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Interesting Elements Trivia Quiz

Since I am throwing my life away majoring in chemical engineering, I thought I would regale everybody with a quiz about interesting little facts about elements that I've learned along the way.

A multiple-choice quiz by caimenking. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
caimenking

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
164,329

Updated
Feb 20 25

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1815

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This element is a semiconductor, and is the main ingredient in a reagent which, when mixed with diglyme, will put a OH group on alkenes.

Answer: (It sounds less than entertaining)

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Question 2 of 10

2. This large halogen is essential for the function of the thyroid gland, and is used as a painful way to clean up a flesh wound.

Answer: (One word)

3. This radioactive element is the artificial element with the lowest atomic number. Before its discovery, there was simply an empty space in its place on the first periodic table. Its atomic number is 43. Hint

einsteinium

radium

technetium

plutonium

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Question 4 of 10

4. This element numbered 52 is commonly found in ores with gold and silver. Hint

earthium

gaiaurium

tellurium

thorium

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Question 5 of 10

5. In what nation is the town of Ytterby, that has the elements yttrium, terbium, and erbium named after it?

Answer: (One word)

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Question 6 of 10

6. This element is the most abundant one in the atmosphere. Hint

oxygen

nitrogen

carbon

hydrogen

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Question 7 of 10

7. What element is named after the Greek immortal who personified the sun?

Answer: (1 word)

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Question 8 of 10

8. This is the only metallic element that is commonly found as a liquid, and is named after the Roman messenger god, and a planet.

Answer: (One word)

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Question 9 of 10

9. This is the only halogen that is liquid at room temperature. Hint

chlorine

bromine

fluorine

sodium

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of these heavenly bodies does not have an element named from the ancient god which gave it its name? Hint

Uranus

Saturn

Pluto

Neptune

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This element is a semiconductor, and is the main ingredient in a reagent which, when mixed with diglyme, will put a OH group on alkenes.

Answer: boron

Boron receives its name from the mineral borax with the "-on" ending being analogous to that of carbon. One of its main uses is the "diborane in diglyme" reaction, which has put horrors into me many times over. "Diborane in diglyme" is a convenient way to make alkenes into alcohol.

2. This large halogen is essential for the function of the thyroid gland, and is used as a painful way to clean up a flesh wound.

Answer: iodine

When I hear iodine, all I can think of is Bart Simpson yelling "anything but the iodine, please just cut my leg off instead". Also it is useful as a tablet to purify the water for next time you are on a safari.

Answer: technetium

It is commonly used in radiology for the precious gamma radiation that lets us peer inside you! Technetium 95 has a half life of only 61 days.

4. This element numbered 52 is commonly found in ores with gold and silver.

Answer: tellurium

Tellurium is noted for having a garlicky scent to it called "tellurium breath". It is prevalent in Transylvania, and was the origin of a lot of vampire -related cures, along with the silver bullet method of killing werewolves. Thorium is a real element, named after Thor. The other 2 elements were just made up. Gaiaurium is named after Gaia, the greek goddess of Earth.

5. In what nation is the town of Ytterby, that has the elements yttrium, terbium, and erbium named after it?

Answer: Sweden

The mining town of Ytterby in Sweden was the site where the ores that contained all those elements were discovered.

6. This element is the most abundant one in the atmosphere.

Answer: nitrogen

7. What element is named after the Greek immortal who personified the sun?

Answer: helium

If you breathe it, you'll get a squeaky voice. It is also expelled with alpha radiation.

8. This is the only metallic element that is commonly found as a liquid, and is named after the Roman messenger god, and a planet.

Answer: mercury

When I was in high school, somebody broke their thermometer in oil that they were frying donuts in. They then ate the donuts under an act of brilliance. Yea they had to get their droppings examined for a week. The lesson? Avoid mercury, it is deadly.

9. This is the only halogen that is liquid at room temperature.

Answer: bromine

Bromine is essential for a lot of organic reactions. Bromination is used to attach bromine to carbon skeletons, which can then be used to attach alkenes to more alkenes.

10. Which of these heavenly bodies does not have an element named from the ancient god which gave it its name?

Answer: Saturn

The elements are uranium, plutonium, and neptunium. All three of these elements are radioactive, and only uranium is known to occur naturally. Another element named after a planet is mercury.

Source: Author caimenking

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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