Hunting the Elements Answer Key

Hunting the Elements 1) Where does an element take its identity from? (5:30) - Gets its identity from tiny particles, its protons. 2) How much gold (Au) is extracted per ton of rock ore? (8:30) - 1oz of gold per ton 3) How much does a gold (Au) bar weigh and how much is it worth? (13:00) - Weighs 60 pounds, it is worth 1.5 million dollars. 4) Why is copper (Cu) so widely sought on the world market and New York Mercantile Exchange? (16:00) - gets rid of bacteria and malleable. Copper is an indicator of the world economy. 5) What is copper (Cu) combined with to make bronze? (18:00) - they have free flowing electrons 6) What makes metals like Copper (Cu) conductive to electricity? (20:00) - Tin 7) Bronze is an alloy. What is an alloy and why are they preferable at times? (22:00) - An alloy is a mix of metals. An alloy is preferable because they are stronger. 8) How does the atomic arrangement of atoms lead to its crystal structure like was seen in the sample of bronze with gold (Au) and tin (Sn) atoms? (32:00)- Tin makes the copper ring 9) What is the atomic number and what does the atomic number indicate? (34:00) - The atomic number is fundamental organizer for the periodic table, the protons and electrons 10) Most of the periodic table is made of what type of elements? (35:00)- metals 11) How did early chemists like Mendeleev classify the elements? (38:00)- by atomic weight 12) How is the periodic table structured with regard to elements with similar properties? (40:00) 13) What makes noble gases stable? (43:00) - they have the maximum number of valence electrons 14) 15) Why is an alkali metal element like Sodium (Na) so reactive? (45:00) - they have an extra electron What does chlorine (Cl-) do for sodium (Na+)? What tasty substance is produced when this happens? (48:00) Chlorine calms it down. It makes salt. 16) What powers explosions and fire? (55:00) Oxygen 17) What elements are basic to all living things? (59:00) carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, phosphorus, Sulfur. 18) Why is Carbon (C) so good for forming the structure of life? (1:06:00). It can form itself and lots of weight is carbon. 19) What are at least three (3) other elements that are used for life functions and what are their uses? (1:12:00) Hydrogenused for welding Nitrogen- growth and reproduction in plants and animals. Oxygen- cutting metals 20) Why are cyanobacteria from places like volcanic pools so important for the production of oxygen in our atmosphere? (1:17:00) The oxygen began to build up in the atmosphere, and they make oxygen to help us breathe. 21) What was the original element formed moments after the Big Bang? What then created higher order elements? (1:19:00) Hydrogen. The sun created higher older elements by fusion. 22) 23) 24) 25) How does silicon shape our technological reality? (1:22:00) Brining life and beauty to life. How are rare earth elements like neodymium (Nd) important to our technological world? (1:27:00) Their identities mask by their identical shells. What is an isotope like Carbon-14? (1:42:00) Nitrogen How can an isotope like Carbon-14 be used to date dead organisms? (1:44:00). An isotope like carbon-14 can be used to date dead organisms by counting the atoms with a machine. 26) What is an unstable radioactive isotope? (1:46:00) An unstable radioactive isotope is uranium 27) Why don't the man-made radioactive elements exist for very long? (1:58:00) They have to many neutrons and will decay