00 Elemental Building Blocks Flashcards
How many elements are there in the periodic table?
There are 118 elements in the periodic table.
How many elements are found in nature?
92 elements are found in nature.
How many elements are manmade?
26 elements are manmade.
What is an element?
An element is a substance that cannot be broken up into simpler ingredients.
What is every element composed of?
Each element is composed of tiny building blocks called atoms, which are unique for every element.
What are compounds?
Compounds are the result of two or more elements combined together. An example of a compound is water, which is composed of two elements called hydrogen and oxygen.
Who was the first person to use science to understand the elements?
The Irish scientist and inventor Robert Boyle. He persued science through reason, and in the 1660’s he performed the first chemistry experiments to show that much of what the alchemists believed was wrong.
Who were the precursors to chemists?
Alchemists.
Why did the alchemists fail in their endeavours to change ordinary metals into gold?
They failed because elements cannot be changed from one type into another. However, they discovered many new elements and developed several processes that chemists still use today.
What elements are the human body composed of?
1% Phosphorus, 1,5% Calcium, 3% Nitrogen, 10% Hydrogen, 18.5% Carbon, 65% Oxygen and 0.1% of other elements.
What elements are the earth’s atmosphere composed of?
78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 0.9% Argon, and 0.1% of other elements.
