Elemental Solids
This element is the basic building block of all living things and is one of the most common solid elements on Earth.
What is carbon (C)?
This sweet solid is made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and dissolves easily in water.
What is sugar (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁)?
This gas makes up about 78% of Earth’s atmosphere.
What is nitrogen (N)?
This gas is is two of the same atoms chemically bonded together, and is the molecule we need to breathe.
What is oxygen (O₂)?
This common liquid compound covers about 70% of Earth’s surface.
What is water (H20)?
This soft metal has been valued for thousands of years as money and jewelry, but is also useful in industry.
What is gold (Au)?
This molecular solid is used to flavor food and is made up of sodium chemically bonded with another element.
What is salt (sodium chloride - NaCl)?
This gas is used in balloons because it is lighter than air and does not burn.
What is helium (He)?
This gas is a greenhouse gas and the product of burning fossil fuels.
What is carbon dioxide (CO₂)?
This clear, flammable liquid is used as fuel in stoves, in cleaning solutions, and is the active ingredient in alcoholic drinks.
What is ethanol (C₂H₅OH)?
This shiny grey metal is a good conductor of electricity and is used in jewelry and electronics.
What is silver (Ag)?
This white, brittle solid is part calcium, is used to make chalk and makes up the shell of many animals.
What is calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)?
This gas is the most common element in the universe, formed shortly after the Big Bang.
What is hydrogen (H)?
This molecular gas makes up the protective layer that shields Earth from UV light.
What is ozone (O3)?
This liquid element is very dense, toxic, and used to be found in thermometers.
What is mercury (Hg)?
This lightweight, non-magnetic metal is the main ingredient in most cans and is used in the frames of high-end bicycles and cars.
What is aluminum (Al)?
This solid, also called dry ice, skips melting and turns directly into a gas.
What is carbon dioxide (CO₂)?
This pale green, poisonous gas can also be used to kill bacteria in a pool.
What is chlorine (Cl)?
This flammable gas has a bad smell and is the main ingredient in natural gas.
What is methane (CH₄)?
This strong acid is found in car batteries and can burn skin.
What is sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄)?
This solid element makes up the red tip of matches, is used in fireworks to make red fire, and is a key component of DNA.
What is phosphorus (P)?
This molecular solid is the main component of wood and is made of long chains of glucose molecules.
What is cellulose (C₆H₁₀O₅)?
This noble gas glows bright orange-red in advertising signs.
What is neon (Ne)?
This gas is a common pollutant emitted by vehicle exhausts, especially diesel engines.
What is nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)?
This reddish-brown element is one of only two liquid elements at room temperature, and it is so reactive that it’s usually found in salts instead of by itself.
What is bromine (Br)?