 101 and is usually synthesized by bombarding the element einsteinium with alpha particles. It was named in honour of Dmitri Mendeleev, a Russian chemist who was the first to create the Periodic Table of Elements.

Answer: Magnesium

Magnesium was named after the Greek city of Magnesia which was a major source of calcium oxide. It is used extensively in the automobile, aviation and electronics industry. It also has various medicinal uses and its compounds are used in laxatives and antacids.