nickel facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about nickel Note: This article, originally published in 1998, was updated in 2006 for the eBook edition. Overview Nickel is the only element named after the devil. The name comes from the German word Kupfernickel, meaning "Old Nick's copper," a term used by German miners. They tried to remove copper from an ore that looked like copper ore, but they were unsuccessful. Instead of copper, they got slag, a useless mass of earthy material. The miners believed the devil ("Old Nick") was playing a trick on them. So they called the fake copper ore Old Nick's copper. Since then, nickel has become a very valuable metal. The most common use is in the production of stainless steel, a strong material that does not rust easily. It is used in hundreds of industrial and consumer applications. Nickel is also used in the manufacture of many other alloys. An alloy is made by melting and mixing two or more metals. The mixture has properties different from those of the individual metals. SYMBOL PRONUNCIATION NI-kul Nickel is classified as a transition metal.

Transition metals are elements between Groups 2 (metals) and 13 (non-metals) in the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to one another. Nickel is closely related to iron, cobalt, copper, and zinc. These metals are close to nickel in the periodic table. Discovery and naming The study of metals was difficult for early chemists. Many metals looked very similar. They also acted very much like each other chemically. Nickel was one of the metals about which there was much confusion. Copper miners were confused about nickel and copper because they both occurred in ores with a green tint. But copper ores reacted differently to heat than did nickel ores. This confusion led to the choice for nickel's name. But cobalt miners were confused too. Some ores of nickel also look like cobalt ores. But these ores did not react chemically in the same way either. Cobalt mine owners called the "misbehaving" ores of nickel "cobalt which had lost its soul." Swedish mineralogist Axel Fredrik Cronstedt (1722-65) was the first person to realize that nickel was a new element.

In 1751, he was given a new mineral from a cobalt mine near the town of Hälgsingland, Sweden . While Cronstedt thought the ore might contain cobalt or copper, his tests produced a surprising result. He found something in the mineral that did not act like cobalt, copper, or any other known element. Cronstedt announced that he had found a new element. He used a shortened version of Kupfernickel for the name of the new element. He called it nickel. Physical properties Nickel is a silvery-white metal. It has the shiny surface common to most metals and is both ductile and malleable. Ductile means capable of being drawn into thin wires. Malleable means capable of being hammered into thin sheets. Its melting point is 1,555°C (2,831°F) and its boiling point is about 2,835°C (5,135°F). The density of nickel is 8.90 grams per cubic centimeter. Nickel is only one of three naturally occurring elements that is strongly magnetic. The other two are iron and cobalt. But nickel is less magnetic than either iron or cobalt.

Chemical properties Nickel is a relatively unreactive element. At room temperature, it does not combine with oxygen or water or dissolve in most acids. At higher temperatures, it becomes more active. For example, nickel burns in oxygen to form nickel oxide (NiO): It also reacts with steam to give nickel oxide and hydrogen gas: Occurrence in nature Nickel makes up about 0.01 to 0.02 percent of the Earth 's crust. It ranks about 22nd among the chemical elements in terms of abundance in the Earth's crust. Nickel is thought to be much more abundant in the Earth's core. In fact, many experts believe that the core consists almost entirely of iron and nickel. One argument for this belief is the presence of nickel in meteorites. Meteorites are pieces of rock or metal from space that fall to the Earth's surface. Meteorites often contain a high percentage of nickel. The most common ores of nickel include pentlandite, pyrrhotite, and garnierite. The element also occurs as an impurity in ores of iron, copper, cobalt, and other metals. The United States ' only nickel mine is located in Riddle, Oregon.

In 1996, the mine produced 15,070 tons of nickel. By comparison, Russia produced 230,000 tons of nickel in the same year. Russia is the world's largest producer of nickel Other major nickel producers are Canada (183,059 tons in 1996), New Caledonia (142,200 tons), Australia (113,134 tons), and Indonesia (90,000 tons). The largest single deposit of nickel is located at Sudbury Basin, Ontario , Canada. The deposit was discovered in 1883. It covers an area 27 kilometers (17 miles) wide and 59 kilometers (37 miles) long. Some experts believe the deposit was created when a meteorite struck the earth at Sudbury Basin. Isotopes There are five naturally occurring isotopes of nickel: nickel-58, nickel-60, nickel-61, nickel-62, and nickel-64. Isotopes are two or more forms of an element. Isotopes differ from each other according to their mass number.

The number written to the right of the element's name is the mass number. The mass number represents the number of protons plus neutrons in the nucleus of an atom of the element. The number of protons determines the element, but the number of neutrons in the atom of any one element can vary. Each variation is an isotope. Seven radioactive isotopes of nickel are known also. A radioactive isotope is one that breaks apart and gives off some form of radiation. Radioactive isotopes are produced when very small particles are fired at atoms. These particles stick in the atoms and make them radioactive. One radioactive isotope of nickel has limited use in industry, nickel-63. This isotope has two uses: for the detection of explosives, and in certain kinds of electronic devices, such as surge protectors. A surge protector is a device that protects sensitive electronic equipment like computers from sudden changes in the electric current flowing into them. Extraction The method used for making pure nickel metal is a common one in metallurgy. Metallurgy is the art and science of working with metals. Most nickel ores contain nickel sulfide (NiS). These ores are "roasted" (heated in air).

Roasting converts the nickel sulfide to nickel oxide: The nickel oxide is then treated with a chemical that will remove the oxygen from the nickel. For example: A large amount of nickel is now recycled from scrap metal. Scrap metal comes from old cars, demolition of buildings, appliances like washing machines and stoves, and landfills. The task in recycling scrap metal is to find a way to separate the nickel from other metals in the scrap. This can be done by taking advantage of special properties of nickel. For example, a magnet will remove nickel from scrap, leaving copper behind. Uses The most important use of nickel is in making alloys. About 80 percent of all nickel produced in the United States in 1996 was used to make alloys. About two-thirds of that amount went into stainless steel. Stainless steel is common to household appliances (like coffee makers, toasters, and pots and pans), kitchen sink tops and stoves, and medical equipment (X-ray machines, for example). It is also used to make heavy machinery and large containers in which large-scale chemical reactions are carried out. Artists sometimes use stainless steel in sculpture because it does not rust easily.

Stainless steel is important to the food and beverage, petroleum, chemical, pharmaceutical (drug), pulp and paper, and textile industries. Nickel is also used to make the superalloys used in jet engine parts and gas turbines. Superalloys are made primarily of iron, cobalt, or nickel. They also include small amounts of other metals, such as chromium, tungsten, aluminum, and titanium. Superalloys are resistant to corrosion (rusting) and retain their properties at high temperatures. Nickel is also very popular in the manufacture of batteries. Nickel-cadmium (nicad) and nickel-metal hydride batteries are the most popular of these batteries. They are used in a great variety of appliances, including hand-held power tools, compact disc players, pocket recorders, camcorders, cordless and cellular telephones, scanner radios, and laptop computers. Nickel is also used in electroplating, a process by which a thin layer of one metal is laid down on top of a second metal. Electroplating with nickel N ickel is commonly used in electroplating. Electroplating is the process by which a thin layer of one metal is laid down on top of a second metal.

Here is how electroplating is done. First, the nickel compound to be laid down is dissolved in water. The solution may be nickel chloride (NiCl2), nickel nitrate (Ni(NO3)2), or some other nickel compound. Second, a sheet of the metal to be electroplated is placed into the solution. Suppose the metal is steel. The steel sheet is suspended in the nickel chloride, nickel nitrate, or other nickel solution. Third, an electric current is passed through the solution. The current causes nickel to come out of the solution. The nickel is then deposited on the surface of the steel. The longer the current runs, the more nickel is laid down. The thickness of the nickel layer can be controlled by the time the electric current runs through the solution. Electroplating is used to make metal products with very specific qualities. Steel is strong but tends to corrode easily. Nickel does not corrode as fast as steel. A thin layer of nickel on top of steel protects the steel from corrosion. Compounds Some nickel compounds have important uses also. Many of these compounds are used in electroplating. Some are used to make alloys of nickel. Other nickel compounds are used as coloring agents.

For example, the compound nickel dimethylglyoxime (C8H14N4NiO4) is used as a coloring agent in paints, cosmetics, and certain kinds of plastics. Other nickel compounds have somewhat more unusual uses. For example, the compound nickel dibutyldithiocarbamate (Ni[CS2N(C4H4)2]2) is used as an antioxidant in tires. The rubber in tires reacts with oxygen in the air. When it does so, the rubber gets hard and stiff. The tires begin to break down. An additive like nickel dibutyldithiocarbamate can reduce the rate at which this process occurs. The life of tires is extended. Health effects Nickel can pose a health hazard to certain individuals. The most common health problem is called nickel allergy. Some people are more likely to develop nickel allergy than are others. People who are sensitive to nickel may develop a skin rash somewhat like poison ivy. The rash becomes itchy and may form watery blisters. Once a person gets nickel allergy, it remains with him or her forever. Nickel is present in dozens of products. So it is easy for sensitive people to develop nickel allergy. Perhaps the most common cause of nickel allergy is body piercing.

Some people have their ears pierced for earrings, while others have their lips, nose, or other body parts pierced. Inexpensive jewelry placed into these piercings is frequently made of stainless steel. Stainless steel contains nickel. The presence of nickel in a piercing can cause nickel allergy to develop. Nickel can cause more serious health problems too. For example, people who are exposed to nickel fumes (dust and gas) breathe in nickel on a regular basis. Long term nickel exposure may cause serious health problems, including cancer. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. MLA density: 8.9 g/cm 3 most common ions: Ni 2+, Ni 3+, Ni 4+ Nickel is a silver-white, lustrous metal . It was first isolated by Swedish chemist Axel Fredrik Cronstedt in 1751. Cronstedt had been attempting to isolate copper from a mineral called niccolite (the German word kupfer-nickel means "Devil's copper" or "Old Nick's copper"). He instead found nickel, which he named after the mineral.

The abundance of nickel in Earth 's crust is 90 parts per million (ppm); in ocean water, its abundance is 2 parts per billion (ppb). In meteorites, however, its abundance approaches 13,000 ppm. Much of the world's supply of nickel is found in Ontario , Canada , where it is isolated from the ores pentlandite and pyrrhotite. Other large deposits are found in Australia , New Caledonia, Cuba , Indonesia , and Greenland. The most common isotope of nickel is 58Ni, which has a natural abundance of 68.1 percent. Other stable isotopes include 60Ni (26.2%), 61Ni (1.1%), 62Ni (3.6%), and 64Ni (0.9%). Important nickel compounds include nickel oxides (NiO and Ni2O3), nickel sulfides (NiS, NiS2, Ni3S2), and nickel chloride (NiCl2). Nickel metal is malleable, ductile , and a fairly good conductor of electricity and heat.

Its most common use is in stainless steels, where it may be combined with various other metals (such as iron, chromium, chromium, copper, etc.) to form alloys that are highly resistant to corrosion. Nickel is also used to make coins (U.S. five-cent pieces contain 25 percent nickel), batteries, magnets, and jewelry; to protectively coat other metals; and to color glass and ceramics green. see also Coordination Compounds; Inorganic Chemistry. Stephanie Dionne Sherk Bibliography Lide, David R., ed. (2003). The CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 84th edition. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Other Resources Winter, Mark "Nickel." The University of Sheffield and WebElements Ltd., U.K. Available from < . Cite this article Chemistry CHEMISTRY List of chemical elements and substances alphabetical with definitions as mentioned on the show Jeopardy Acetone is found in nail polish remover, it is the simplest ketone.

Acid Rain emissions of nitrogen and sulfur oxides into the air endange fish and aquatic life Activated Charcoal traps gases, it is riddled with small pores, used to treat poison or toxin ingestion or overdoses Adobe sun dried brick Air consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and about 1% the noble gas Argon Alkali lye Allotropy or allotropism (coined from Greek "other" + "grow") is the property of some chemical elements to exist in two or more different forms, ex coal and diamond Alloy Bell metal is copper and tin, Bronze is copper and tin, Brass is copper and zinc, Pewter is lead and tin, Steel is iron and carbon Aluminum tin foil most abundant metal on Earth, when it was discovered in 1820 it was worth more than gold. Lighter than steel, this metal is also associated with the modernist style of the '20s & '30s Ammonia Fritz Haber is famous for inventing a process to make this smelly gas, NH3, synthetically Anode of a device is the terminal where current flows in from outside. The cathode of a device is the terminal where current flows out.

Argentum Ag is the chemical symbol for this metallic element, silver. Argentite is an important ore of silver Arsenic poison, It's used in making transistorized circuits or deadly dinner wine Asbestos inextinguishable made from silicate minerals Atomic number based on protons Baking powder produces carbon dioxide Bessemer process was the first inexpensive industrial process for the mass-production of steel from molten pig iron prior to the open hearth furnace. Bauxite contains aluminum Bitumen asphalt from coal residue Boyle's law, pressure inversely proportional to volume Brimstone is an alternative name for Sulfur Bromine Br. Free bromine does not occur in nature, but occurs as colorless soluble crystalline mineral halide salts, analogous to table salt. Used as flame retardant, pesticide, gasoline additive. Reddish brown from sea water.

It takes about 15,000 tons of seawater to get one ton of this reddish-brown liquid used in sedatives Bronze is made of copper and tin Brownian motion Cadmium leak proof batteries, Used in rechargeable batteries & to protect other metals from corrosion, its symbol is Cd Calcium seashells are made of its carbonate, bones of its phosphate Carbon dioxide cause global warning, It's what gives soda pop the bubbles, If something's described as effervescent, it means it has a lot of bubbles Carbon monoxide causes death by displacing oxygen from Hemoglobingh blood pigment Chlorine gas natural color is yellow-green, It's added to swimming pools & is a part of laundry bleaches Chlorofluorocarbons in 1978 the U.S. banned use of these, called CFCs for short, as propellants in most spray cans Chloroform ChCl3 Chromium is a chemical element which has the symbol Cr. Chromium oxide was used by the Chinese in the Qin dynasty over 2,000 years ago to coat metal weapons found with the Terracotta Army.

Chrysotile a fibrous variety of serpentine that is the principle source of asbestos Cinnabar ore of mercury Citric acid in lemon and orange Coal is decomposition of vegetable matter Antracite hard coal much heat Lignite soft coal wood with characteristics between coal and peat Cobolt used in ceramics, chemically like iron, this element, symbol "Co", is used in a blue pigment Cohesion It's the force that holds the molecules of a substance together Concrete Portland cement sand gravel slag water Copper element is Cu, It was the first nonprecious metal man made into tools & decorative items, The U.S. nickel coin is actually 75% copper.

There are 11 known isotopes of this reddish metal whose symbol is Cu; 9 are radioactive Cordite smokeless explosive containing nitroglycerin guncotton petroleum jelly acetone Curare is added to blowgun dart to give it that little extra shot, This poison producing paralysis in its victims was used on South American Indian arrows Curium This synthetic metallic element is named for scientists Marie & Pierre Detergent generic name for synthetic soap substitutes Dry Ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide CO2 first frozen in 1835 Electrolyte is a liquid or gel that contains ions and can be decomposed by electrolysis, e.g., that present in a battery. Commonly, electrolytes are solutions of acids, bases, or salts. Electrum is an alloy of these 2 precious metals silver and gold Emulsion is a mixture of two or more liquids that are normally immiscible (nonmixable or unblendable). Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid.

Ethyl alcohol It's the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages Fermentation defined as the breakdown of glucose or other sugars by yeast or bacteria in the absence of oxygen Flint hard sparks sharp tools Fluorine The lightest of the halogens, it's name is from the Latin for "to flow" Francium Marguerite Perey named this radioactive element, symbol Fr, after her country Freon refrigerant Galvanize treat with zinc Gas, in a chemical equation arrow pointing up denotes a substance has escaped as a gas. All inert elements are found naturally in this form Geode globular stone having cavity lined with inward growing crystals or layers of silica, usually from limestone Glass silica soda lime Pyrex, Fiberglass, Lead heavier sparkle, Safety glass Gold is white if with nickel, palladium or platinum Graphite carbon pencils, protective material around nuclear reactor at Chernobyl, Allotrope of carbon that's used as a solid lubricant Gypsum, drywall, calcium sulfate used in plaster of pairs used in casts movie sets. Alabaster is compact gypsum.

It is fire glazed translucent and used by Romans as marble Halogens react with metals to make halides or salts Iodine tincture for cuts Chlorine swimming pools, laundry bleaches Homogenization process in which fat globules are broken up so that they don't rise to the top, This process makes milk fat globules so small the cream no longer rises to the top Humus refers to any organic matter that has reached a point of stability where it will break down no further and might, if conditions do not change, remain as it is for centuries, if not millennia Hydrate contains water weakly bound in its crystals Hydrogen lightest and most abundant element in the universe, When Henry Cavendish discovered this lightest-known element, he called it inflammable air. The sun spends its days & nights converting hydrogen gas into helium. The Germans call this element Wasserstoff Ionization Any process by which neutral atoms become electrically charged is called this Iron common element whose refined forms include pig, cast or wrought. The 2 primary ferrous metals are iron and steel. Perfectly dry iron doesn't rust because galvanic action won't take place without water being present, Most iron ore is reduced to pig iron in furnace.

Lead is a chemical element in the carbon group with symbol Pb (from Latin:plumbum) and atomic number 82. Softest heaviest most malleable metal. Missouri largest producer Lodestone has iron acts as magnet, In ancient times, lodestone was used as a form of compass Lightning natural phenomenon that causes the nitrogen & oxygen in the air to form nitrogen oxides Lime is a general term for calcium-containing inorganic materials, in which carbonates, oxides and hydroxides predominate. Strictly speaking, lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera. Linoleum is a floor covering made from renewable materials such as solidified linseed oil (linoxyn), pine rosin, ground cork dust.

Lithium less dense than water Litmus red acid, blue base Lucite trademark name of polymethyl methacrylate, a synthetic organic compound of high molecular weight made by combination of many simple molecules Malleable made in thin sheets Malachite copper Mercury quicksilver, mercurial or temperamental, Amalgams, which may be liquid or solid, are alloys of this metal, This liquid metal is used to make a red paint pigment called vermillion Mendeliev, periodic table Methane This gas is the chief constituent of natural gas. Produced by the decay of plant & animal matter, this colorless & odorless gas, CH4, is flammable Molybdenum The name of this metal comes from molebdos, the Greek word for lead Natron is a naturally occurring mixture of sodium carbonate decahydrate and other salts used by ancient Egyptians to mummify Neoprene or polychloroprene is a family of synthetic rubbers that are produced by polymerization of chloroprene, used in a wide variety of applications, such as laptop sleeves, orthopedic braces (wrist, knee, etc.), electrical insulation, liquid and sheet applied elastomeric membranes or flashings, and automotive fan belts.

Neoprene, a synthetic form of rubber, is more resistant to oil than the natural type Nitrogen and hydrogen is ammonia. The bacterium rhizobium, which lives in nodules on legume roots, "fixes" Nitrogen element from air Nitroglycerin correctly known as glyceryl trinitrate is a heavy, colorless, oily, explosive liquid. Since the 1860s, nitroglycerin has been used as an active ingredient in the manufacture of explosives, mostly dynamite, employed in construction, demolition, and mining industries. Nitrous Oxide laughing gas Nobelium man-made metal 1st positively identified in 1958 and named for a Swedish inventor; it has no known use Noble gases make a group of chemical elements with similar properties: under standard conditions, they are all odorless, colorless, gases with very low chemical reactivity. The six noble gases that occur naturally are: Argon used in light bulbs, fluorescent lamps, arc welding, The most common of the noble gasses, it's used to fill electric light bulbs Helium (He) 2nd lightest gas is used in balloons and in a breathing mixture for deep-sea divers U.S.

& Canada produce almost entire world supply of this lightest inert gas, With 2 neutrons & 2 protons, an alpha particle is identical to the nucleus of an atom of this gas Krypton (Kr), Neon (Ne) discovered 1898 distilled from liquid air, this gas is used to produce a bright reddish light, This noble gas glows orange-red when an electric current is passed through it Radon (Rn) radioactive, Non ferrous metal is any other than steel and iron Oscillation is the repetitive variation, typically in time, of some measure about a central value (often a point of equilibrium) or between two or more different states. Familiar examples include a swinging pendulum and AC power. The term vibration is sometimes used more narrowly to mean a mechanical oscillation but sometimes is used to be synonymous with "oscillation". Oxidation loses election Oxygen liquid oxygen normally boils or evaporates at -183 centigrade.

By mass oxygen the most abundant element in Earth's hydrosphere Periodic table horizontal are periods, vertical are groups Pewter is a malleable metal alloy, traditionally 85�99% tin, with the remainder consisting of copper, antimony, bismuth Phosphorus matches, abbreviated "P", this element comes in red, white, and black forms Pitchblende is a brown to black mineral that consists of massive uraninite, has a distinctive luster, contains radium, and is the chief ore-mineral source of uranium. The most important source of uranium & radium is this mineral ore Platinum white gold, used in cars' catalytic converters, it's more expensive than gold Polonium is a chemical element with the symbol Po and atomic number 84, discovered in 1898 by Marie and Pierre Curie. A rare and highly radioactive element with no stable isotopes, polonium is chemically similar to bismuth and tellurium, and it occurs in uranium ores.

Potassium Symbolized K, this metal is so soft it can be cut with a knife Propane is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula C3H8, normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. Pumice volcanic glass, is composed of highly microvesicular glass pyroclastic with very thin, translucent bubble walls of extrusive igneous rock. It is commonly, but not exclusively of silicic or felsic Pyrite, is an iron sulfide with the formula FeS2. This mineral's metallic luster and pale brass-yellow hue have earned it the nickname fool's gold because of its superficial resemblance to gold. Pyrotechnics Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon�oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2.

This form of silica is the main constituent of sand and flint Radioactive decay in earth causes heat Radon from radium Radium while processing pitchblende, a uranium ore, Marie & Pierre Curie discovered this element Reduction gain election Silica is an oxide of silicon, This mineral, which occurs in such forms as sand and quartz, is the main material in most rocks Silicon, symbol Si. Over 90% of the Earth's crust is composed of silicate minerals, making silicon the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust (about 28% by mass) after oxygen. Replacing germanium with silicon in transistors got a California "Valley" named after it. Desert sand consists mainly of grains of this hard mineral, Silicon Dioxide or Quartz. Silicones are inert, synthetic compounds with a variety of forms and uses. Typically heat-resistant and rubber-like, they are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medical applications, cookware, and insulation.

Silicones are polymers that include silicon together with carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and sometimes other elements Sodium called natrium in Latin, hence its symbol Na Specific gravity is mass of substance compared to water, It's the ratio of the density of a liquid to that of an equal volume of distilled water at 4 degrees C. Spray cans In 1977 the U.S.

banned these that used freon as the propellant Stainless steel chromium oxide film or alloy Steel is alloy of iron and carbon Strychnine The seeds of the Nux vomica tree of Asia & Australia yield this, used as a rat poison for centuries Sublimation solid direct to gas Sulfur In ancient times, this yellow element was burned to fumigate homes Sulfur dioxide used to keep dried fruit from turning brown Sulfuric acid, H2SO4, This acid is the electrolyte in a lead-acid battery Talc is a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate, soapstone Tin, Sn Titanium light mineral Ti, An oxide of this light metal, discovered in 1791, is used extensively as a white pigment Touchstone is a small tablet of dark stone such as fieldstone, slate, or lydite, used for assaying precious metal alloys. It has a finely grained surface on which soft metals leave a visible trace. Tungsten light bulb filament metal with highest melting point, Turpentine is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin obtained from live trees, mainly pines. It is composed of terpenes Uranium radioactive discovered by Becquerel.

Uranium-235 has the distinction of being the only naturally occurring fissile isotope, Henri Becquerel discovered Radioactivity property when some uranium darkened his photographic plate. Water is distilled, evaporates, condenses, needle will float due to surface tension Vaporization The process by which a substance changes from liquid to a gas Vermiculite makes good insulation, but sadly the former main mine produced vermiculite riddled with asbestos Xenon discovered in 1898, odorless, colorless Zirconium from zircon, This element whose symbol is Zr is alphabetically the last element Robert Boyle 1627 � 1691 one of the founders of modern chemistry. known for Boyle's law which describes the inversely proportional relationship between the absolute pressure and volume of a gas. Lavoisier 1743-1794 was a French nobleman prominent in the histories of chemistry and biology. He named both oxygen 1778 and hydrogen 1783 and predicted silicon (1787). He helped construct the metric system, put together the first extensive list of elements, and helped to reform chemical nomenclature.

He was also the first to establish that sulfur was an element rather than a compound. He discovered that, although matter may change its form or shape, its mass always remains the same. He may have been the �Father of Modern Chemistry�, but the French guillotined him anyway Joseph Priestley 1733-1804 English theologian, dissenting clergyman, natural philosopher, and political theorist. He is usually credited with the discovery of oxygen. John Dalton 1766-1864 wrote all elements are composed of small particles he called atoms. Avogadro 1776- 1856 was an Italian most noted for his contributions to molecular theory, including what is known as Avogadro's law. The number of elementary entities (atoms, molecules, ions or other particles) in 1 mole of a substance is known as the Avogadro constant. Robert Bunsen 1811-1899 German chemist who had a gas burner named for him and co-founded the science of chemical spectroscopy. Linus Pauling 1901 �1994 was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator.

Pauling was one of the founders of the fields of quantum chemistry and molecular biology. GEMS - When chemically pure, without metallic oxides, most gems lack color Alexandria variety of chrysoberyl appears dark green in daylight and deep red under artificial light Aquamarine variety of beryl. After emerald, this blue-green gem is the most highly prized of the beryls, The name of this gem comes from the Latin for "seawater"; it was named for its color Amber once came from a living thing Amethyst name of this purple quartz comes from the Greek meaning "not intoxicated" This purple gemstone is associated with St. Matthias, the apostle who replaced Judas Iscariot Beryl emerald and aquamarine Bloodstone This gem with a "sanguine" name is a birthstone for March Brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance.

This most popular cut for diamonds uses a total of 58 facets Cairngorm Popularly worn in brooches, cairngorm is a smoky quartz from Scotland Cat's eye The precious type of this gem named for a domestic feline feature is greenish in color Choker short necklace that fits snugly around the throat Citrine Resembling topaz, this quartz gem derives it's name from its lemon-yellow color Corundrum 2nd only in hardness to diamond, Rubies are a form of this stone, the hardest in the world after diamond Crystal gypsum, malachite Cubic Zirconium Diamond, april, made of carbon (Kimberlyte, south africa) corporations formed in the 1880s in South Africa are De Beers and Bar Natal. It's the traditional gem for an engagement ring Cullinan diamond is the largest gem-quality diamond ever found Great Star of Africa, at 530 carats, is currently listed as the largest cut diamond in the world. Koh-i-Noor is a 105 carats diamond, weighing 21 grams in the most recent cut state, and once the largest known diamond. from India.

Mogul The 787-carat Great Mogul Diamond was the largest found in India The largest blue diamond and the largest pearl have been given this name, Hope The world's largest colorless diamond ever to be auctioned will be sold by Christie�s International. The pear-shaped stone is a whopping 101 carats and is expected to fetch upwards of $20 million, the diamond was cut from a 236 carat rough stone Emerald, may, bright green, transparent from Columbia, Flawless specimens of this birthstone fetch higher prices than diamonds of equal weight, The vivid green color of this May birthstone was once thought to be good for the eyesight Garnet january red silicated ruby like almondine variety Gold This most malleable metal can be beaten into sheets 1 ten-thousandth of a millimeter thick Jade imperial, Chinese carvings of this stone from the Ching period are especially treasured by collectors Lapis lazuli is a relatively rare semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense blue color. used as pigment in middle ages, Stone of Laz, the Arabian goddess of love.

The old masters created the pigment ultramarine by crushing this 2-word blue gemstone Moh's scale of hardness Moonstone milky white pearly luster translucent, many of these gems, one of June's birthstones, come from Sri Lanka Obsidian arrow heads cutting tools Onyx Opal october, fire opal from Mexico, black, white, unlucky. Gemologists call this stone found in abundance in Australia hydrated silica gel. The harlequin type of this gem is characterized by angular patches of fire. An English art critic said this gem "shows the most glorious colors to be seen in the world..." Quartz agate, amethyst in geodes high value, Bloodstone march, Chalcedony, Citrine yellowish, Jasper, Onyx, Tigereye, Many gems sold as topaz are actually the citrine variety of this stone Pearl june, japan leader of cultured, clam, HOe 2000gr, Nacre mother of pearl, Organic & opaque, they represent purity & virginity. it's the only one derived from an animal source, The color of this gem ranges from black to white, depending on the mollusk, Tahiti & French Polynesia are famous for black pearls.

When they've grown attached to an oyster or mussel shell, these gems are called blisters, Simulated ones of these may be glass beads covered with a paste of fish scales. To evaluate these gems, run them across your teeth; the real ones are rough Peridot august olivine from Zeberget inland in red sea Platinum malleability & white brilliance, this rare metal has been used in jewelry since the 19th C. Rhinestone, paste or diamante is a diamond simulant made from rock crystal, glass or acrylic. Imitation diamonds, they were originally gems obtained from a certain German river Ruby july most precious thailand red The most valued are a deep purplish red color known as "pigeon blood" Saphire sept, blue thailand Star of India largest, Hope largest blue 45 carat, in sri lanka.

The most highly prized color of this September gem is cornflower blue Spinel red variety ruby, With its deep red color, the spinel is often mistaken for Ruby precious stone Sterling silver is usually defined as consisting of 92.5% silver & 7.5% Copper Topaz citrine, usually yellow imperial, A golden variety of topaz is named for its resemblance to Sherry fortified Spanish wine Turquoise dec, blue green western us copper/aluminum, A small amount of copper in this state gemstone of New Mexico gives it its bluish color. This blue-green stone has been mined for centuries at Neyshabur in northern Iran Zircon from the Persian "zargun" meaning gold-colored, zircon is second only to diamond in ability to disperse light. A Matura diamond is actually a variety of Zircon that's used as a diamond substitute Jewelry Bracelet piece of jewelry worn around the thigh or the ankle, but most people prefer the wrist Brooch ornament held by a pin or clasp and worn at the neck Cameo or intaglio are principal forms of carving or engraving to gemstones.

Cameo engraved gem with a design that projects from the surface, it can be carved from onyx, agate or sardonyx, An intaglio is essentially the reverse of this type of gem carving, Josiah Wedgwood designed these jewelry pieces using a white paste relief on a colored background Coronet jeweled crown DeBears diamond co founded by Rhodes Ear rings dangle, clip-on or pierced Locket hung on a necklace, this small portrait case was popular during the Renaissance Pave a setting of jewelry in which the gems are placed close together so no metal shows Piercing people do this to their ears in order to wear jewelry; some do it to lips & noses too Ring Types of these pieces of jewelry include school, signet & wedding Scarab Egyptian jewelry made frequent use of the scarab which is a beetle Signet a ring engraved with a seal, not with a baby swan Studs "buttons" button up your tuxedo shirt Tiara Latin for a royal Persian headdress, it's Miss America's crowning glory Tiffany's 1837 A fork-type setting for diamonds introduced in 1886 by this NYC jewelry store is named for it Geology, Minerology minerals, paleontology fossils, Petro

logy rocks, Seismology, Tectonics Atoll is a circular island of these that has grown around a sunken volcanic island Bauxite This aluminum ore gets its name from Les Baux, France, where it was discovered Butte From French for "hillock", it resembles a mesa, but is smaller; it's also the name of a Montana city Caldera crater formed by a volcano that has exploded Cement Portland type of this substance is limestone & shale heated until almost fused, then ground Coal The Greek & Latin words for this fuel were "anthrax" & "carbo".

The main types of this fuel are peat, lignite, bituminous & anthracite Anthracite In 1837 in Machunk, Pennsylvania, this kind of coal was used to smelt iron for the first time. The process of coalification runs from peat to this type of coal Bituminous It's the most abundant type of coal Lignite Peat Continental shelf Cryolite, once used in making aluminum, is found in large quantities only on this large Danish island Greenland Dolomitization is the process by which limestone, including its fossils, turns into dolomite Earth Crust , 46% oxygen, 28% silicon, then aluminum. Under the oceans, this part of the Earth is generally only 3-5 miles thick Lithosphere 40 miles, a quarter is silicate, aluminum, iron, mica, quartz. lithosphere is the rigid outermost shell of a rocky planet. On Earth, it comprises the crust and the portion of the upper mantle that behaves elastically on time scales of thousands of years or greater. Mantle is a layer between the crust and the core.

The Gutenberg Discontinuity is the boundary that separates the core from the mantle Core solid and magma liquid a solid ball composed mainly of nickel and iron Earthquakes primary and secondary waves, Epicenter. The vertical difference between the sides of a Fault, crustal fracture, is called the throw Erosion all destructive process, water wind glaciers Galena, Wisconsin's state mineral, is an ore of lead metal seen on the state flag Geodesy is a scientific branch concerned with the exact shape & size of the earth Geyser Outside the U.S., the main areas where these spouting hot springs occur are Iceland & New Zealand Graphite, carbon Igneous rock made from molten state, begin as magma. Intrusive igneous rocks, like granite, form when magma cools inside the Earth. Extrusive igneous rocks, like the basalt .

Of the 3 main classes of rock, this one is further divided into plutonic & volcanic types Basalt heavy tectonic plates rock in ocean floors most abundant volcanic rock from cooling lava Granite mostly quartz and feldspar earth surface, tombstone white pink rrey Lava - Magma that reaches the earth's surface is called Lava Obsidian dark colored or black volcanic glass Pumice air mixed with magma whit volcanic porcelain can float, This stone used to smooth the feet has also been used to whiten the teeth Metamorphic rocks arise from the transformation of existing rock types, in a process called metamorphism, which means "change in form" Marble is a non-foliated metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. Marble, which is formed from limestone, is an example of this type of changing rock Slate from shale the Schist and Gneiss, Shale changes into this rock metamorphically & also by changing 2 letters Sedimentary Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, It's found in layered beds or as nodules in chalk; early man chipped it to form tools Limestone skeleton and has fossils.

Chalk, sedimentary rock, "Creta" in Latin, was formed from marine life during the Cretaceous period, calcium carbonate Rock salt Icebergs come from glaciers by calving Lagoon It's the shallow body of water enclosed within an atoll Leucite, Formed in lava, leucite is common on the slopes of mount Vesuvius above the Bay of Naples Lithosphere It's the solid part of the earth as distinguished from the atmosphere & hydrosphere Ore Term for the minerals from which metals are extracted Pangaea former supercontinent, means all lands Permafrost tundra's always frozen top layer Petrology is the study of rocks, some of which were once sold as pets Plate tectonics San Andreas, Pacific and N American Potash is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form.

Rim ring of fire pacific volcano Seismograph From the Greek for "earthquake writer", this instrument records any Earth movement Sial Geologists named the material of the Earth's crust "sial'" because of these 2 main elements, silica and aliminum Soil contains silt, clay, sand, and organic particles called humus Stalactite is a type of secondary mineral that hangs from the ceiling of limestone caves. It is a type of dripstone. vs Stalagmite Savannah Talc This "powdery" mineral is number 1 on the Mohs scale of hardness Tectonics This geological science studies the forces within the Earth that cause plate activity Topsoil top 6 inches Tundra About a tenth of the Earth's surface is covered by this treeless region of the Arctic Weathering decomposition and disintegration by air rainwater plants bacteria To keep your refrigerator smelling clean, use baking soda or charcoal barbecue fuel You can iron many wrinkled fabrics over a hot light bulb

Question: Which chemical element, listed as number 28 in the periodic table takes its name from a Swedish word meaning copper-coloured ore?
Answer: NICKEL