Some Interesting Facts

• Among sucrose & fructose which is considered as table sugar?
• Which is the stimulant present in tea & coffee?
• What is baking soda?
• The red color of tomato is due to
• What is common salt?

Answers

• Sucrose
• Caffeine
• Sodium bicarbonate
• Lycopene
• Sodium chloride

What is the chemical name for talc or talcum?

• Magnesium silicate

What is the chemical name for white lead?

• Basic lead carbonate

What is the chemical name for Aspirin?

• Acetyl salicylic acid

Nitrogen

• Symbol : N
• Atomic number: 7
• Electronic configuration :[He]2s² 2p³
• The valency of nitrogen is 3 or 5.

Uses

For annealing stainless steels, Nitrogen is used. This is an important component of proteins.In fertilizers the nitrogen compounds are seen.

Calcium

Calcium is an important alkaline earth metal.

• Symbol : Ca
• Atomic number :20
• Electronic configuration :[Ar] 4s²

Uses

For human nutrition Ca is essential. The compounds of calcium are used in making bricks,cement,paint,paper,sugar etc. It is also needed for plant growth.

Magnesium

• Symbol : Mg
• Atomic number: 12
• Electronic configuration : [Ne] 3s²
• Mg is an alkaline earth metal
• Nature of Mg metal : Light, silvery white.

Uses

For plant & animal nutrition Mg is needed. It has applications in aerospace industry.

Beryllium

It is interesting to note that beryllium is an alkaline earth metal.

• Atomic number :4
• Symbol : Be
• Electronic configuration : [He]2s²

Uses

Beryllium oxide is used in ceramics & nuclear applications. In nuclear reactions Be is used as a reflector or moderator.It is used in many structural components of space shuttle.

Sodium

• Symbol : Na
• Atomic number :11
• Electronic configuration : [Ne]3s¹
• Nature of sodium : Bright silvery metal.
• Properties : Soft & highly reactive

The important point about sodium is that it is an alkali metal. Their compounds are widely used in the manufacture of soap, paper, textiles, chemicals etc.

Lithium

Most chemistry students know the importance of Lithium.Actually this is an alkali metal.

• Symbol : Li
• Atomic number : 3
• Electronic configuration : [He]2s¹
• Flame color : Crimson color
• Metallic lithium has a silver like appearance.

Uses of lithium

• Heat transfer applications
• As an alloying agent
• For battery anodes
• Drying agents.

Scandium

Scandium is a silvery white metal which when exposed to air turns yellow or pink. Actually this is a very light soft metal.

• Symbol : Sc
• Atomic number : 21
• Electronic configuration : [Ar]4s² 3d¹
• Radioactive isotope : Sc-46

Uses of scandium

For crude oil Sc-46 is used as a tracer in refinery crackers.The important use of scandium is that it is used to make high intensity lamps.