Chapter 5: Elements in Times of War
By: Gideon White
Synopsis
Metals were now 'the thing' to use in warfare. The Germans had Big Berthas that could launch shells at 9 miles an hour. The explosives that were required to launch them at this speed decimated the gun after only a few shots. Molybdenum and Tungsten were the go-to elements now because they strengthened the metal so much that Big Bertha could take the cruel beating the explosives dished out (5, 88). In the present, Tantalum and Niobium are the sought after elements because of their use in small handheld electronic devices like cell phones. The demand for these metals (and tin) has caused the Democratic Republic of Congo (where they are mainly found) to erupt into wars, violence, and bloodshed. 60% of the world's supply of Tin, Tantalum, and Niobium is found in DR Congo. One might think the periodic table boring. It is. BUT the history behind the elements and how they are arranged is anything but boring. It is bloody.
Bromine
Periodic Table
Atomic Number - 35
Electron Configuration - 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p5
Group - 7
Period - 4
Atomic Mass - 79.9 amu
Classification - Halogen gas
Map
Glass Sphere of Bromine
Osmium
Periodic Table
Electron Configuration - 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6 4f14 5d6 6s2
Group - 8
Period - 6
Atomic Mass - 190.2 amu
Classification - Transition Metal
Map
Osmium Crystal
Chlorine
Periodic Table
Electron Configuration - 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5
Group - 17
Period - 3
Atomic Mass - 35.5 amu
Classification - Halogen gas
Map
Chlorine Gas
Molybdenum
Periodic Table
Electron Configuration - 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d1
Group - 6
Period - 5
Atomic Mass - 95.94 amu
Classification - Transition metal
Map
Molybdenum Chunk and Cube
Tungsten
Periodic Table
Electron Configuration - 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d4
Group - 6
Period - 6
Atomic Mass - 183.84
Classification - Transition metal
Map
Tungsten Cube and Rods
Scandium
Periodic Table
Electron Configuration - 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d1 4s2
Group - 3
Period - 4
Atomic Mass - 44.96
Classification - Transition metal
Map
Scandium Crystal and Cube
Tantalum
Periodic Table
Electron Configuration - 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6 4f14 5d3 6s2
Group - 5
Period - 6
Atomic Mass - 180.94
Classification - Transition metal
Map
Tantalum Metal
Niobium
Periodic Table
Atomic Number - 41
Electron Configuration - 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d3Group - 5
Period - 5
Atomic Mass - 92.90
Classification - Transition metal
Map
Niobium
Summary
Bibliography
- Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. (2016). The Periodic Table of Elements. Retrieved January 13, 2016, from education.jlab.org/itselemental/
- Lenntech. (2016). Periodic Table. Retrieved January 14, 2016, from lenntech.com/periodic/periodic-chart.htm
- Los Alamos National Library. (2016). The Periodic Table of The Elements. Retrieved January 13, 2016, from periodic.lanl.gov/list.shtml
- The Encyclopedia of Earth. (January 19, 2008). Molybdenum. Retrieved from January 14, 2016, from eoearth.org/view/article/154667/
- Minerals Education Coalition. (2016). Tungsten. Retrieved January 14, 2016, from mineralseducationcoalition.org/minerals/tungsten
- Chemicool. (2016). Scandium. Retrieved January 14, 2016, from chemicool.com/elements/scandium.html
- Royal Society of Chemistry. (2016). Periodic Table. Retrieved January 15, 2016, from rsc.org/periodic-table