Z for Zinc

This is the last in the series of 26 posts this month, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. 

My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry.

For the last letter, I will go with this well-known element, which is not only critical for good health but also has many uses in medicine, industry and agriculture. 

The symbol is Zn, and the atomic number is 30. It has a bluish-white colour and a lustrous appearance. 

Zinc is brittle at room temperature but becomes malleable and ductile when heated. It has a high melting point of 419.5°C and a boiling point of 907°C.

It's important for immune system function. That's why for Covid, patients, at least here, were given multivitamin tablets containing zinc. 

Zinc deficiency can cause various problems, such as impaired taste, poor healing of wounds, hair loss, and skin infections.

Zinc is a component of many common alloys like brass and bronze. Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper, while bronze is an alloy of zinc, copper and tin. 

It is also used to make batteries, cosmetics, paints, etc.

Zinc helps plants grow and resist diseases, and it is added to fertilizers to improve crop yield and quality.

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The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

Y for Yttrium

This is the 25th in the series of 26 posts this month, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. 

My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry. 

Yttrium is a silvery-metallic element with the symbol Y and the atomic number 39. It has often been classified as a "rare-earth element".

It is not very common in nature, but it is widely found in minerals like monazite and xenotime.

It was first isolated in 1828 by a Swedish chemist Friedrich Wöhler, and the element probably gets its name from the Swedish town of Ytterby. 

Yttrium finds use in automobiles and television.

In automobile exhaust systems, it works as an oxygen sensor. Yttrium oxide can measure the oxygen content in the exhaust gas and adjust the fuel injection accordingly. This helps to reduce the emission of harmful pollutants and improve engine efficiency. 

In older TV models, which used cathode ray tubes, yttrium was used as a host for red phosphors. (Phosphors are substances that emit light when exposed to some form of energy.)

However, in modern LED TVs, yttrium aluminium garnet is used as phosphors. 

Yttrium metal is also used to improve the strength of aluminium and magnesium alloys.

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The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

X for Xenon

This is the 24th in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry.

I will give tomorrow a miss, and the 25th and the 26th parts of this series will appear on the 29th and 30th.

Xenon is a rare, odourless, colourless, and tasteless gas and is represented by the symbol Xe and has an atomic number of 54.

It was discovered in 1898 by Scottish chemist Sir William Ramsay.

Xenon, which is found in trace amounts in the atmosphere, is a heavy gas.

It is one of the most unreactive elements known and is inert to most chemical reactions.

Xenon is a good insulator of heat and electricity and is used in specialized lighting systems, such as flash photography and strobe lights.

It is also used in the automotive industry as a component of xenon headlights, which are brighter and more energy efficient than traditional halogen headlights.

These headlights produce a more natural light that is closer to daylight and is less likely to cause eye fatigue during long drives. Xenon headlights are also used in high-end cars because of their aesthetic appeal.

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The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

W for Water

This is the 23rd in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry. 

Let me go with this obvious choice - water. It's not only the most well-known chemical compound but also the most important. Without water, there is no life.

Though it's so important for our health, since water is so ubiquitous, we take it for granted without paying much attention to it. 

Water makes up approximately 60% of our body weight. It regulates body temperature; it is essential for metabolism and for the proper functioning of all our organs.

Approximately 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, but only 3% of that is fresh water suitable for human consumption.

Besides the fact that it's the most essential drink, water is used for a lot of activities in our daily lives, like cooking, bathing, gardening, cleaning, flushing etc., besides for farming and in industries. 

According to the World Health Organization, an average person uses approximately 20-50 litres (5.3-13.2 gallons) of water per day for basic human needs such as drinking, cooking, and hygiene. 

However, this can be more or less depending on factors such as location and lifestyle, with consumption lesser in poorer regions and more in richer ones. 

A lot of water is wasted as well. We might not actually run out of water on the planet, but specific regions do and can experience a shortage of water. 

In fact, all major conflicts currently raging in various parts of the world, like Syria, Sudan, West Asia, etc., have an element of conflict over water within them.

Many modern development policies actually result in the wastage or deprivation of water, leading to a series of consequences ranging from desertification to social and political conflicts.

It's ironic that the availability of good water should be such an issue in many parts of the world.

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Image of water jug from Pixabay

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

V for Vitamins

This is the 22nd in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry. 

This is not about one element or one compound. It is about a group of organic compounds called vitamins that are made up of different elements, small amounts of which are essential for various metabolic processes, such as growth, development, immunity, and energy production.

Right from the time I was a child, my father used to give me vitamin supplements, B and C, on alternate days.

He believed in the need for supplements because he used to say that food alone doesn't provide us with the required quantity of vitamins. 

He was also influenced by the work of Nobel laureate and American biochemist Linus Pauling on the role of vitamin C in boosting the body's immunity against common respiratory infections like the common cold.

Having daily vitamin supplements is a habit I still have, and I have passed that on to my wife as well. We used to give them to my son, too, when he was with us, but now since he is away in another city, I am not sure if he is regular with them.

The breakout of Covid created an awareness of the need for immunity-boosting vitamins, and many people began having supplements.

Whether vitamin supplements are good or not is disputed, and not even all doctors and nutritionists agree. 

I have my doctor's approval for taking the vitamin supplements. Make sure you also have a physician's go-ahead before you start on them because excessive quantities of vitamins can be harmful.

DIFFERENT TYPES

There are 13 vitamins that are classified into two groups: fat-soluble and water-soluble.

Fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E, and K. 

They can be stored in the body's fat tissue and liver for a long time. They help with vision, bone health, blood clotting, and antioxidant activity.

Water-soluble vitamins are B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, and C. 

These are not stored in the body for a long time. They need to be replenished regularly through food or supplements. 

They help with energy production, nerve function, red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis, and collagen production.

Vitamins are found in fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products, meat, eggs, and fish. Some can also be synthesized by the body. 

Vitamin deficiencies can cause various health problems, such as anaemia, scurvy, rickets, night blindness, and beriberi.

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Image of fruit from Pixabay

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

U for Uric acid

This is the 21st in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry. 

Uranium was the obvious choice. But I thought of doing uric acid because it's far closer to our daily lives. 

Like cholesterol, this is a chemical that's present in our bodies. Its formula is C5H4N4O3. 

Uric acid is formed when the body breaks down substances called purines.

Purines are a type of organic molecule that is found in our DNA and RNA. They are either made in the body by natural processes, or we get them from food.

Foods like meat, seafood, beans, and beer have purines.

When purines are broken down, uric acid is formed. 

Does uric acid have any use? I am not quite sure.

Like cholesterol, it's known more for the harm it does to the body than for any possible use.

Uric acid dissolves in blood and is expelled from our bodies by the kidneys through urine.

But in certain conditions, it can form crystals and salts.

Too much uric acid can cause problems such as gout, kidney stones, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

Usually, a regular health check-up shows the amount of uric acid, and it's important to keep it at a healthy level.

Common advice that's given by doctors to keep it in check is to reduce intake of food that has a high level of purines, drink a lot of water, and exercise regularly.

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The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

T for Tin

This is the 20th in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry. 

Tin and tin. 

One is an element, a soft, malleable, ductile, silvery-white metal with the atomic number 50. 

It has a melting point of 231.9°C and a boiling point of 2,270°C. 

Its symbol is Sn from the Latin word stannum, which means "hard metal".

 

The other tin is a container. 

Containers are made of tinplate, which is nothing but a thin sheet of steel or iron that is coated with tin. 

It's ideal for storing and transporting various things because it's non-toxic and light in weight but strong and corrosion-resistant. The surface is also very good for printing.

Tin is also used in the production of solder, which is used in electronics and plumbing to join two metal surfaces together. 

Since tin is corrosion-resistant, it is used as a coating for other metals like copper or steel.

It is also used in the production of pewter, an alloy that is used to make tableware and decorative items.

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Image of can from Pixabay.

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

S for Sodium

This is the 19th in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry.

When I hear about sodium, what I remember is a little experiment in the school chemistry laboratory. 

A small piece of this soft, silvery-white metal was taken out of the oil-filled bottle in which it was kept. Immediately sodium caught fire.

This was to demonstrate the highly reactive nature of the metal.

What happened was that sodium reacted with oxygen releasing a large amount of energy in the form of heat and light, causing the metal to ignite.

Solid sodium reacts with water too. The reaction produces sodium hydroxide and hydrogen. Hydrogen can catch fire in the air. 

The reaction also releases a lot of heat, which can melt sodium, making it move around on the water's surface, increasing the exposure to air, and the possibility of fire.

IN FOOD

Sodium is an essential nutrient. It maintains the balance of fluids and minerals, regulates blood pressure and blood volume, transmits nerve impulses, and contracts and relaxes muscles. 

Sodium is also needed for the absorption of some nutrients, such as glucose and amino acids. 

We get most of the sodium from common salt. In India, salt is added during the preparation of all food items. 

This is the reason Mahatma Gandhi, in 1930, picked salt as the focal point during his Civil Disobedience Movement and launched the Salt Satyagraha against the tax imposed on salt.   

However, now because of the danger of high blood pressure and cardiac issues, many people have considerably reduced intake of common salt.

OTHER USES

Sodium is used in the production of sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda. This is used in a variety of manufacturing processes, including the production of pulp and paper, textiles and soaps and detergents. 

Sodium is also used in the purification of aluminium and other metals, as well as in the production of agricultural fertilizers and pesticides.

It is also a common ingredient in many medicines.

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Image of food from Pixabay.

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

R for Rubidium

This is the 18th in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry.

While watching fireworks, if you notice a reddish-purple colour, then quite probably a compound containing the element rubidium has been used.

That's because when heated, rubidium atoms emit a characteristic red colour in the visible spectrum. 

Some common rubidium compounds used in fireworks include rubidium carbonate, rubidium chloride, and rubidium nitrate.

Rubidium compounds are ideal for use in fireworks because they tend to burn at lower temperatures than compounds, producing a brighter and more intense colour. 

Also, this reddish-purple colour is not something that is commonly seen naturally. So, in fireworks, it makes for a spectacular display. 

Rubidium, which is slightly radioactive, has the symbol Rb and the atomic number 37. It is a very soft, whitish-grey solid. It has a low melting point of 39.3°C.

Rubidium was discovered in 1861 by German chemists Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff, who used a spectroscope to analyse the light emitted by a mineral called lepidolite. 

They noticed a bright red line in the spectrum that no other element had and named the new element after the Latin word for deep red, rubidius.

IN GLASS AND ATOMIC CLOCKS

Another use of rubidium salts is in the making of glass and ceramics. Rubidium lowers the melting point and viscosity of glass, making it easier to shape and mould it. It also improves the durability and refractive index of glass.

Rubidium is also used in atomic clocks, which are the most accurate timekeepers in the world. Its atoms vibrate at a very precise frequency when exposed to microwaves, and this frequency can be used to measure time with an accuracy of one second in 300 million years.

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Image of fireworks from Pixabay.

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple, authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

Q for Quartz

This is the 17th in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry.

Quartz is another chemical which has wide applications in our daily life, but we are not quite aware of it. It's there in our smartphones, laptops, watches, clocks and radios.

Quartz is a mineral that is mainly composed of silicon and oxygen. It is the most abundant mineral in Earth's crust and is resistant to both chemical and physical impacts. 

When rocks weather away, the residual material usually contains quartz. This is why the sand at most of the world's beaches is quartz.

IN WATCHES, CLOCKS

An important property of quartz is piezo-electricity, which means it can generate an electric voltage when subjected to mechanical stress or vice versa. 

This makes it ideal for creating oscillators, which are devices that produce a steady and precise frequency of electric signals. This is the reason it's used to keep time in watches and clocks.

IN RADIOS

Quartz crystals can act as filters or resonators, which can select or amplify a specific frequency from a range of signals. 

For example, in a radio receiver, a quartz crystal can filter out unwanted frequencies and allow only the desired frequency to pass through. 

IN COMPUTERS

In a computer processor, a quartz crystal can provide a clock signal that synchronizes the operations of different components.

IN JEWELLERY, GLASS

Quartz has a vitreous (glassy) lustre that reflects light well. This makes it attractive for decorative items, such as crystals, beads, ornaments, jewellery, gemstones etc. 

Sand that has a substantial amount of quartz is called quartz sand or silica sand. Quartz sand is melted at high temperatures and then cooled to form glass. Glass can be shaped into various forms, such as bottles, windows, mirrors, lenses, screens, and fibres.

Quartz sand also serves as a raw material for making bricks, tiles, ceramics, and glass fibres. Quartz sand can also be mixed with cement to create artificial stone or quartzite.

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Image of clock from Pixabay.

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple, authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

P for Palladium

This is the 16th in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry.

We know that the exhausts of our gasoline or petrol cars emit poisonous gases. A price we pay for convenience and comfort. 

If not for the element called palladium, the emissions would be far more toxic than what they are now.

The device that is attached to the exhaust system of a car to convert harmful gases into less harmful ones is called a catalytic converter.

It converts, for example, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides into carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen.

One of the key components of a catalytic converter is palladium, a silvery-white metal which is ductile and malleable. 

One of the major reasons it's used in these converters is that it is a good catalyst, meaning it can speed up chemical reactions without being consumed or affected in the process. 

It is often used in combination with rhodium to achieve optimal performance and durability.

In jewellery

Palladium is also used for making jewellery, as it has a lustrous and durable appearance. 

Palladium can be alloyed with other metals, such as gold, silver, or platinum, to create different colours and properties. 

Palladium jewellery is hypoallergenic, meaning it does not cause allergic reactions to the skin. For example, palladium is used for making rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.

In electronic devices

Palladium is also used in electrodes and capacitors. 

An electrode is a material that allows electric current to flow through a circuit or a cell. A capacitor is a device that stores electric charge and energy. 

Palladium can improve the performance and reliability of these devices, as it has high electrical conductivity and resistance to corrosion. 

For example, palladium is used in multi-layer ceramic capacitors, which are widely used in electronic devices such as computers, phones, and cameras.

Palladium has the symbol Pd, and the atomic number is 46. 

It was discovered by William Hyde Wollaston in 1803.

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Images of car exhaust and jewellery from Pixabay.

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple, authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

O for Osmium

This is the 15th in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry. 

Very few of us write on paper with a pencil or a pen. Fewer still write with a fountain pen.

As children, we all started writing with pencils. In middle school, we began using fountain pens.

We were dissuaded from using a biro or a ballpoint pen because our parents and teachers said we would spoil our handwriting. Only the elders used such pens.

The quality of a fountain pen depended on how good the nib was. 

The nib is usually made of stainless steel or gold. 

But it needs a hard and smooth material at the tip, so that it lasts longer at the same time, improves the writing experience. To achieve that objective, the chemical element osmium is added to the material.

Though osmium nibs offer a consistent and smooth writing experience for many years, the element is very expensive and scarce. So, it is not widely used nowadays.    

Osmium is a chemical element with the symbol Os and atomic number 76. 

It has a very high melting point of 3,033 degrees Celsius, which is higher than that of most metals. 

Osmium alloys are also used for making electrical contacts, spark plugs, surgical instruments, etc. 

Osmium emits X-rays when bombarded with electrons. So, it is also used to produce high-resolution images of bones, tissues and organs.

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Fountain pen image from Pixabay

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple, authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

N for Neodymium

This is the 14th in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry.

Eyeglasses. Sunglasses. Purple or pink-coloured glasses. Glasses that can filter out infrared and ultraviolet light. Camera lenses. Welding goggles.

Well, all these have a chemical called neodymium.

Different types of such glasses, spectacles, and shades are made by adding small amounts of neodymium to other materials.

Didymium glasses

Didymium is a mixture of the elements, praseodymium and neodymium.

Neodymium-doped glass can change its colour depending on the light source. It can appear blue under daylight and purple under fluorescent light. 

Neodymium-iron-boron glass can be used for making magnifying glasses and optical filters.

Neodymium lasers produce infrared light that can be converted to visible light by using other materials. 

The element also finds use in the manufacture of artistic jewellery. 

Neodymium has the chemical symbol Nd, and its atomic number is 60. 

This belongs to the series called lanthanides, about which I wrote on the 13th.

Neodymium was discovered in 1885 by Carl Auer von Welsbach, who named it after the Greek words neos didymos meaning new twin because it was separated from another element called praseodymium.

Neodymium is a silvery-white metal that tarnishes quickly in air and moisture. 

It has a high melting point of 1,016°C and a boiling point of 3,074°C. It is a hard and slightly malleable metal. 

Besides its use in glassware, Neodymium finds application in the making of magnets. Neodymium magnets are the strongest permanent magnets known and are used in many devices such as headphones, speakers, motors, generators, hard disk drives, and MRI machines.

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Didymium glasses image from Wikipedia

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple, authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

M for Molybdenum

This is the 13th in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry.

Though there is magnesium and manganese, I thought of doing molybdenum because it's not one we keep hearing about.

Molybdenum is a silver-gray metal with atomic number 42 and symbol is Mo.

It was discovered by Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1778, but it was not isolated until 1781 by Peter Jacob Hjelm. 

The name comes from the Greek word molybdos, meaning lead, because molybdenum ores were often confused with lead ores.

Molybdenum has a very high melting point of 2,623°C and a boiling point of 4,639°C.

It's a good conductor of heat and electricity, and is also paramagnetic, meaning it is weakly attracted by a magnetic field.

Molybdenum has many uses in our daily life, and it is an essential element for various industries.

It is an essential trace element for most organisms and plays a key role in several biological processes. It is found in various enzymes that catalyze important reactions involving nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon metabolism. 

Molybdenum deficiency is rare in humans but can cause serious health problems such as neurological disorders and mental retardation. It can result from genetic mutations or dietary insufficiency. 

Molybdenum excess can also be harmful, as it can interfere with copper metabolism and cause copper deficiency.

Its uses:

- in the medical industry to produce some medical devices, such as pacemakers, hip replacements, and dental implants. It is also used in common medications.

- to produce high-strength and corrosion-resistant steel alloys. It is an essential component in the production of aircraft parts, turbine parts, and structural steel beams. 

- in the production of syngas, which is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Syngas is used to produce chemicals such as methanol, ammonia, and other organic compounds.

- in the lighting industry to make filaments for incandescent bulbs. The filaments of incandescent bulbs are made of tungsten, which is mixed with small amounts of Molybdenum to increase its strength and flexibility.

- in the nuclear energy industry to produce reactor-grade materials. It is used in the production of fuel rods, control rods, and reactor vessel components. Molybdenum is also used as a neutron absorber in nuclear power plants.

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Aircraft image from Pixabay

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple, authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

L for Lanthanum

This is the 12th in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry.

All the elements of the world are arranged in a tabular form called the periodic table, according to their properties. 

The rows are called periods, and the columns are called groups.

As many as 118 elements have been discovered as of now.

(The periodic table is a childhood memory for me thanks to my dad, who was a chemistry teacher. We had one stuck on a wall in the study.)

If you see the periodic table, elements with atomic numbers 57 to 71, fifteen of them, are arranged in a row below the main block.

Those 15 are called lanthanides, named after the first element in that series - lanthanum.

They all are in a separate row because they all have properties similar to the first in the series, lanthanum.

There is a similar series of 15 elements called actinides.

Lanthanum was discovered in 1839 by Carl Gustaf Mosander, who separated it from cerium oxide. 

It's a soft, ductile, and silvery-white metal that can be easily cut with a knife. 

The name lanthanum comes from the Greek word lanthanein, meaning "to lie hidden" because it was difficult to isolate from other elements.

Lanthanum is one of the most abundant rare earth elements, with an average concentration of 18 ppm in the Earth's crust. It is mainly found in minerals such as monazite and bastnasite, which are also sources of other rare earth elements.

Lanthanum has many applications in various fields, such as optics, electronics, catalysis, medicine, and energy.

- Used to make optical glass and lenses, such as camera lenses, telescopes, binoculars, and microscopes. It improves the refractive index and dispersion properties of glass.

- Used to make phosphors for fluorescent lamps, cathode ray tubes, X-ray screens, and scintillators. It emits bright green light when excited by electrons or X-rays.

- Used in medicine for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. For example, lanthanum carbonate is a drug that binds to phosphate in the gastrointestinal tract and prevents its absorption into the blood. This helps to treat hyperphosphatemia (high phosphate levels) in patients with chronic kidney disease.

- Energy-related applications, such as hydrogen storage, fuel cells, batteries, and nuclear reactors. For instance, lanthanum nickel hydride (LaNiH) is a material that can store hydrogen gas at room temperature and release it when heated. This makes it a potential alternative to fossil fuels for clean energy.

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Images from Pixabay

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple, authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

K for Krypton

This is the 11th in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry.

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When it came to K, I didn't many choices, because there is only one element that begins with this letter. It's Krypton. 

Most of the elements that we have seen so far are quite reactive. But Krypton is one with very low reactivity, a characteristic of what are called noble gases.

The other noble gases are helium, neon, argon, xenon, and radon. These are all naturally occurring.

There is one more in this group called oganesson, but this is a synthetic chemical element, made first in 2002. Though this is classified in the noble gas group, unlike the others, this is reactive.  

Krypton is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas that has a whitish glow when an electric current passes through it.

It was discovered in 1898 by Sir William Ramsay, a Scottish chemist, and Morris W. Travers, a British chemist, who isolated it from the residue of liquid air.

William Ramsay won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1904 for the discovery of a series of noble gases, including krypton.

The name krypton comes from the Greek word kryptos, meaning "hidden", because it was difficult to detect this among other gases. 

It is present in trace amounts in the Earth's atmosphere, about 1.14 parts per million by volume.

Krypton has several applications in lighting and lasers. 

It is used in some fluorescent lamps, where it produces a bright white light that is more energy-efficient than conventional incandescent bulbs. 

It is also used in flash lamps for high-speed photography and in some lasers for eye surgery and research.

Krypton can form compounds with some highly reactive elements, such as fluorine and oxygen, under extreme conditions. 

These compounds are called krypton fluorides and krypton oxides, and they have potential applications in rocket propulsion and nuclear energy.

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Image from Pixabay

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple, authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.

J for Jodium

This is the tenth in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry.

Before you wonder what is jodium, it's not an English word.

I had to break the rule of this Challenge since I couldn't find a chemical element or a compound that begins with the English letter J.  

I looked at other languages, and I stumbled upon this Dutch word that begins with the alphabet J. 

Jodium means iodine, and the word is pronounced 'yodium'.

The chemical symbol of iodine is I, and its atomic number 53.

It is a non-metallic, nearly black solid at room temperature and has a glittering crystalline appearance. 

It melts to form a deep violet liquid at 114 °C (237 °F), and boils to a violet gas at 184 °C (363 °F). 

Iodine is one of six halogens. Halogen is a non-metallic element that is highly reactive. The other five are fluorine, chlorine, bromine, astatine, and tennessine.

The word halogen comes from the Greek hal- (salt) and -gen (to produce) because they all react with metals to form salts. Sodium chloride or table salt is the most common of all. 

Iodine is important for the health of the thyroid gland, which secretes a hormone also called the thyroid that regulates our metabolism. 

The iodine that we need is obtained from food like iodized salt, seafood, dairy products and some vegetables.

Iodine deficiency can cause goitre, cretinism and hypothyroidism, which are disorders that affect the thyroid gland and its functions. 

Iodine excess can also cause problems, such as hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis and iodism, which are characterized by symptoms such as nervousness, weight loss, skin rash and metallic taste.

Among the other uses of iodine are in diagnostic radiology and as a disinfectant.

Images from Britannica

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple, authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.