Chemical Mishmash Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sulphur

Sulphur has an atomic number of 16. It comes at room temperature as a crystalline solid powder, with a yellow hue. Contrary to what people would think, it has only a faint smell. Sulphuric compounds such as hydrogen sulphide (H2S) cause the strong odour of rotten eggs.

Pure sulphur is quite abundant, but most sources are sulphur compounds.
Sulphur and especially its compounds have many applications. Some examples: fertilizer, insecticide, antibiotics and detergents.

Answer: Mercury

Mercury is one of the very few elements that behave as a liquid at room temperature. Mercury has an atomic number of 80. The colour is silvery grey. Small amounts of mercury form typical grey droplets.

Mercury is a quite rare metal.

Mercury was frequently used in thermometers and sphygmomanometers. Due to the high toxicity of mercury, this use is gradually being banned. Other uses are for laboratory research, for tooth amalgam (also gradually fading out), and for fluorescent lamps.

Answer: Carbon (as graphite)

Pure carbon (atomic number 6) can be found in very different appearances. The black solid I mentioned is graphite, one of the softest materials, while the other well-known form of pure carbon is diamond - the hardest substance on earth, a transparent solid.

There's a lot of carbon everywhere. The universe contains more carbon than any other solid.

Carbon forms the most compounds, with very diverse properties. That's why carbon is used in almost every human activity. For instance, graphite is used in pencils, pulverized diamond is used to enhance drilling equipment, various fossil fuels consists of carbon compounds, activated charcoal can be used as a filter.

Answer: Hydrogen

Hydrogen has the atomic number 1. It is the most simple atom: one proton, one electron, and in the rare other isotopes one or two neutrons.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. The stars consists mostly of hydrogen which through atomic fusion is transformed into heavier elements (and creating enormous energy by doing so).

The most common compound of hydrogen is the molecule containing two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. Most people would call this compound simply water, but chemists might be tempted to speak about dihydrogen monoxide.
 

Answer: Oxygen (in the form of ozone)

Ozone is a molecule containing three oxygen atoms, whereas the normal oxygen gas (chemically known as dioxygen) contains only two oxygen atoms. Oxygen gas is colourless and odourless, but ozone has other properties.

Ozone is used as a cleaning agent, especially in desolate places. It is not advised for populous places, as it is highly toxic. Ozone disintegrates quite rapidly into the normal dioxygen, and this common gas is essential for all living beings.

Answer: Aluminium

Most metals are shiny grey solids. Aluminium (atomic number 13) is one of those solid shiny grey things. One of the keys to recognising these grey metals, is their density. Aluminium is the lightest of all grey metals, with a density of only 2.7 gram per cubic centimetre.

Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust. Because of its light weight, its resistance against corrosion, and its abundance, it is a vital necessity for the aviation industry. The downside of aluminium is its softness, but that can be remedied by making alloys with small quantities of other metals.

Answer: Platinum

Platinum is a very heavy metal, with a density of 21.45 gram per cubic centimetre. It has the atomic number 78.

Platinum is a noble metal, which won't react to many other substances. It is very rare.

Applications for platinum include catalysts for vehicles, jewels, and investments. Some laboratory equipment is made from platinum.

Answer: Chlorine

Chlorine (atomic number 17) is a toxic gas. If it was released, it would stay low to the ground, for it is heavier than air.

Pure chlorine is quite rare in nature. One of the chlorine compounds is very well known: common salt is sodium chloride (NaCl).

Applications for chlorine range from bleaching to the production of certain plastics (for example: PVC is the abbreviation for poly vinyl chloride, one of a wide range of molecules that contain a number of chlorine atoms).

Answer: Gold

Gold (atomic number 79) is a rather rare metal. Its appearance is yellow to reddish, and its density is elevated.

Most gold is used in jewellery or as an investment. Gold is also used as an excellent electric conductor (albeit quite expensive).

Answer: Copper

Copper has the atomic number 29. It is a reddish-yellowish metal, with a density that is less than half that of gold.

Copper is a very good electric conductor. Gold and silver are better conductors, but rather more expensive, so copper is extensively used for electric wiring.

Because of the antimicrobial properties of copper and because of its thermal conductivity, it is also used in the more expensive ranges of pots and pans.