Year 10 Science – Chemistry
Name: _________________________________
Learn more about the first 20 Elements – from Hydrogen to Calcium
Atomic
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Element
Symbol
Special features
Uses
Year 10 Science – Chemistry
Name: _________________________________
Learn more about the first 20 Elements – from Hydrogen to Calcium
Atomic
No
Element
Symbol
1
Hydrogen
H
2
Helium
He
Special features
Uses


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

The most abundant gas in the
universe
smallest atom
no neutron in the atom
inflammable;
in H2O
Not flammable
lighter than air


Burning
rocket fuel












The lightest metal
quite reactive
needs to be stored in oil
less dense than water
light, silver-gray
relatively soft metal
strong but brittle
transparent to X-ray
A semi-metal
very resistant to heat
very hard second to diamond.

Helium balloon and
airship
Helium helps NASA’s
shuttle get into space.
Lithium batteries for
digital mobile devices

3
Lithium
Li
4
Beryllium
Be
5
Boron
B
6
Carbon
C


Hardest material (diamond)
in life form; organic material


Charcoal for burning
Diamond, printing ink
7
Nitrogen
N

The high percentage of gas in
the air (78%)


Freezing food
Important gas for plants
8
Oxygen
O




For respiration
required for burning
rocket fuel
9
Fluorine
F


The gas given out by plants;
most abundant element in the
body and in the earth’s crust.
H2O
The most reactive non-metal
Forming many compounds

In Toothpaste to
prevent dental caries
10
Neon
Ne


Inert gas
reddish orange a vacuum
discharge tube

Neon signs with
different colours
supercool refrigerant.




Making alloys
telecommunication
equipment, computers
and mobile phone.
Insulating Fibreglass;
making borax for
cleaning
11
Sodium
Na



Very reactive metal
soft
less dense than water


Common in salt –
Sodium chloride
making soap and paper
12
Magnesiu
m
Mg

Burning with very bright light

In firework and sparkler
13
Aluminium
Al

Light, unreactive metal and
not rusting
the most abundant metal in
the earth's crust
Semi-metal (metalloid)
Quartz and sand
most abundant non-metal
other than oxygen in the
earth’s crust
Glowing white wax solid;
important in life form (DNA
and ATP molecules)

Window frame and
cooking utensils
making alloys
soft drink can
computer chips
breast implants

For making matches,
detergents, fertilisers


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
14
Silicon
Si



15
Phosphorus
P

16
Sulphur
S


Brittle yellow solid (powder)
in hot springs and volcanoes.


Gunpowder
making sulphuric acid
17
Chlorine
Cl


Yellow choking gas
denser than air





Most abundant inert gas in air
(under 1 %)
most neutrons in the first 20
elements.
The most active metal among
the first 20 elements
very poisonous yellowish gas.
Water purification in
pool
production of textiles,
paper products
In incandescent light
bulb
for welding
Making matches,
gunpowder and
fertilisers


Reactive Grey metal
reacting with water

In shells, chalk, marbles,
bones.
18
Argon
Ar

19
20
Potassium
Calcium
K
Ca
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