Lanthanum, Chemical Element
Lanthanum is the third element in Row 6 of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to each other.
Lead, Chemical Element
Lead is the heaviest member of the carbon family. The carbon family consists of the five elements in Group 14 (IVA) of the periodic table.
Lithium, Chemical Element
Lithium is the first member of the alkali metal family. The alkali metals are the elements that make up Group 1 (IA) of the periodic table.
Lutetium, Chemical Element
Lutetium is the heaviest, rarest, and most expensive lanthanide element. The lanthanide elements make up Row 6 of the periodic table.
Magnesium, Chemical Element
Magnesium is the second element in Group 2 (IIA) of the periodic table a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to each other. The elements in Group 2 are known as the alkaline earth elements.
Manganese, Chemical Element
Manganese is a transition metal. The transition metals are the large block of elements in the middle of the periodic table.
Mercury, Chemical Element
Mercury is a transition metal. A transition metal is one of the elements found between Groups 2 (IIA) and 13 (IIIA) on the periodic table.
Molybdenum, Chemical Element
Molybdenum was one of the first metals to be discovered by a modern chemist. It was found in 1781 by Swedish chemist Peter Jacob Hjelm (1746-1813).
Neodymium, Chemical Element
Neodymium was discovered in 1885 by Austrian chemist Carl Auer (Baron von Welsbach; 1858-1929). Auer found the new element in a mineral called didymia.
Neon, Chemical Element
Neon is a member of the noble gas family. Other elements in this family includes helium, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon.
Neptunium, Chemical Element
Neptunium lies in Row 7 of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to one another.
Nickel, Chemical Element
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.
Niobium, Chemical Element
Niobium is a transition metal in Group 5 (VB) of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how chemical elements relate to one another.
Nitrogen, Chemical Element
Nitrogen is the first member in Group 15 (VA) of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to one another.
Osmium, Chemical Element
Osmium is an element in Group 8 (VIIIB) of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart showing how chemical elements are related to one another.
Oxygen, Chemical Element
Oxygen is the first element in Group 16 (VIA) of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to each other.
Palladium, Chemical Element
Palladium is found in Row 5, Group 10 (VIIIB) of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to each other.
Phosphorus, Chemical Element
Phosphorus is found in Group 15 (VA) of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that that shows how chemical elements are related to each other.
Platinum, Chemical Element
Platinum is a transition metal in Group 10 (VIIIB) of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to each other.
Plutonium, Chemical Element
Plutonium is a synthetic (artificial) element. It exists naturally only in the smallest imaginable amounts.
Polonium, Chemical Element
Polonium was discovered in 1898 by Polish-French physicist Marie Curie (1867-1934) and her husband, Pierre (1859-1906). They were looking for the source of radioactivity in a naturally occurring ore called pitchblende.
Potassium, Chemical Element
Potassium is one of the alkali metals. The alkali metals are the elements that make up Group 1 (IA) of the periodic table.