Elements Word List

ActiniumHard

ClueElement with atomic number 89, symbol Ac

ExplanationActinium has atomic number 89. Its name comes from a Greek word for ray.

AluminiumEasy

ClueLight metal used in kitchen foil, symbol Al

ExplanationAluminium has atomic number 13. Aluminum is a common alternative spelling.

AmericiumHard

ClueElement named after the Americas, symbol Am

ExplanationAmericium has atomic number 95. Its isotope Am-241 is used in some smoke detectors.

AntimonyMedium

ClueMetalloid with symbol Sb

ExplanationAntimony has atomic number 51. Its symbol comes from the Latin name stibium.

ArgonEasy

ClueNoble gas used to shield welds, symbol Ar

ExplanationArgon has atomic number 18. Its name comes from a Greek word meaning inactive.

ArsenicMedium

ClueMetalloid with symbol As and atomic number 33

ExplanationArsenic has atomic number 33. Some of its compounds are highly toxic.

AstatineHard

ClueRadioactive halogen with symbol At

ExplanationAstatine has atomic number 85. Its name comes from a Greek word meaning unstable.

BariumMedium

ClueMetal whose sulfate is used in X-ray imaging, Ba

ExplanationBarium has atomic number 56. Its compounds can give green colors to fireworks.

BerkeliumHard

ClueElement named after Berkeley, symbol Bk

ExplanationBerkelium has atomic number 97. It has atomic number 97.

BerylliumEasy

ClueMetal in the mineral beryl, symbol Be

ExplanationBeryllium has atomic number 4. Emerald and aquamarine are varieties of beryl.

BismuthMedium

ClueMetal with symbol Bi and atomic number 83

ExplanationBismuth has atomic number 83. It is used in some low-melting alloys.

BohriumHard

ClueElement named after Niels Bohr, symbol Bh

ExplanationBohrium has atomic number 107. It has atomic number 107.

BoronEasy

ClueElement in borax, symbol B

ExplanationBoron has atomic number 5. It is a metalloid, between metals and nonmetals.

BromineMedium

ClueHalogen that is liquid at room temperature, Br

ExplanationBromine has atomic number 35. Its name comes from a Greek word for stench.

CadmiumMedium

ClueMetal with symbol Cd and atomic number 48

ExplanationCadmium has atomic number 48. It has been used in rechargeable batteries.

CaesiumMedium

ClueAlkali metal used in atomic clocks, Cs

ExplanationCaesium has atomic number 55. Cesium is a common alternative spelling.

CalciumEasy

ClueMetal found in limestone compounds, symbol Ca

ExplanationCalcium has atomic number 20. Its ions are important in muscle contraction.

CaliforniumHard

ClueElement named after California, symbol Cf

ExplanationCalifornium has atomic number 98. Its isotope Cf-252 can serve as a neutron source.

CarbonEasy

ClueElement of diamond and graphite, symbol C

ExplanationCarbon has atomic number 6. Its atoms form the backbone of organic molecules.

CeriumMedium

ClueElement named after the asteroid Ceres, Ce

ExplanationCerium has atomic number 58. Its oxide is used to polish glass.

ChlorineEasy

ClueGreenish-yellow halogen gas, symbol Cl

ExplanationChlorine has atomic number 17. Its chloride ion is part of table salt.

ChromiumEasy

ClueMetal used in shiny protective plating, Cr

ExplanationChromium has atomic number 24. Its name comes from the Greek word for color.

CobaltEasy

ClueMetal whose compounds color glass blue, Co

ExplanationCobalt has atomic number 27. It is the central metal atom in vitamin B12.

CoperniciumHard

ClueElement named after Nicolaus Copernicus, Cn

ExplanationCopernicium has atomic number 112. It has atomic number 112.

CopperEasy

ClueReddish metal widely used for wiring, Cu

ExplanationCopper has atomic number 29. Its symbol comes from the Latin name cuprum.

CuriumHard

ClueElement named after Marie and Pierre Curie

ExplanationCurium has atomic number 96. It is a radioactive actinoid with atomic number 96.

DarmstadtiumHard

ClueElement named after Darmstadt, symbol Ds

ExplanationDarmstadtium has atomic number 110. It has atomic number 110.

DubniumHard

ClueElement named after Dubna, symbol Db

ExplanationDubnium has atomic number 105. It has atomic number 105.

DysprosiumMedium

ClueElement named for being hard to obtain, Dy

ExplanationDysprosium has atomic number 66. It is used in some high-performance magnets.

EinsteiniumHard

ClueElement named after Albert Einstein, Es

ExplanationEinsteinium has atomic number 99. It has atomic number 99.

ErbiumMedium

ClueElement with symbol Er and atomic number 68

ExplanationErbium has atomic number 68. Its name comes from Ytterby in Sweden.

EuropiumMedium

ClueElement named for Europe, symbol Eu

ExplanationEuropium has atomic number 63. Its compounds are used in red phosphors.

FermiumHard

ClueElement named after Enrico Fermi, symbol Fm

ExplanationFermium has atomic number 100. It has atomic number 100.

FleroviumHard

ClueElement named for the Flerov Laboratory, Fl

ExplanationFlerovium has atomic number 114. It has atomic number 114.

FluorineEasy

ClueMost electronegative element, symbol F

ExplanationFluorine has atomic number 9. Fluoride compounds are used in many toothpastes.

FranciumHard

ClueAlkali metal named after France, symbol Fr

ExplanationFrancium has atomic number 87. All of its isotopes are radioactive.

GadoliniumMedium

ClueElement named after Johan Gadolin, Gd

ExplanationGadolinium has atomic number 64. Some of its compounds are used in MRI contrast agents.

GalliumMedium

ClueMetal that can melt in a warm hand, Ga

ExplanationGallium has atomic number 31. Its arsenide is used in semiconductor devices.

GermaniumMedium

ClueSemiconductor named for Germany, symbol Ge

ExplanationGermanium has atomic number 32. It has atomic number 32.

GoldEasy

ClueYellow precious metal with symbol Au

ExplanationGold has atomic number 79. Its symbol comes from the Latin name aurum.

HafniumMedium

ClueElement named after Hafnia, symbol Hf

ExplanationHafnium has atomic number 72. Hafnia is the Latin name for Copenhagen.

HassiumHard

ClueElement named after Hesse, symbol Hs

ExplanationHassium has atomic number 108. It has atomic number 108.

HeliumEasy

ClueBalloon-filling noble gas, symbol He

ExplanationHelium has atomic number 2. Its name comes from the Greek word for the Sun.

HolmiumMedium

ClueElement named for Stockholm, symbol Ho

ExplanationHolmium has atomic number 67. It belongs to the lanthanoid series.

HydrogenEasy

ClueLightest element, symbol H

ExplanationHydrogen has atomic number 1. Its most common isotope has no neutrons.

IndiumMedium

ClueMetal named for an indigo spectral line, In

ExplanationIndium has atomic number 49. Its tin oxide is used in transparent conductive coatings.

IodineEasy

ClueHalogen whose vapor is violet, symbol I

ExplanationIodine has atomic number 53. The thyroid uses it to make hormones.

IridiumMedium

ClueMetal named after the rainbow goddess Iris

ExplanationIridium has atomic number 77. It belongs to the platinum group of metals.

IronEasy

ClueMain metal in ordinary steel, symbol Fe

ExplanationIron has atomic number 26. Its symbol comes from the Latin name ferrum.

KryptonMedium

ClueNoble gas with atomic number 36, symbol Kr

ExplanationKrypton has atomic number 36. Its name comes from a Greek word meaning hidden.

LanthanumMedium

ClueElement with atomic number 57, symbol La

ExplanationLanthanum has atomic number 57. Its name comes from a Greek word meaning to lie hidden.

LawrenciumHard

ClueElement named after Ernest Lawrence, Lr

ExplanationLawrencium has atomic number 103. It has atomic number 103.

LeadEasy

ClueHeavy metal with symbol Pb

ExplanationLead has atomic number 82. Its symbol comes from the Latin name plumbum.

LithiumEasy

ClueLightest metal, symbol Li

ExplanationLithium has atomic number 3. It belongs to the alkali-metal family.

LivermoriumHard

ClueElement named for Livermore's laboratory, Lv

ExplanationLivermorium has atomic number 116. It has atomic number 116.

LutetiumMedium

ClueElement named after Lutetia, symbol Lu

ExplanationLutetium has atomic number 71. Lutetia was the Latin name for Paris.

MagnesiumEasy

ClueMetal that burns with a bright white light, Mg

ExplanationMagnesium has atomic number 12. It is the central metal atom in chlorophyll.

ManganeseEasy

ClueMetal with atomic number 25 and symbol Mn

ExplanationManganese has atomic number 25. It is widely used in steelmaking.

MeitneriumHard

ClueElement named after Lise Meitner, Mt

ExplanationMeitnerium has atomic number 109. It has atomic number 109.

MendeleviumHard

ClueElement named after Dmitri Mendeleev, Md

ExplanationMendelevium has atomic number 101. It has atomic number 101.

MercuryEasy

ClueMetal that is liquid at room temperature, Hg

ExplanationMercury has atomic number 80. Its symbol comes from hydrargyrum, meaning liquid silver.

MolybdenumMedium

ClueMetal with symbol Mo and atomic number 42

ExplanationMolybdenum has atomic number 42. It is used in alloys that withstand high temperatures.

MoscoviumHard

ClueElement named after the Moscow region, Mc

ExplanationMoscovium has atomic number 115. It has atomic number 115.

NeodymiumMedium

ClueMetal used in strong permanent magnets, Nd

ExplanationNeodymium has atomic number 60. Its name comes from Greek words meaning new twin.

NeonEasy

ClueNoble gas giving a red-orange glow, symbol Ne

ExplanationNeon has atomic number 10. It belongs to group 18 of the periodic table.

NeptuniumHard

ClueElement named after the planet Neptune, Np

ExplanationNeptunium has atomic number 93. It has atomic number 93, just after uranium.

NickelEasy

ClueMetal used in many rechargeable batteries, Ni

ExplanationNickel has atomic number 28. It is also an ingredient of many stainless steels.

NihoniumHard

ClueElement named after Japan, symbol Nh

ExplanationNihonium has atomic number 113. Its name uses Nihon, a Japanese name for Japan.

NiobiumMedium

ClueMetal named after the mythical Niobe, Nb

ExplanationNiobium has atomic number 41. It has atomic number 41.

NitrogenEasy

ClueGas making up most of the air, symbol N

ExplanationNitrogen has atomic number 7. Its liquid form is used for very cold storage.

NobeliumHard

ClueElement named after Alfred Nobel, symbol No

ExplanationNobelium has atomic number 102. It has atomic number 102.

OganessonHard

ClueElement named after Yuri Oganessian, Og

ExplanationOganesson has atomic number 118. It is placed in group 18 of the periodic table.

OsmiumMedium

ClueDense platinum-group metal, symbol Os

ExplanationOsmium has atomic number 76. Its name comes from a Greek word for smell.

OxygenEasy

ClueGas needed for ordinary combustion, symbol O

ExplanationOxygen has atomic number 8. Ozone is a form whose molecules have three atoms.

PalladiumMedium

ClueMetal named after the asteroid Pallas, Pd

ExplanationPalladium has atomic number 46. It belongs to the platinum group of metals.

PhosphorusEasy

ClueElement with white and red allotropes, symbol P

ExplanationPhosphorus has atomic number 15. Phosphate groups are part of DNA and ATP.

PlatinumEasy

CluePrecious metal with symbol Pt

ExplanationPlatinum has atomic number 78. It is used in catalysts and jewelry.

PlutoniumHard

ClueElement named after Pluto, symbol Pu

ExplanationPlutonium has atomic number 94. It has atomic number 94, just after neptunium.

PoloniumHard

ClueElement named after Poland, symbol Po

ExplanationPolonium has atomic number 84. All of its isotopes are radioactive.

PotassiumEasy

ClueAlkali metal with symbol K

ExplanationPotassium has atomic number 19. Its symbol comes from the name kalium.

PraseodymiumMedium

ClueElement named for a green twin, symbol Pr

ExplanationPraseodymium has atomic number 59. It belongs to the lanthanoid series.

PromethiumMedium

ClueElement named after Prometheus, symbol Pm

ExplanationPromethium has atomic number 61. All of its isotopes are radioactive.

ProtactiniumHard

ClueRadioactive element 91, symbol Pa

ExplanationProtactinium has atomic number 91. Its name refers to its relationship with actinium.

RadiumHard

ClueRadioactive metal with symbol Ra

ExplanationRadium has atomic number 88. It belongs to the alkaline-earth-metal family.

RadonHard

ClueRadioactive noble gas with symbol Rn

ExplanationRadon has atomic number 86. It can accumulate indoors after forming in rocks and soil.

RheniumMedium

ClueMetal named after the Rhine, symbol Re

ExplanationRhenium has atomic number 75. It is used in some high-temperature superalloys.

RhodiumMedium

ClueMetal named for rose-colored salts, Rh

ExplanationRhodium has atomic number 45. It is used in vehicle catalytic converters.

RoentgeniumHard

ClueElement named after Wilhelm Röntgen, Rg

ExplanationRoentgenium has atomic number 111. It has atomic number 111.

RubidiumMedium

ClueAlkali metal named for red spectral lines, Rb

ExplanationRubidium has atomic number 37. It lies between potassium and caesium in group 1.

RutheniumMedium

ClueMetal named after Ruthenia, symbol Ru

ExplanationRuthenium has atomic number 44. It belongs to the platinum group of metals.

RutherfordiumHard

ClueElement named after Ernest Rutherford, Rf

ExplanationRutherfordium has atomic number 104. It has atomic number 104.

SamariumMedium

ClueElement named through the mineral samarskite

ExplanationSamarium has atomic number 62. It is used in certain permanent-magnet alloys.

ScandiumEasy

ClueElement named for Scandinavia, symbol Sc

ExplanationScandium has atomic number 21. It has atomic number 21.

SeaborgiumHard

ClueElement named after Glenn Seaborg, Sg

ExplanationSeaborgium has atomic number 106. It has atomic number 106.

SeleniumMedium

ClueElement named for the Moon, symbol Se

ExplanationSelenium has atomic number 34. It is an essential trace nutrient in small amounts.

SiliconEasy

ClueSemiconductor element, symbol Si

ExplanationSilicon has atomic number 14. Its dioxide is a major ingredient of ordinary glass.

SilverEasy

CluePrecious metal with symbol Ag

ExplanationSilver has atomic number 47. Its symbol comes from the Latin name argentum.

SodiumEasy

ClueAlkali metal whose chloride is table salt

ExplanationSodium has atomic number 11. Its symbol Na comes from the name natrium.

StrontiumMedium

ClueMetal whose salts give red fireworks, Sr

ExplanationStrontium has atomic number 38. It is named after Strontian in Scotland.

SulfurEasy

ClueYellow nonmetal, symbol S

ExplanationSulfur has atomic number 16. It was once commonly called brimstone.

TantalumMedium

ClueMetal named after the mythical Tantalus, Ta

ExplanationTantalum has atomic number 73. Its oxide is used in capacitors.

TechnetiumMedium

ClueElement 43, first produced artificially

ExplanationTechnetium has atomic number 43. All of its isotopes are radioactive.

TelluriumMedium

ClueElement named for the Earth, symbol Te

ExplanationTellurium has atomic number 52. It is a metalloid with atomic number 52.

TennessineHard

ClueElement named after Tennessee, symbol Ts

ExplanationTennessine has atomic number 117. It is placed in group 17 of the periodic table.

TerbiumMedium

ClueElement with symbol Tb and atomic number 65

ExplanationTerbium has atomic number 65. Its name comes from Ytterby in Sweden.

ThalliumMedium

ClueMetal named for a green spectral line, Tl

ExplanationThallium has atomic number 81. Its name comes from a Greek word for a green shoot.

ThoriumHard

ClueElement named after the god Thor, symbol Th

ExplanationThorium has atomic number 90. It is a radioactive metal with atomic number 90.

ThuliumMedium

ClueElement named after the northern land Thule

ExplanationThulium has atomic number 69. It belongs to the lanthanoid series.

TinEasy

ClueMetal alloyed with copper to make bronze, Sn

ExplanationTin has atomic number 50. Its symbol comes from the Latin name stannum.

TitaniumEasy

ClueStrong, light metal named for the Titans, Ti

ExplanationTitanium has atomic number 22. Its dioxide is widely used as a white pigment.

TungstenMedium

ClueHigh-melting metal used in lamp filaments, W

ExplanationTungsten has atomic number 74. Its symbol comes from the alternative name wolfram.

UraniumEasy

ClueElement named after the planet Uranus, U

ExplanationUranium has atomic number 92. Its isotopes include U-235 and U-238.

VanadiumEasy

ClueMetal named after the goddess Vanadis, V

ExplanationVanadium has atomic number 23. Small amounts can strengthen steel alloys.

XenonMedium

ClueNoble gas used in some bright lamps, Xe

ExplanationXenon has atomic number 54. Its name comes from a Greek word meaning stranger.

YtterbiumMedium

ClueElement with symbol Yb and atomic number 70

ExplanationYtterbium has atomic number 70. Its name comes from Ytterby in Sweden.

YttriumMedium

ClueElement with symbol Y and atomic number 39

ExplanationYttrium has atomic number 39. Its name comes from Ytterby, a village in Sweden.

ZincEasy

ClueMetal used to galvanize steel, symbol Zn

ExplanationZinc has atomic number 30. Brass is an alloy of this metal and copper.

ZirconiumMedium

ClueMetal used in nuclear fuel cladding, Zr

ExplanationZirconium has atomic number 40. Its name comes from the mineral zircon.