Page 8 - The Periodic Table Book

Chunk of Chunk of Zirconium
yttrium silver crystal bar

Foreword

Everything in nature, from the mountains and The elements are rarely found in their pure
the oceans to the air we breathe and food we form. Mostly, they are combined with each other
eat are made up of simple substances called to make compounds, which make up substances
elements. You may have already heard of around us. For example, hydrogen and oxygen
several of them, including gold, iron, oxygen, make water, sodium and chlorine form salt, and
and helium, but these are just four out of a total carbon is found in millions of compounds, many
of 118. Many have unique – and sometimes of which – including proteins and sugars – make
surprising – chemical and physical properties. our bodies work.

Gallium, for example, is a solid but melts in your To find out more about the elements, we need
hand. A compound of sulfur gives off a nasty to take a good look at the periodic table. This is
smell of rotten eggs. Fluorine is a gas that can used by scientists around the world to list and
burn a hole straight through concrete! detail the elements. It shows the key information

Nickel Cube of melting Iodine in a
balls gallium glass sphere

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