Name that element! Which element on the periodic table helps play tricks with birthday candles, colors plants green, and soothes achy stomachs? Follow these eight clues to sleuth the identity of this element. Then, turn the page to test your chemistry IQ.CLUE 1FIELD OF GREENS Like most elements, the mystery element is usually found combined with other elements in a compound. One compound formed by the mystery element is essential to all green plants. The element--a metal--is central to chlorophyll, the compound that plants use to turn carbon dioxide carbon dioxide, chemical compound, CO2, a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is about one and one-half times as dense as air under ordinary conditions of temperature and pressure. and water into energy and oxygen. Chlorophyll also gives plants their green hue, says Burt Goldberg, a biochemist at New York University New York University, mainly in New York City; coeducational; chartered 1831, opened 1832 as the Univ. of the City of New York, renamed 1896. It comprises 13 schools and colleges, maintaining 4 main centers (including the Medical Center) in the city, as well as the . GOT IT ALREADY? SCORE 100 POINTS. IF NOT, READ CLUE #2. CLUE 2 SCRUB THIS You can partly blame the mystery element for the soap scum in your shower. The stubborn coating is caused by ions (atoms that have an electric charge) of this element and calcium (Ca), a member of the same group (column) on the periodic table. These elements dissolve in water as it flows underground. The resulting "hard water" runs in many homes in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . When hard water mixes with soap, it can form a sticky film on your tub. Happy scrubbing! NABBED THE ANSWER? SCORE 80 POINTS. STILL GUESSING? GO TO THE NEXT CLUE. CLUE 3 POWDER PUFF powder puff n. A soft pad for applying powder to the skin. powder puff Noun a soft pad used to apply cosmetic powder to the skin powder puff n → Without the mystery element, powdery pow·der·y adj. 1. Composed of or similar to powder. 2. Dusted or covered with or as if with powder. 3. Easily made into powder; friable. Adj. 1. makeup would lose its power to take the shine out of an oily face. When it combines with oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), and silicon (Si), this element forms the mineral talc. This white mineral is the softest known solid on Earth. That's one reason it's the main ingredient in baby powder and face powder. Talc easily absorbs excess moisture and oil, helping to keep skin dry and shine-free. GAME OVER ALREADY? SCORE 60 POINTS. STILL PLAYING? CHECK OUT CLUE #4. CLUE 4 LAVA LESSONS Along with iron (Fe), and silica (compound made of silicon and oxygen), the mystery element is a main component of some types of lava, or erupted molten rock. When this kind of lava erupts from a volcano, it doesn't usually shoot sky-high. That's because the mystery element helps to make the lava runny run·ny adj. run·ni·er, run·ni·est Inclined to run or flow: runny icing; a runny nose. runny Adjective [-nier, -niest , so it flows out of a volcano like honey. As the lava runs down the volcano's sides, the molten rock hardens and forms basalt basalt (bəsôlt`, băs`ôlt), fine-grained rock of volcanic origin, dark gray, dark green, brown, reddish, or black in color. Basalt is an igneous rock, i.e., one that has congealed from a molten state. . The Hawaiian Islands are made of this dark volcanic rock. NAME IT NOW? SCORE 40 POINTS. OTHERWISE, READ ON. CLUE 5 CANDLE TRICKS This element is the culprit behind some birthday pranks. It coats the wicks of trick candles Trick candles are a novelty candle used often at children's birthday parties. These candles relight themselves, using a fuse similar to those in dynamite sticks, the principle being that by igniting magnesium inserted into the wick of the candle, the paraffin vapour given off when that immediately re-light after you blow them out. The mystery element is an alkaline earth metal alkaline earth metal Any of the six chemical elements in the second leftmost group of the periodic table (beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium). Their name harks back to medieval alchemy. , or one of a group of elements that is highly reactive in nature. As a result, it can burn, or react with oxygen (O) to create light, when exposed to low heat. When you blow out a trick candle, a hot ember remains on the wick. That heats the mystery element. The candle re-ignites. HIT ON THE ANSWER? SCORE 20 POINTS. IF NOT, KEEP TRYING! CLUE 6 SPEEDY CYCLE Many serious cyclists favor bicycles made of an alloy (mixture of metals, or a metal and nonmetal nonmetal, chemical element possessing certain properties by which it is distinguished from a metal. In general, this distinction is drawn on the basis that a nonmetal tends to accept electrons and form negative ions and that its oxide is acidic. ) of aluminum (Al) and the mystery element. This metal mixture has the sturdiness ness of strong metals like iron (Fe). But the element is much lighter than iron, so it doesn't slow the cyclist's ride to the finish line. Watch out for the steep price tag: "The material is great for bikers who like superior equipment and don't mind paying for it," says Bill Fields, a bike industry analyst. SCORE 10 POINTS IF YOU NAME THE ELEMENT WITH THE HELP OF SIX CLUES, STILL GUESSING? READ ON. CLUE 7 OCEAN PLENTY To stock up on the mystery element, scientists turn to the oceans. That's because it's the third most abundant element dissolved in seawater seawater Water that makes up the oceans and seas. Seawater is a complex mixture of 96.5% water, 2.5% salts, and small amounts of other substances. Much of the world's magnesium is recovered from seawater, as are large quantities of bromine. , after chlorine (Cl) and sodium (Na). Both of these elements are members of the same period, or row on the periodic table, as the mystery element. While the oceans provide a never-ending supply of the mystery metal, it isn't easy to extract. Scientists have to use a complex series of chemical reactions This is the 18th episode of television drama Men in Trees. It originally aired on June 25, 2007 on the TV2 network in New Zealand as a continuation of season 1. Recap Marin and Cash have a stew cook off, she admits his is better than hers. to separate the mystery element from seawater. GUESS THE ELEMENT? SCORE 5 POINTS. IF NOT, TRY YOUR LAST CLUE. CLUE 8 STOMACH SOOTHER Antacids Antacids Definition Antacids are medicines that neutralize stomach acid. Purpose Antacids are used to relieve acid indigestion, upset stomach, sour stomach, and heartburn. use this element to ease bellyaches caused by a buildup of digestive acids. When the mystery element bonds with hydroxide hydroxide (hīdrŏk`sīd), chemical compound that contains the hydroxyl (−OH) radical. The term refers especially to inorganic compounds. (molecule made up of oxygen and hydrogen), it forms a base. This compound neutralizes stomach acid. "[It reacts with the acid] to form salt and water, which are harmless to the stomach," says Robert McCarron, a doctor at the University of California, Davis The University of California, Davis, commonly known as UC Davis, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, and was established as the University Farm in 1905. . GAME'S OVER. NOW TURN TO PAGE 20. Anatomy of an Element X Atomic number ?? Element symbol Name Element name X.XXXX Average atomic mass KEY DEFINITIONS: ATDMIC NUMBER equals the number of protons (positively charged Adj. 1. positively charged - having a positive charge; "protons are positive" electropositive, positive charged - of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge; "charged particles"; "a charged battery" particles) in an atom's nucleus, or center. Every element contains a different number of protons, and so has a unique atomic number atomic number, often represented by the symbol Z, the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, as well as the number of electrons in the neutral atom. Atoms with the same atomic number make up a chemical element. . In a neutral atom, the number of protons and the number of electrons (negatively charged particles) are equal. ATOMIC MASS atomic mass, the mass of a single atom, usually expressed in atomic mass units equals the number of protons plus the number of neutrons (uncharged particles) found in a single atom of an element. The atom's mass is in its nucleus, which houses both protons and neutrons. DID YOU KNOW? * Although magnesium is the eighth-most-abundant element in the universe, it is only the seventh-most-abundant element in Earth's crust. * Gymnasts and weight lifters regularly dust their hands with a powder made of magnesium carbonate. This compound--made of magnesium, carbon, and oxygen--absorbs sweat. This helps to keep the athletes' palms dry, giving them a better grip of uneven bars or weights. * In 1618, people discovered that the mineral springs in Epsom, England, had many therapeutic properties. Soaking in the spring waters could help relieve achy muscles and heal skin conditions. Drinking the waters could cure stomach problems. What's in the water? A compound made of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen--or "Epsom salt." CRITICAL THINKING: * Magnesium alloys are strong, but lightweight. That's why they are used to make racing bicycles. Name some products that are made of alloys with similar characteristics. CROSS-CURRICULAR CDNNECTIDNS: LANGUAGE ARTS: Have students select an element. Then, have them do research to write an acrostic acrostic (əkrŏ`stĭk), arrangement of words or lines in which a series of initial, final, or other corresponding letters, when taken together, stand in a set order to form a word, a phrase, the alphabet, or the like. poem about the properties of the chosen element. For an example of an acrostic poem, see: www.holycross.edu/departments/ socant/dhummon/acrostics/acrostics.html RESOURCES * For teen-friendly information on magnesium, check out: www.chem4kids.com/files/elements/012_speak.html * This Web activity will help students memorize chemical symbols: www.funbrain.com/periodic/ It's your choice Test your chemistry IQ! Answer the following questions about elements and the periodic table. 1. Name that element! 2. What is the atomic number of iron (Fe)? A 3 B 12 C 26 D 52 3. Alkaline earth metals are. A inert B highly reactive in nature C a type of noble gas D a liquid metal 4. Which of the following elements is found in the same row of the periodic table as calcium (Ca)? A Vanadium vanadium (vənā`dēəm), metallic chemical element; symbol V; at. no. 23; at. wt. 50.9415; m.p. about 1,890°C;; b.p. 3,380°C;; sp. gr. about 6 at 20°C;; valence +2, +3, +4, or +5. Vanadium is a soft, ductile, silver-grey metal. (V) B Helium (He) C Cadmium (Cd) D Magnesium (Mg) 5. A(n)--can neutralize an acid. A compound B alloy C ion D base 6. An ion is. A an atom that has an electric charge B always found combined with other elements C an uncharged particle D a mixture of a metal and a nonmetal 7. How many protons are in an atom of zinc (Zn)? A 15 B 30 C 42 D 97 ATOMIC FACTS: Each atom of the mystery element has 12 electrons orbiting a nucleus that contains 12 protons and 12 neutrons. ANSWERS 1. Magnesium 2. c 3. b 4. a 5. d 6. a 7. b (PAGE 18) NAME THAT ELEMENT! DIRECTIONS: Defend or dispute the following statements. (Hint: Defend means to explain why a statement is correct. Dispute means to explain why a statement is incorrect.) 1. Face and baby powders contain magnesium. 2. Magnesium only burns when exposed to high heat. 3. Antacid antacid, any one of several basic substances that counteract stomach acidity (see stomach). Antacids are used by physicians to treat hyperchlorhydria, i.e., the excessive production of hydrochloric acid by the parietal cells lining the stomach. medicines use magnesium to help ease stomachaches. ANSWERS 1. Defend: Magnesium combines with oxygen, hydrogen, and silicon to form the mineral talc This white mineral is the main ingredient in face and baby powders. That's because talc, the softest known solid on Earth, easily absorbs excess moisture and oil, helping to keep skin dry and shine-free. 2. Dispute: Magnesium, an alkaline earth metal, is highly reactive in nature. It can burn when exposed to low heat That's why magnesium is used to coat the wicks of trick candles. When you blow out a trick candle, a hot ember remains on the wick That heats the magnesium, and the candle reignites 3. Defend: When magnesium bonds with hydroxide, it forms a strong base Many stomachaches are caused by a buildup of the acids used for digestion. The magnesium compound can neutralize stomach acid: It reacts with the acid to form salt and water which are harmless to the stomach. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion