Chapter 14 Artistic Elements
By: Addison Land
Synopsis
Lithium
Atomic Mass: 6.941
Period: 2
Group: 1
Electron Configuration: 1s^2 2s^1
Classification: Alkali metal
Where it is found: Most lithium is found in brine, or water with high concentrations of lithium carbonate. Subsurface brine trapped in the Earth’s crust are the major source material for lithium carbonate. Chile and Australia are the world’s largest producers of lithium with their combined production being greater than 75% of the world’s production.
Why is this element important: Lithium is used in batteries, ceramics and glass, and rocket propellant.
Who found it and why was it named lithium: Lithium was discovered in 1817 by Johann August Arfvedson, but wasn't isolated until 1855 by Sir Humphrey Davy and Willliam Thomas Brande.
Unique Characteristics: Lithium resets your circadian rhythm and tweaks the mood-altering chemicals in your brain. Lithium will prevents future psychotic episodes, but will not stop current episodes.
Strontium
Atomic Mass: 87.62
Period: 5
Group:2
Electron Configuration: 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^10 4p^6 5s^2
Classification: Alkaline earth metal
Where it is found: Strontium is found from in the town that it was named after, Strontian, Scotland.
Why is this element important: Strontium is used to make the glass for colored televisions.
Who found it and why was it named strontium: Strontium was discovered in 1790 by Adair Crowford. It was named for the Scottish town of Strontian.
Unique Characteristics: Finely powdered strontium is very reactive and will ignite when in contact with air
Ruthenium
Atomic Mass: 101.07
Period: 5
Group: 8
Electron Configuration: 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^10 4p^6 5s^2 4d^6
Classification: Transition Metal
Where it is found: It was originally found in the Ural Mountains of Russia.
Why is this element important: Ruthenium was the first platinum element found. It is used in what is known as the fanciest pen in the world.
Who found it and why was it named ruthenium: Ruthenium was discovered in 1828 by Jons Jacob Berzelius and Gottfried W. Ossan. It was found in residue left by crude platinum ores. It is named after the latin word for Russia.
Unique Characteristics: It is unaffected by air, water, and acids.
Praseodymium
Atomic Mass: 140.90765
Period: 6
Group: None
Electron Configuration: 1s^ 2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^10 4p^6 5s^2 4d^10 5p^6 6s^2 4f^3
Classification: Lanthanide
Where it is found: Praseodymium is not found free in nature but can be found in minerals such as monazite and bastnaesite. This can be found in India, Madagascar, and South Africa.
Why is this element important: Praseodymium is used in highly intense magnets that are prudent in making electric motors and generators in hybrid cars and wind turbines.
Who found it and why was it named praseodymium: Praseodymium was founded in 1885 by Carl Auer von Welsbach. Praseodymium is Latin for "green twin" because it is almost always found with its other half neodymium which is Latin for "new twin."
Unique Characteristics: Praseodymium salts are used to color glass.
Dysprosium
Atomic Mass: 162.5
Period: 6
Group: None
Electron Configuration: 1s^ 2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^10 4p^6 5s^2 4d^10 5p^6 6s^2 4f^10
Classification: Lanthanide
Where it is found: Dysprosium is never found as a free element but is found in most rare earth metals.
Why is this element important: Dysprosium is used in data storage such as on hard disk and hard disk.
Who found it and why was it named dysprosium: Dysprosium was found in 1886 by Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran. The name dysprosium means "little hidden one" the element is named this because it is hard to separate it from its brother elements.
Unique Characteristics: Dysprosium and holmium are the most magnetic elements of all the elements.
Radium
Atomic Mass: 226
Period: 7
Group: 2
Electron Configuration: 1s^ 2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^10 4p^6 5s^2 4d^10 5p^6 6s^2 4f^14 5d^10 6p^6 7s^2
Classification: Alkaline earth metal
Where it is found: Radium can be found in all uranium ore. It is also found in very small amounts in sea water.
Why is this element important: Radium chloride used to be used for treating cancer.
Who found it and why was it named radium: Radium was founded in 1898 by Marie S. Curie. It was named radium after the Latin word "radius" because of the radioactive rays it emits.
Unique Characteristics: In a story called "Sold to Satan" the devils body is made out of radium
Summary
Resources
Chemicool Periodic Table. Chemicool.com. 17 Oct. 2012. Web. 1/15/2016