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Essential Physical, Chemical, and Atomic
Properties of Elements

This page is intended as a comparative reference for those with an interest in the general properties and characteristics of elemental matter.  Data are catalogued in various formats, to assist in finding information and identifying patterns.


Periodic Table of Elements
1
Ia		                                 18
0
1
H
1.01		 2
IIa		                     13
IIIa		 14
IVa		 15
Va		 16
VIa		 17
VIIa		 2
He
4.00
3
Li
6.94		 4
Be
9.01		                     5
B
10.8		 6
C
12.0		 7
N
14.0		 8
O
16.0		 9
F
19.0		 10
Ne
20.2
11
Na
23.0		 12
Mg
24.3		 3
IIIb		 4
IVb		 5
Vb		 6
VIb		 7
VIIb		 8
VIIIb		 9
VIIIb		 10
VIIIb		 11
Ib		 12
IIb		 13
Al
27.0		 14
Si
28.1		 15
P
31.0		 16
S
32.1		 17
Cl
35.5		 18
Ar
39.9
19
K
39.1		 20
Ca
40.1		 21
Sc
45.0		 22
Ti
47.9		 23
V
50.9		 24
Cr
52.0		 25
Mn
54.9		 26
Fe
55.8		 27
Co
58.9		 28
Ni
58.7		 29
Cu
63.5		 30
Zn
65.4		 31
Ga
69.7		 32
Ge
72.6		 33
As
74.9		 34
Se
79.0		 35
Br
79.9		 36
Kr
83.8
37
Rb
85.5		 38
Sr
87.6		 39
Y
88.9		 40
Zr
91.2		 41
Nb
92.9		 42
Mo
95.9		 43
Tc
99		 44
Ru
101		 45
Rh
103		 46
Pd
106		 47
Ag
108		 48
Cd
112		 49
In
115		 50
Sn
119		 51
Sb
122		 52
Te
128		 53
I
127		 54
Xe
131
55
Cs
133		 56
Ba
137		 La-
Lu		 72
Hf
178		 73
Ta
181		 74
W
184		 75
Re
186		 76
Os
190		 77
Ir
192		 78
Pt
195		 79
Au
197		 80
Hg
201		 81
Tl
204		 82
Pb
207		 83
Bi
208		 84
Po
209		 85
At
210		 86
Rn
222
87
Fr
223		 88
Ra
226		 Ac-
Lr		 104
Unq
 105
Unp
 106
Unh
 107
Uns
 108
Uno
 109
Une
 110
Uun
 111
Uuu
              
                                   
  Lanthanide
series		 57
La
139		 58
Ce
140		 59
Pr
141		 60
Nd
144		 61
Pm
145		 62
Sm
150		 63
Eu
152		 64
Gd
157		 65
Tb
159		 66
Dy
163		 67
Ho
165		 68
Er
167		 69
Tm
169		 70
Yb
173		 71
Lu
175
  Actinide
series		 89
Ac
227		 90
Th
232		 91
Pa
231		 92
U
238		 93
Np
237		 94
Pu
244		 95
Am
243		 96
Cm
247		 97
Bk
247		 98
Cf
251		 99
Es
254		 100
Fm
257		 101
Md
258		 102
No
259		 103
Lr
260



Qualities of Major Element Groups
alkali metals Ia Highly electropositive elements, typical valence +1, metallic properties in solid phase, violently reactive with water.
alkaline earth metals IIa Strongly electropositive metals, typical valence +2.
transition metals Ib - VIIIb Includes most common metals, including the ferro-magnetic group.
lanthanide series IIIb A subgroup of transition metals, also classified as rare earths.
actinide series IIIb A subgroup of transition metals, also classified as rare earths.
other metals IIIa - VIa Weakly electropositive metals.
non-metals IIIa - VIa Non-metallic and semi-metallic solids, and gases, of reactivity ranging from slightly reducing to strongly oxidizing.
halogens VIIa Highly electronegative elements, typical valence -1, very toxic, range from solid to gaseous.
noble gases 0 Highly unreactive gases.
Many elements—even the lightest, hydrogen—have more than one isotope, and some of these may be radioactive. All known isotopes of technetium (43) and promethium (61), as well as all elements with atomic numbers greater than that of bismuth (83), are radioactive.



Properties & Characteristics of Elements
Unless otherwise noted, standard temperature (0°C) and pressure (1000 millibars) are assumed.
At.# Sym. Name At.Wt. Iso-
topes		 Val. Melt
(°C)		 Boil
(°C)		 Sp.Gr. Remarks
1 H hydrogen 1.008 1, 2, 3 1 -259 -253 0.08987 ×10-3 Lightest and most abundant element in the universe, present on earth combined with numerous other elements to form water, ammonia, carbohydrates, hydrocarbons, acids, bases, and many other substances.
Chemically similar to alkali metals, but can also behave as a halogen.
H-3 (tritium) > He-3 + b.
2 He helium 4.0026 4, 3 0   -268 0.1785 ×10-3 Second most abundant element in the universe but scarce on earth. Produced underground by radioactive decay (a emission) of other elements.
Used as a flotation agent in blimps and dirigibles, a gas-displacement medium for deep-sea diving, and as a supercoolant.
3 Li lithium 6.939 7 1 179 1317 0.534 Reactive, silver-white metal; lightest of all metals.
4 Be beryllium 9.0122 9 2 1278 2970 1.848 Lightweight, rigid, corrosion-resistant, steel-gray metal. Used as aerospace structural material, and as moderators and reflectors in nuclear reactors. Alloyed with Cu for use in springs and electrical contacts.
5 B boron 10.811 11 3 2300 2550* 2.34 Soft brown non-metal, amorphous and crystalline allotropes. Used in abrasives, propellant mixtures, reactor control rods.
*Sublimation point.
6 C carbon 12.01115 12, 13, 14 4, 3, 2 3500* 4827 1.8 - 3.53 Building block of all organic compounds. Four allotropes: graphite, lampblack, diamond, and buckminsterfullerene.
N-14 + neutron > C-14.
C-14 > N-13 + b, half-life 5568 yr.
*Sublimation; no liquid phase.
7 N nitrogen 14.0067 14 3, 5 -209.9 -195.8 1.25
×10-3		 Most abundant element in earth's atmosphere (80%). Essential component of ammonia, amino acids, cyanides, and many other chemicals. In liquid form serves as a refrigerant.
8 O oxygen 15.994 16 2 -218.4 -183.0 1.429 ×10-3 Very electronegative gas. Most abundant element on earth's surface, present in rock, water (combined with numerous other elements), and in air as O2 freed by photosynthesis in plants.
9 F fluorine 18.9984 19 1 -220
-223		 -188.1 1.108 (@bp) Pale yellow gas. Most reactive halogen, most electronegative element; never found free in nature, but always in compounds, such as fluorite.
10 Ne neon 20.183 20 0 -248.7 -246 0.9
×10-3

 

 Colorless inert gas, glows red-orange in an electrical discharge. Trace amounts in atmosphere, used in lighting and display devices.
At.# Sym. Name At.Wt. Iso-
topes		 Val. Melt
(°C)		 Boil
(°C)		 Sp.Gr. Remarks
11 Na sodium 22.99 23 1 97.8 892 0.971 Soft, light, silver white metal. Very reactive, found only in compounds; component of NaCl, table salt.
12 Mg magnesium 24.312 24 2 649 1090 1.74 (@20°C) Silver-white metal, burns with brilliant white flame. Occurs naturally only in compounds, such as minerals and salts.
13 Al aluminum 26.98 27 3 660.2 2467 2.69 Ductile, silver-white metal. Ores in clays such as bauxite. Metal is good electrical and thermal conductor, forms non-shedding surface oxide, is used in applications requiring structural strength and light weight.
14 Si silicon 28.086 28 4 1410 2355 2.33 Abundant (28% of earth crust) in form of SiO2 and silicates: feldspar, mica, quartz, present in most rocks, sand, and soil. Used in building materials, glass, and semiconductors.
15 P phosphorus 30.9738 31 3, 5 44.1 280 1.82 Reactive, toxic non-metal with 3 allotropes: white, red, and black. A key component of biochemistry. Occurs naturally in phosphates; used in fertilizers, detergents, matches, pesticides.
16 S sulfur 32.064 32 2, 4, 6 112.8-
119.0		 444.6 1.957 - 2.07 Allotropes: light yellow crystal, amorphous.
17 Cl chlorine 35.45 35 1, 3, 5, 7 -101 -34.6 1.56 (@bp) Yellow-green gas. Occurs naturally in compounds, such as NaCl, table salt.
18 Ar argon 39.94 40 0 -189.2 -185.7 1.78
×10-3		 Colorless inert gas comprises about 1% of earth's atmosphere. Used in incandescent bulbs, fluorescent and vacuum tubes, and in arc welding.
At.# Sym. Name At.Wt. Iso-
topes		 Val. Melt
(°C)		 Boil
(°C)		 Sp.Gr. Remarks
19 K potassium 39.102 39, 40 1 63.65 774 0.862 Highly reactive, soft, silver-white metal. Its hydroxide and salts are used in soap and fertilizer. K-40 > Ar-40, half-life 1.3×109 yr,
20 Ca calcium 40.08 40 2 842-
848		 1487 1.55 Moderately hard silver-white metal. Abundant (3% of earth crust) as CaCO3 in limestone, gypsum, fluorite.
21 Sc scandium 44.976 45 3 1540 2850 2.99 Silver-white metal, sometimes classified as a rare-earth element.
22 Ti titanium 47.90 48 2, 3, 4 1660 3287 4.54 Light, corrosion-resistant, lustrous white metal. Brittle in its pure state, but makes strong alloys suitable for lightweight applications such as aircraft.
23 V vanadium 50.942 51 2, 3, 4, 5 1890 3000 6.11 One of the hardest of all metals, with numerous applications in industry and tools.
24 Cr chromium 51.996 52 2, 3, 6 1890 2482 7.18 Hard, tarnish- and corrosion-resistant, lustrous steel-gray metal. Its ore is chromite, FeCr2O3. Used in steel alloys and as decorative plating.
25 Mn manganese 54.938 55 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 1244 1962 7.21-
7.44		 Gray-white metal. Used in ferromagnetic alloys.
26 Fe iron 55.847 56 2, 3, 4, 6 1535 2750 7.874 (@20°C) Strong, ductile, malleable, ferromagnetic silver-white metal. Moderately abundant ores include hematite and pyrite. Used in many applications, and the primary ingredient in steel.
27 Co cobalt 58.9332 59, 60 2, 3 1495 2900 8.9 Hard, brittle metal. Used for magnetic alloys, and its salts are used in blue glass and ceramic pigments.
Co-60 half-life 5.7 yr, used in industry and radiation therapy.
28 Ni nickel 58.71 59 0, 1, 2, 3 1453 2732 8.902 Hard, brittle, ferromagnetic metal used for battery electrodes and electroplating.
29 Cu copper 63.54 64 1, 2 1083 2595 8.96 Ductile red-brown metal, good electrical & thermal conductor. Used in wiring and plumbing. Also alloyed with Sn to produce bronze, and with Zn to produce brass.
30 Zn zinc 65.37 65 2 419 907 7.133 (@25°C) Brittle gray metal. Used in castings and electrodes, and also as a corrosion-inhibiting electroplated coating. Alloyed with Cu to make brass.
31 Ga gallium 69.72 70 2, 3 29.78 2403 5.907 Rare, glue-gray metal, melts near room temperature. Used in semiconductor technology.
32 Ge germanium 72.59 73 2, 4 937.4 2830 5.323 (@25°C) Brittle, gray-white semimetal, used in semiconductors.
33 As arsenic 74.922 75 3, 5 817* 613 5.73 Highly toxic semimetal with 3 allotropes: gray and black metallic forms, and a yellow nonmetal. Used in pesticides and as semiconductor doping agent.
*No liquid phase at pressure < 28 atmospheres.
34 Se selenium 78.96 79 2, 4, 6 217 684.9 4.28-
4.79		 Semimetal, with several allotropes: black vitreous, red powder, red crystals, and lustrous gray crystals, similar to sulfur. Used in rectifiers and in xerography.
35 Br bromine 79.904 80 1, 3, 5, 7 7.2 58.78 3.19 Dark brown, volatile liquid at room temperature, forms reddish gas. Used in gasoline anti-knock compounds, fumigants, and photographic chemicals.
36 Kr krypton 83.80 84   -156.6 -152.3 3.73 ×10-3 Whitish inert gas, used in gas-discharge and fluorescent lamps for exceptionally penetrating light.
At.# Sym. Name At.Wt. Iso-
topes		 Val. Melt
(°C)		 Boil
(°C)		 Sp.Gr. Remarks
37 Rb rubidium 85.47 85, 87 1, 2, 3, 4 312K 961K 1.532 Soft, silver-white metal. Ignites spontaneously in air. Found in many minerals and mineral water, as well as in coffee, tea, tobacco, and other plants. Used in photocells.
Rb-87 > Sr-87 + b, half-life 4.7×1010.
38 Sr strontium 87.62 88, 85, 87, 90 2 769 1384 2.54 Silvery metal. Burns bright red, used in flares and fireworks.
Sr-85 used to detect bone cancer; Sr-90 emits b, half-life 27 yr.
39 Y yttrium 88.905 89 3 1522 3338 4.45 (@25°C) Silvery metal, used to increase strength of Mg and Al alloys, and in color CRT phosphors.
40 Zr zirconium 91.22 91 2, 3, 4 1852 3578 6.56 (@20°C) Two allotropes: blue-black powder and soft, lustrous gray-white metal. Used in porcelain and alloys.
41 Nb niobium / columbium 92.906 93 2, 3, 5 2468 4927 8.57 Soft, silvery metal, often found in ores with Ta. Used in arc welding, superconductor research, and as a component of stainless steel.
42 Mo molybdenum 95.94 96 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 2617 4612 10.22 (@20°C) Hard, silver-white metal, used in alloys, fertilizers, dyes, enamels, reagents.
43 Tc technetium 99 90-111 0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 2200   11.50 First artificially created element (later found in nature in trace quantities).
Tc-99 half-life 4.2×106 yr.
44 Ru ruthenium 101.07 101 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 2310 3900 12.41 Hard, acid-resistant white metal, used in hardened and superconducting alloys.
45 Rh rhodium 102.905 103 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 1966 3727 12.41 Hard, durable, silver-white metal. Used in electroplating for a highly reflective and corrosion-resistant coating.
46 Pd palladium 106.4 106 2, 3, 4 1552 3140 12.02 (@20°C) Soft, steel-white, tarnish-resistant metal. Absorbs H. Used in electrical contacts, jewelry, watches, and surgical instruments.
47 Ag silver 107.868 108 1, 2 960.8 2212 10.50 Malleable, lustrous white metal. Used in jewelry, tableware, photography, and alloy soldering.
48 Cd cadmium 112.40 112 2 320.9 765 8.65 Soft, blue-white metal. Used in low-friction alloys, dental amalgams, Ni-Cd batteries, nuclear reactor shields, and rustproof electroplating.
49 In indium 114.82 115 1, 2, 3 156.6 2000 7.31 Soft, malleable, silver-white metal, used in alloy bearings and reactor control rods.
50 Sn tin 118.69 119 2, 4 231.9 2270 7.31 Malleable, silvery metal. Used to coat other metals, and as part of solder, pewter, type metal, and bronze.
51 Sb antimony 121.75 122 3, 5 630.5 1380 6.691 Metal with 4 allotropes, most common of which is hard, brittle, lustrous silver-white crystalline substance. Used in alloys, ceramics, flame-proofing, paint, and storage batteries.
52 Te tellurium 127.60 128 2, 4, 6 449.5 989.8 6.24 Brittle silver-white metal, used in alloys and ceramics.
53 I iodine 126.904 127, 131 1, 3, 5, 7 113.5 184.35 4.93 (@20°C) Toxic, gray-black or purple solid. Used as an antiseptic and in thyroid treatment.
54 Xe xenon 131.30 131 0 -111.9 -107.1 5.887 ×10-3 Once believed inert, forms some compounds. Used in stroboscopic and laser pumping lamps.
At.# Sym. Name At.Wt. Iso-
topes		 Val. Melt
(°C)		 Boil
(°C)		 Sp.Gr. Remarks
55 Cs cesium 132.91 133, 137 1 28.5 690 1.87 Soft, silver-white metal, liquefies near room temperature. Most electropositive element, except for Fr. Used in photoelectric cells.
56 Ba barium 137.34 137 2 725 1140 3.50 Soft, silver-white alkaline-earth metal. Its compounds are used in fireworks (BaNO3), pesticides (BaCO3), rubber products and paint (BaSO4).
57 La lanthanum 138.91 139 3 920 3469 5.98 - 6.186 Soft, silver-white rare-earth metal.
58 Ce cerium 140.12 140 3, 4 795 3468 6.67 - 8.23 Lustrous iron-gray rare-earth metal.
59 Pr praseodymium 140.98 141 3, 4 935 3127 6.8 Soft, silvery rare-earth metal.
60 Nd neodymium 144.24 144 3 1024 3027 6.80 - 7.004 Bright, silvery rare-earth metal; allotropes.
61 Pm promethium 145 141-154 (14) 3 1168 2460   Artificially created by U fission or neutron bombardment of Nd. Emits b.
62 Sm samarium 150.35 150 2, 3 1072 1791 ~7.50 Pale gray rare-earth metal.
63 Eu europium 151.96 152 2, 3 826 1439 5.259 Soft, silvery rare-earth metal. Fluoresces red when struck by b, absorbs neutrons.
64 Gd gadolinium 157.25 157 3 1312 ~3000 7.8 - 7.896 Silver-white rare-earth metal.
65 Tb terbium 158.925 159 3, 4 1356 3123 8.229 Soft, silver-gray rare-earth metal.
66 Dy dysprosium 162.50 162 3 1407 2600 8.536 Soft, silvery rare-earth metal.
67 Ho holmium 164.930 165 3 1461 2600 8.803 Stable, silvery rare-earth metal; highly paramagnetic.
68 Er erbium 167.26 167 3 1497 2900 9.051 Soft, silvery rare-earth metal.
69 Tm thulium 168.934 169 2, 3 1545 1727 9.3 Bright silver-gray rare-earth metal, used in portable X-ray machines.
70 Yb ytterbium 173.04 173 2, 3 824 1196 6.54 - 6.972 Soft, bright silvery rare-earth metal use in portable irradiation devices.
71 Lu lutetium 174.97 175 3 1663 3395 9.840 (@25°C) Rare, silver-white rare-earth metal.
Lu-? half-life 3×1010 yr. used for dating meteorites.
At.# Sym. Name At.Wt. Iso-
topes		 Val. Melt
(°C)		 Boil
(°C)		 Sp.Gr. Remarks
72 Hf hafnium 178.49 178 4 2220 5400 13.3 Bright silver metal.
73 Ta tantalum 180.948 181 2, 3, 4, 5 2996 5425 16.6 Very hard gray metal, resistant to chemical action below 150°C.
74 W tungsten 183.85 184 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 3410 5900 19.3 (@20°C) Highest melting point and lowest vapor pressure of any metal. Used in high-temperature applications, such as incandescent lamp filaments.
75 Re rhenium 186.2 186 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 3180 5627 21.02 Very hard, highest melting point except for tungsten.
76