This table is designed to show the role(s) performed by each chemical element, in nature and in technology.
Z = Atomic numberSym. = SymbolPer. = PeriodGr. = Group
Z Sym. Element Per. Gr. Role(s) in nature (non-living and living) Role(s) in technology (old and new) 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 Geology: occurs in pegmatites and brines; trace element in some organisms; possible role in mood regulation in animals Ceramics and glass: flux, component of ovenware Electricity and electronics: batteries Various industries: lubricating greases Nuclear industry: tritium production for fusion reactors 4 Be Beryllium 2 2 Geology: occurs in beryl and chrysoberyl minerals; no known biological role; toxic to most organisms Radiography: radiation windows Aeronautics and astronautics: lightweight structural components Electronics: copper–beryllium alloys for springs and connectors Nuclear industry: neutron reflector and moderator 5 B Boron 2 13 Plants: essential micronutrient for cell wall formation and pollen germination Geology: found in evaporite deposits (borax, kernite) 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 Animals: component of tooth enamel (fluorapatite); toxic in excess Various industries: fluorocarbons and derivatives as refrigerants and as anaesthetics Water treatment: fluoridation to prevent dental caries 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. Chemical industry: manufacture of sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate (Solvay process) Metallurgy: reduction of refractory metals (titanium, zirconium) Street lighting: high-pressure sodium lamps Nuclear industry: liquid sodium coolant in fast breeder reactors Food industry: table salt (NaCl), food preservative 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 Construction and packaging: structural alloys, beverage cans, foil Aeronautics: lightweight airframe alloys Electrical industry: overhead power transmission cables Metallurgy: aluminothermic reduction (thermite) Optics: mirror coatings Chemistry: aluminium oxide (alumina) as refractory and abrasive 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 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