Start with "C"
Gases
Non-Metals
Metals
Start with "S"
100
Most common allotrope of this element is diamond. Two other allotropes are graphite and ‎Buckminsterfullerenes.
What is carbon? What is C? Z=12
100
This poison gas was used in World War I during the grueling trench-warfare phase and was found to inflict death to nearly equal numbers of soldiers regardless of who set off the gas; on the other hand, it is found to be a cheap and extremely effective disinfectant and water treatment chemical.
What is chlorine? What is Cl, the element, or Cl2, the gas? Z=17
100
Mercury, a metal, exists as a liquid at room temperature and pressure. Just one other element, a non-metal, also exists as a liquid at room temperature and pressure.
What is bromine? What is Br2 or Br? Z=35
100
Inherently valuable, undeniably beautiful, eternally precious, brightly colored and with a luster that is maintained without tarnishing in air or water;and the prime standard of all metals.
What is Gold? What is Au? Z=79
100
A soft, silver-white, highly reactive metal and a member of the alkali metals with a chemical symbol from the Latin name of "natrium".
What is Sodium? What is Na? Z=11
200
This element is alloyed with tin or zinc, to create, respectively, bronze or brass.
What is copper? What is Cu, Z= 29
200
Lighter than air, this noble gas is found in dollar-store gas cylinders used to inflate balloons.
What is helium? What is He? Z=2
200
New York City and Las Vegas are lit up with bright orange-red lights from the high voltage electric discharge in a tube filled with a low-pressure of this noble gas.
What is Neon? What is Ne? Z=10
200
Plays an important role in biology, serves as the binding site for molecular oxygen in hemoglobin and myoglobin, 2 common oxygen transport proteins in vertebrates. When donating blood, if you are anemic you are low in this metal.
What is iron? What is Fe? Z=26
200
Elemental symbol begins with "S" but the element's name begins with "T".
What is Sn? Z=50
300
Is a necessary element needed for bone development and found in milk.
What is calcium? What is Ca? Z= 20
300
This gas comprises nearly 70% of the air we breathe.
What is nitrogen? What is N2 ? Z=7
300
Found in the laundry aid known as Borax and of critical importance in the cross-linking of polymers in Silly Putty.
What is Boron? What is B? Z= 5
300
More important than its prestige as better than gold, its resistance to corrosion and its ability to withstand high temperatures is this metal's ability and prominence to catalyze reactions (as in the catalytic converters of the world's gasoline and diesel vehicles).
What is Platinum? What is Pt? Z=78
300
There is just no 2 ways about it; smelly as a powder; smelly as a solid crystal; and when it's burning, it has been historically referred to as 'brimstone'.
What is Sulfur? What is S? Z=16
400
Aficionados of deep blue colored glass trinkets and glassware will know the color is due to this element.
What is cobalt? What is Co? Z=27
400
Bipropellant liquid rockets generally use a liquid fuel and a liquid oxidizer. The fuel and oxidizer are elemental gases which have been liquefied at very low temperatures.
What are hydrogen (fuel) and oxygen (oxidizer)? What are H2 and O2? Z=1 Z=6
400
Dissolved in alcohol it has been used as a disinfectant for centuries; it is routinely used to disinfect skin prior to taking blood samples (provided the patient is not allergic to it) and leaves a orange stain on the skin.
What is iodine? What is I? Z= 53
400
This metal is overwhelming associated with one application, the dismally inefficient incandescent lightbulb. However, its high density, cheap cost and lower environmental toxicity makes in an ideal metal to put a lot of weight into a small space (including fishing sinkers, darts).
What is tungsten? What is W? Z=74
400
An essential nutrient in small amounts, found in medicated shampoos as a sulfide, and used in a form that acts as an insulator in xerographic photocopiers and laser printers in the dark but a conductor when exposed to light.
What is selenium? What is Se? Z=34
500
An extremely intense pigment favored by the impressionists, including Claude Monet, is ___________ yellow. This toxic "C" element is probably best known for its previously common use in batteries in combination with nickel. These types of batteries need to be taken to stores and recycling centers in order to prevent environmental pollution.
What is cadmium? What is Cd? Z=48
500
Imax projectors use fantastically bright 15-kWatt short-arc lamps filled with this noble gas to create their huge projected images.
What is Xenon? What is Xe? Z=54
500
The elemental "white" form is truly nasty stuff whereas the "red" form is relatively stable and widely used in matches as an igniter; when combined with oxygen, it is vital to growth of food crops.
What is phosphorus? What is P? Z=15
500
A component of stainless steel, plated over iron to prevent rust, and used widely in coins as reflected by the fact that there is US coin named after it.
What is Nickel? What is Ni? Z=28
500
The first "S" element you may never have heard of with a total world trade in pure metallic form of less than a hundred pounds per year; used in tiny amounts with aluminum to make the strongest aluminum alloys known; first of the transition metals with an atomic number of 21 and elemental symbol of "Sc".
What is Scandium?