Roles of chemical elements

Short description: None

This table is designed to show the role(s) performed by each chemical element, in nature and in technology.

Z = Atomic number Sym. = Symbol Per. = Period Gr. = Group

Z  | Sym.  | Element  | Per.  | Gr.  | Role(s) in nature
(non-living and living)  | Role(s) in technology
(old and new)

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|
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|

1 | H | Hydrogen |  1 |  1 | Astronomy: source of power by nuclear fusion (proton–proton chain reaction and CNO cycle)
Biology: One of the most common elements in living organisms
| Petrochemical industry: hydrodealkylation, hydrodesulfurization
Various industries: hydrogenation

2 | He | Helium |  1 | 18 | Astronomy: source of power by nuclear fusion (alpha process and triple-alpha process)
| Various industries: cryogenics, pressurization, controlled atmosphere, welding
3 | Li | Lithium |  2 |  1 |  | Ceramics and glass: flux, component of ovenware

Electricity and electronics: batteries
Various industries: lubricating greases

4 | Be | Beryllium |  2 |  2 |  | Radiography: radiation windows
Aeronautics and astronautics: lightweight structural components

5 | B | Boron |  2 | 13 |  | Ceramics and glass: borosilicate glass
Cleaning products: detergents and bleaches
Insecticides: boric acid
Electronics: semiconductors

6 | C | Carbon |  2 | 14 | Biology: One of the most common elements in living organisms
See also: Carbon-based life | Fossil fuels: coal, methane and petroleum
Textile industry: cellulose
Metallurgy: alloys, especially carbon steel

7 | N | Nitrogen |  2 | 15 | Bacteria and archaea: nitrogen fixation by diazotrophs
All forms of life on Earth: essential component of amino acids and of nucleic acids
Earth's atmosphere, soil, and life forms: nitrogen cycle
See also: CHON.
| Chemical industry: nitrogen fixation by the Haber process
Astronautics: nitric acid and hydrazine

8 | O | Oxygen |  2 | 16 | Animals: inhaled in respiration
Plants: exhaled in respiration;
Biology: one of the most common elements in living organisms
| Metallurgy: smelting of iron ore into steel
Chemical industry: ethylene \+ O2 —> ethylene oxide —> ethylene glycol —> many products
Medicine
Water treatment

9 | F | Fluorine |  2 | 17 |  | Various industries: fluorocarbons and derivatives as refrigerants and as anaesthetics
Aluminium production: cryolite as solvent

10 | Ne | Neon |  2 | 18 |  | Signage: neon signs
Electronics: vacuum tubes

11 | Na | Sodium |  3 |  1 | See also: Sodium in biology.

12 | Mg | Magnesium |  3 |  2 | All life forms: essential catalyst for using and making DNA and RNA
Plants: photosynthesis
See also: Magnesium in biology.
| Metallurgy: aluminium alloys, production of iron, steel, and titanium
Automotive industry: lightweight components
Electronics

13 | Al | Aluminium |  3 | 13 |  |
14 | Si | Silicon |  3 | 14 | Earth's crust: silicate minerals
Diatoms, radiolaria, and siliceous sponges: biogenic silica as a structural material
| Construction: Portland cement, concrete
Electronics: semiconductors

15 | P | Phosphorus |  3 | 15 | Biology: structure of DNA and RNA
part of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
structure of bones and teeth
| Agriculture: fertilizers

16 | S | Sulfur |  3 | 16 | Biology: part of the amino acids cysteine and methionine, and of all polypeptides, proteins, and enzymes that contain them
See also: Sulfur assimilation.
| Agriculture: fertilizers, fungicides, and pesticides

17 | Cl | Chlorine |  3 | 17 |  |
18 | Ar | Argon |  3 | 18 |  |
19 | K | Potassium |  4 |  1 | Animals: neuron function, electrolyte balance
See also: Potassium in biology.
| Agriculture: fertilizers

20 | Ca | Calcium |  4 |  2 | Animals: structure of bones and teeth
See also: Calcium in biology.
| Construction: cements and mortars

21 | Sc | Scandium |  4 |  3 |  |
22 | Ti | Titanium |  4 |  4 |  |
23 | V | Vanadium |  4 |  5 |  |
24 | Cr | Chromium |  4 |  6 |  |
25 | Mn | Manganese |  4 |  7 |  |
26 | Fe | Iron |  4 |  8 |  |
27 | Co | Cobalt |  4 |  9 |  |
28 | Ni | Nickel |  4 | 10 |  |
29 | Cu | Copper |  4 | 11 | See also: Copper in health.

30 | Zn | Zinc |  4 | 12 |  |
31 | Ga | Gallium |  4 | 13 |  |
32 | Ge | Germanium |  4 | 14 |  |
33 | As | Arsenic |  4 | 15 | See also: Arsenic biochemistry.

34 | Se | Selenium |  4 | 16 |  |
35 | Br | Bromine |  4 | 17 |  |
36 | Kr | Krypton |  4 | 18 |  |
37 | Rb | Rubidium |  5 |  1 |  |
38 | Sr | Strontium |  5 |  2 |  |
39 | Y | Yttrium |  5 |  3 |  |
40 | Zr | Zirconium |  5 |  4 |  |
41 | Nb | Niobium |  5 |  5 |  |
42 | Mo | Molybdenum |  5 |  6 |  |
43 | Tc | Technetium |  5 |  7 |  |
44 | Ru | Ruthenium |  5 |  8 |  |
45 | Rh | Rhodium |  5 |  9 |  |
46 | Pd | Palladium |  5 | 10 |  |
47 | Ag | Silver |  5 | 11 |  |
48 | Cd | Cadmium |  5 | 12 |  |
49 | In | Indium |  5 | 13 |  |
50 | Sn | Tin |  5 | 14 |  |
51 | Sb | Antimony |  5 | 15 |  |
52 | Te | Tellurium |  5 | 16 |  |
53 | I | Iodine |  5 | 17 | See also: Iodine in biology.

54 | Xe | Xenon |  5 | 18 |  |
55 | Cs | Caesium |  6 |  1 |  |
56 | Ba | Barium |  6 |  2 |  |
57 | La | Lanthanum |  6 |  3 |  |
58 | Ce | Cerium |  6 |  3 |  |
59 | Pr | Praseodymium |  6 |  3 |  |
60 | Nd | Neodymium |  6 |  3 |  |
61 | Pm | Promethium |  6 |  3 |  |
62 | Sm | Samarium |  6 |  3 |  |
63 | Eu | Europium |  6 |  3 |  |
64 | Gd | Gadolinium |  6 |  3 |  |
65 | Tb | Terbium |  6 |  3 |  |
66 | Dy | Dysprosium |  6 |  3 |  |
67 | Ho | Holmium |  6 |  3 |  |
68 | Er | Erbium |  6 |  3 |  |
69 | Tm | Thulium |  6 |  3 |  |
70 | Yb | Ytterbium |  6 |  3 |  |
71 | Lu | Lutetium |  6 |  3 |  |
72 | Hf | Hafnium |  6 |  4 |  |
73 | Ta | Tantalum |  6 |  5 |  |
74 | W | Tungsten |  6 |  6 |  |
75 | Re | Rhenium |  6 |  7 |  |
76 | Os | Osmium |  6 |  8 |  |
77 | Ir | Iridium |  6 |  9 |  |
78 | Pt | Platinum |  6 | 10 |  |
79 | Au | Gold |  6 | 11 |  |
80 | Hg | Mercury |  6 | 12 |  |
81 | Tl | Thallium |  6 | 13 |  |
82 | Pb | Lead |  6 | 14 |  |
83 | Bi | Bismuth |  6 | 15 |  |
84 | Po | Polonium |  6 | 16 |  |
85 | At | Astatine |  6 | 17 |  |
86 | Rn | Radon |  6 | 18 |  |
87 | Fr | Francium |  7 |  1 |  |
88 | Ra | Radium |  7 |  2 |  |
89 | Ac | Actinium |  7 |  3 |  |
90 | Th | Thorium |  7 |  3 |  |
91 | Pa | Protactinium |  7 |  3 |  |
92 | U | Uranium |  7 |  3 |  |
93 | Np | Neptunium |  7 |  3 |  |
94 | Pu | Plutonium |  7 |  3 |  |
95 | Am | Americium |  7 |  3 |  |
96 | Cm | Curium |  7 |  3 |  |
97 | Bk | Berkelium |  7 |  3 |  |
98 | Cf | Californium |  7 |  3 |  |
99 | Es | Einsteinium |  7 |  3 |  |
100 | Fm | Fermium |  7 |  3 |  |
101 | Md | Mendelevium |  7 |  3 |  |
102 | No | Nobelium |  7 |  3 |  |
103 | Lr | Lawrencium |  7 |  3 |  |
104 | Rf | Rutherfordium |  7 |  4 |  |
105 | Db | Dubnium |  7 |  5 |  |
106 | Sg | Seaborgium |  7 |  6 |  |
107 | Bh | Bohrium |  7 |  7 |  |
108 | Hs | Hassium |  7 |  8 |  |
109 | Mt | Meitnerium |  7 |  9 |  |
110 | Ds | Darmstadtium |  7 | 10 |  |
111 | Rg | Roentgenium |  7 | 11 |  |
112 | Cn | Copernicium |  7 | 12 |  |
113 | Nh | Nihonium |  7 | 13 |  |
114 | Fl | Flerovium |  7 | 14 |  |
115 | Mc | Moscovium |  7 | 15 |  |
116 | Lv | Livermorium |  7 | 16 |  |
117 | Ts | Tennessine |  7 | 17 |  |
118 | Og | Oganesson |  7 | 18 |  |

## See also

* Abundance of the chemical elements
* Dietary mineral

## External links

* The Role of Elements in Life Processes | Mineral Information Institute
* Periodic Table of the Chemical Elements[Usurped!] and Dietary Minerals
* What Chemical Elements Are Found Within The Human Body? - Science - Questions & Answers
* Digging for rare earths: The mines where iPhones are born | Apple - CNET News, September 26, 2012

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