Question

Most of the elements are solids at room temperature. Give three examples of elements that are liquids at room temperature, and three examples of elements that are gases at room temperature.

Short answer

Three examples of elements that are liquids at room temperature are Mercury (Hg), Bromine (Br), and Francium (Fr). Three examples of elements that are gases at room temperature are Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), and Nitrogen (N).

Step-by-step solution

Identifying Liquid Elements at Room Temperature

To find the elements that are liquids at room temperature, we can refer to the periodic table. The two well-known elements that are liquids at room temperature are: 1. Mercury (Hg) 2. Bromine (Br) A less common element that is also a liquid at room temperature is: 3. Francium (Fr), which is a radioactive element and exists in trace amounts.

Identifying Gaseous Elements at Room Temperature

To identify the elements that are gases at room temperature, we can also consult the periodic table. Three examples of gaseous elements at room temperature are: 1. Hydrogen (H) 2. Oxygen (O) 3. Nitrogen (N) These elements belong to different groups in the periodic table; hydrogen is a non-metal, oxygen is a chalcogen, and nitrogen is a pnictogen.

Key concepts

Elements

Elements are the basic building blocks of all matter. They are pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. An element is composed of atoms that all have the same number of protons, which is known as the atomic number.

• Examples of elements include hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon.
• Each element has unique properties, such as density, boiling point, and reactivity.

All elements are listed in the periodic table, which helps us to understand their properties and how they relate to each other. As you learn about elements, you'll notice they can exist in different states of matter, such as solid, liquid, and gas at room temperature.

Periodic Table

The periodic table is a chart that organizes all known chemical elements according to their atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties. It's like a map that helps chemists understand how elements behave and interact.

• Rows in the table are called periods, and columns are known as groups.
• Elements in the same group often have similar chemical properties.

The periodic table is widely used in chemistry to help predict the characteristics of elements that are yet to be discovered.
It is an essential tool for scientists, as it gives a systematic way to learn about the elements and their properties, such as whether they exist as a solid, liquid, or gas under normal conditions.

Gaseous Elements

Gaseous elements are those that exist in the gas phase under standard conditions, which is typically defined as room temperature (around 25°C) and atmospheric pressure. These elements have distinct characteristics:

• They have no fixed shape or volume, filling the container they are in completely.
• Some common gaseous elements include hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and nitrogen (N).
• These elements are essential for life, making up a significant portion of Earth's atmosphere.

Each of these gases plays a crucial role in various biological and physical processes. For instance, oxygen is vital for respiration in most living organisms, and nitrogen is essential for the production of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.

Liquid Elements

Liquid elements are much rarer than solids and gases at room temperature. They have unique properties, such as taking the shape of their container while maintaining a constant volume.

• Examples of liquid elements include mercury (Hg) and bromine (Br).
• Mercury is used in thermometers due to its consistent volumetric expansion with temperature changes.
• Bromine is used in various chemical reactions, including in flame retardants.

A less common liquid element is francium (Fr), which is rarely seen because it is highly radioactive and exists only in trace amounts.
Liquid elements have unique applications due to their ability to conduct electricity and dissolve various substances, making them essential in industry and research.