%h 00-database-info
%d
This dictionary database was created by Jay Kominek <jfk@acm.org>.
(Feel free to send any comments, additions, corrections, money to that
address) It was compiled from a variety of sources, and is in my opinion,
a work of my own. (The only stuff that was really copied verbatim was the
atomic numbers and weights, please, I'd like to see someone try and exert
a copyright on the values of atoms.) So, I place this in the public
domain, if it somehow breaks, you get to keep both pieces. It'd be nice if
you kept the fact that I compiled the information in here, but is not
needed.

%h hydrogen
%d
Symbol: H
Atomic number: 1
Atomic weight: 1.0079
Colourless, odourless gaseous checmical element. Lightest and most
abundant element in the universe. Present in water and in all organic
compounds. Chemically reacts with most elements. Discovered by Henry
Cavendish in 1776.

%h helium
%d
Symbol: He
Atomic number: 2
Atomic weight: 4.0026
Colourless, odourless gaseous nonmetallic element. Belongs to group 18 of
the periodic table. Lowest boiling point of all elements and can only be
solidified under pressure. Chemically inert, no known compounds.
Discovered in the solar spectrum in 1868 by Lockyer.

%h lithium
%d
Symbol: Li
Atomic number: 3
Atomic weight: 6.939
Socket silvery metal. First member of group 1 of the periodic table.
Lithium salts are used in psychomedicine.

%h beryllium
%d
Symbol: Be
Atomic number: 4
Atomic weight: 9.0122
Grey metallic element of group 2 of the periodic table. Is toxic and can
cause severe lung diseases and dermatitis. Shows high covalent character.
It was isolated independently by F. Wohler and A.A. Bussy in 1828.

%h boron
%d
Symbol: B
Atomic number: 5
Atomic weight: 10.811
An element of group 13 of the periodic table. There are two allotropes,
amorphous boron is a brown power, but metallic boron is black. The
metallic form is hard (9.3 on Mohs' scale) and a bad conductor in room
temperatures. It is never found free in nature. Boron-10 is used in
nuclear reactor control rods and shields. It was discovered in 1808 by Sir
Humphry Davy and by J.L. Gay-Lussac and L.J. Thenard.

%h carbon
%d
Symbol: C
Atomic number: 6
Atomic weight: 12.01115
Carbon is a member of group 14 of the periodic table. It has three
allotropic forms of it, diamonds, graphite and fullerite. Carbon-14
is commonly used in radioactive dating. Carbon occurs in all organic life
and is the basis of organic chemistry. Carbon has the interesting chemical
property of being able to bond with itself, and a wide variety of other
elements.

%h nitrogen
%d
Symbol: N
Atomic number: 7
Atomic weight: 14.0067
Colourless, gaseous element which belongs to group 15 of the periodic
table. Constitutes ~78% of the atmosphere and is an essential part of the
ecosystem. Nitrogen for industrial purposes is acquired by the fractional
distallation of liquid air. Chemically inactive, reactive generally only
at high temperatures or in electrical discharges. It was discovered in
1772 by D. Rutherford.

%h oxygen
%d
Symbol: 15.9994
Atomic number: 8
Atomic weight: 15.9994
A colourless, odourless gaseous element belonging to group 16 of the
periodic table. It is the most abundant element present in the earth's
crust. It also makes up 28% of the Earth's atmosphere. For industrial
purposes, it is seperated from liquid air by fractional distillation. It
is used in high temperature welding, and in breathing. It commonly comes
in the form of Oxygen, but is found as Ozone in the upper atmosphere. It
was discovered by Priestley in 1774.

%h fluorine
%d
Symbol: F
Atomic number: 9
Atomic weight: 18.9984
A poisonous pale yellow gaseous element belonging to group 17 of the
periodic table (The halogens). It is the most chemically reactive and
electronegative element. It is highly dangerous, causing severe chemical
burns on contact with flesh. Flourine was identified by Scheele in 1771
and first isolated by Moissan in 1886.

%h neon
%d
Symbol: Ne
Atomic number: 10
Atomic weight: 20.183
Colourless gaseous element of group 18 on the periodic table (noble
gases). Neon occurs in the atmosphere, and comprises 0.0018% of the volume
of the atmosphere. It has a distinct reddish glow when used in discharge
tubes and neon based lamps. It forms almost no chemical compounds. Neon
was discovered in 1898 by Sir William Ramsey and M.W. Travers. 

%h sodium
%d
Symbol: Na
Atomic number: 11
Atomic weight: 22.9898
Soft silvery reactive element belonging to group 1 of the periodic table
(alkali metals). It is highly reactive, oxidizing in air and reacting
violenting with water, forcing it to be kept under oil. It was first
isolated by Humphry Davy in 1807.

%h magnesium
%d
Symbol: Mg
Atomic number: 12
Atomic weight: 24.312
Silvery metallic element belonging to group 2 of the periodic table
(alkaline-earth metals). It is essential for living organisms, and is used
in a number og light alloys. Chemically very reactive, it forms a
protective oxide coating when exposed to air and burns with an intense
white flame. It also reacts with suphur, nitrogen and the halogens. First
isolated by Bussy in 1828.

%h aluminum
%d
Symbol: Al
Atomic number: 13
Atomic weight: 26.9815
Silvery-white lustrous metallic element of group 3 of the periodic table.
Highly reactive but protected by a thin transparent layer of the oxide
which quickly forms in air. There are many alloys of aluminum, as well as
a good number of industrial uses. Makes up 8.1% of the Earth's crust, by
weight. Isolated in 1825 by H.C. Oersted.

%h silicon
%d
Symbol: Si
Atomic number: 14
Atomic weight: 28.086
Metalloid element belonging to group 14 of the periodic table. It is the
second most abundant element in the Earth's crust, making up 25.7% of it
by weight. Chemically less reactive than carbon. First identified by
Lavoisier in 1787 and first isolated in 1823 by Berzelius.

%h phosphorus
%d
Symbol: P
Atomic number: 15
Atomic weight: 30.9738
Non-metallic element belonging to group 15 of the periodic table. Has a
multiple allotropic forms. Essential element for living organisms. It was
discovered by Brandt in 1669.

%h sulphur
%d
Symbol: S
Atomic number: 16
Atomic weight: 32.064
Yellow, nonmetallic element belonging to group 16 of the periodic table.
It is an essential element in living organisms, needed in the amino acids
cysteine and methionine, and hence in many proteins. Absorbed by plants
from the soil as sulphate ion.

%h chlorine
%d
Symbol: Cl
Atomic number: 17
Atomic weight: 35.453
Halogen element. Poisonous greenish-yellow gas. Occurs widely in nature as
sodium chloride in seawater. Reacts directly with many elements and
compounds, strong oxidizing agent. Discovered by Karl Scheele in 1774.
Humphry David confirmed it as an element in 1810.

%h argon
%d
Symbol: Ar
Atomic number: 18
Atomic weight: 39.948
Monatomic noble gas. Makes up 0.93% of the air. Colourless, odorless. Is
inert and has no true compounds. Lord Rayleigh and Sir william Ramsey
indentified argon in 1894.

%h potassium
%d
Symbol: Na
Atomic number: 19
Atomic weight: 22.9898
Soft silvery metallic element belonging to group 1 of the periodic table
(alkali metals). Occurs naturally in sewater and a many minerals. Highly
reactive, chemically, it resembles sodium in its behavior and compounds.
Discovered by Sir Humphry Davy in 1807.

%h calcium
%d
Symbol: Ca
Atomic number: 20
Atomic weight: 40.08
Soft grey metallic element belonging to group 2 of the periodic table.
Used a reducing agent in the extraction of thorium, zirconium and 
uranium. Essential element for living organisms.

%h scandium
%d
Symbol: Sc
Atomic number: 21
Atomic weight: 44.956
Rare soft silvery metallic element belonging to group 3 of the periodic
table. There are ten isotopes, nine of which are radioactive and have
short half-lives. Predicted in 1869 by Mendeleev, isolated by Nilson in
1879.

%h titanium
%d
Symbol: Ti
Atomic number: 22
Atomic weight: 47.90
White metallic transition element. Occurs in numerous minerals. Used in
strong, light corroiion-resistant alloys. Forms a passive oxide coating
when exposed to air. First discovered by Gregor in 1789.

%h vanadium
%d
Symbol: V
Atomic number: 23
Atomic weight: 50.942
Silvery-white metallic transition element. Occurs in a number of complex
ores. Reacts chemically with nonmetals at high temperatures, and is not
affected by hydrochloric acid or alkalis. Discovered in 1801 by del Rio
who was persuaded that it was but impure chromium. It was rediscovered and
named by Sefstrom in 1880.

%h chromium
%d
Symbol: Cr
Atomic number: 24
Atomic weight: 51.996
Hard silvery transition element. Used in decorative electroplating.
Discovered in 1797 by Vauquelin.

%h manganesse
%d
Symbol: Mn
Atomic number: 25
Atomic weight: 54.938
Grey brittle metallic transition element. Rather electropositive, combines
with some non-metals when heated. Discovered in 1774 by Scheele.

%h iron
%d
Symbol: Fe
Atomic number: 26
Atomic weight: 55.847
Silvery malleable and ductile metallic transition element. Has nine
isotopes and is the fourth most abundant element in the earth's crust.
Required by living organisms as a trace element (used in hemoglobin in
humans.) Quite reactive, oxidizes in moist air, displaces hydrogen from
dilute acids and combines with nonmetallic elements.

%h cobalt
%d
Symbol: Co
Atomic number: 27
Atomic weight: 58.993
Light grey transition element. Some metorites contain small amounts of
metallic cobalt. Generally alloyed for use. Mammals require small amounts
of cobalt salts. Cobalt-60, an artificially produced radioactive isotope
of Cobalt is an important radioactive tracer and cancer-treatment agent.
Discovered by G. Brandt in 1737.

%h nickel
%d
Symbol: Ni
Atomic number: 28
Atomic weight: 58.71
Malleable ductile silvery metallic transition element. Discovered by A.F.
Cronstedt in 1751.

%h copper
%d
Symbol: Cu
Atomic number: 29
Atomic weight: 63.54
Red-brown transition element. Known by the Romans as 'cuprum.' Extracted
and used for thousands of years. Malleable, ductile and an excellent
conductor of heat and electriciy. When in moist conditions, a greenish
layer forms on the outside.

%h zinc
%d
Symbol: Zn
Atomic number: 30
Atomic weight: 65.38
Blue-white metallic element. Occurs in multiple compounds naturally. Five
stable isotopes are six radioactive isotopes have been found. Chemically a
reactive metal, combines with oxygen and other nonmetals, reacts with
dilute acids to release hydrogen.

%h gallium
%d
Symbol: Ga
Atomic number: 31
Atomic weight: 69.72
Soft silvery metallic element, belongs to group 13 of the periodic table.
The two stable isotopes are Ga-69 and Ga-71. Eight radioactive isotopes
are known, all having short half-lives. Gallium Arsenide is used as a
semiconductor. Corrodes most other metals by diffusing into their lattice.
First identified by Francois Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1875.

%h germanium
%d
Symbol: Ge
Atomic number: 32
Atomic weight: 72.59
Lustrous hard metalloid element, belongs to group 14 of the periodic
table. Forms a large number of organometallic compounds. Predicted by
Mendeleev in 1871, it was actually founbd in 1886 by Winkler.

%h arsenic
%d
Symbol: As
Atomic number: 33
Atomic weight: 74.922
Metalloid element of group 15. There are three allotropes, yellow, black,
and grey. Reacts with halogens, concentrated oxidizing acids and hot
alkalis. Albertus Magnus is believed to have been the first to isolate the
element in 1250.

%h selenium
%d
Symbol: Se
Atomic number: 34
Atomic weight: 78.96
Metalloid element, belongs to group 16 of the periodic table. Multiple
allotropic forms exist. Chemically resembles sulphur. Discovered in 1817
by Jons J. Berzelius.

%h bromine
%d
Symbol: Br
Atomic number: 35
Atomic weight: 79.909
Halogen element. Red volitile liquid at room temperature. Its reactivity
is somewhere between chlorine and iodine. Harmful to human tissue in a
liquid state, the vapour irritates eyes and throat. Discovered in 1826 by
Antoine Balard.

%h krypton
%d
Symbol: Kr
Atomic number: 36
Atomic weight: 83.80
Colorless gaseous element, belongs to the noble gases. Occurs in the air,
0.0001% by volume. It can be extracted from liquid air by fractional
distallation. Generally not isolated, but used with other inert gases in
flourescent lamps. Five natural isotopes, and five radioactive isotopes.
Kr-85, the most stable radioactive isotope, has a half-life of 10.76
years and is produced in fission reactors. Practially inert, though known
to form compounds with {flourine}.

%h rubidium
%d
Symbol: Rb
Atomic number: 37
Atomic weight: 85.47
Soft silvery metallic element, belongs to group 1 of the periodic table.
Rb-97, the naturally occuring isotope, is radioactive. It is highly
reactive, with properies similar to other elements in group 1, like
igniting spontaneously in air. Discovered spectroscopically in 1861 by W.
Bunsen and G.R. Kirchoff.

%h strontium
%d
Symbol: Sr
Atomic number: 38
Atomic weight: 87.62
Soft yellowish metallic element, belongs to group 2 of the periodic
table. Highly reactive chemically. Sr-90 is present in radioactive fallout
and has a half-life of 28 years. Discovered in 1798 by Klaproth and Hope,
isolated in 1808 by Humphry Davy.

%h yttrium
%d
Symbol: Y
Atomic number: 39
Atomic weight: 88.905
Silvery-grey metallic element of group 3 on the periodic table. Found in
uranium ores. The only natural isotope is Y-89, there are 14 other
artificial isotopes. Chemically resembles the lanthanoids. Stable in the
air below 400 degrees, celsius. Discovered in 1828 by Friedrich Wohler.

%h zirconium
%d
Symbol: Zr
Atomic number: 40
Atomic weight: 91.22
Grey-white metallic transition element. Five natural isotopes and six
radioactive isotopes are known. Used in nuclear reactors for a {neutron}
absorber. Discovered in 1789 by Martin Klaproth, isolated in 1824 by
Berzelius.

%h niobium
%d
Symbol: Nb
Atomic number: 41
Atomic weight: 92.906
Soft, ductile grey-blue metallic transition element. Used in special
steels and in welded joints to increase strength. Combines with halogens
and oxidizes in air at 200 degrees celsius. Discovered by Charles Hatchett
in 1801 and isolated by Blomstrand in 1864. Called {columbium} originally.

%h molybdenum
%d
Symbol: Mo
Atomic number: 42
Atomic weight: 95.94
Silvery, hard metallic transition element. Used in alloy steels.
Chemically unreactive, not affected by most acids. Oxidizes at high
temperatures. Discovered in 1778 by Scheele.

%h technetium
%d
Symbol: Tc
Atomic number: 43
Atomic weight: (98)
Radioactive metallic transition element. Can be detected in some stars and
the fission products of uranium. First made by Perrier and Segre by
bombarding molybdenum with deutrons, giving them Tc-97. Tc-99 is the most
stable isotope with a half-life of 2.6*10^6 years. Sixteen isotopes are
known. Chemical properties are intermediate between rhenium and
managanese.

%h ruthenium
%d
Symbol: Ru
Atomic number: 44
Atomic weight: 101.07
Hard white metallic transition element. Found with platinum, used as a
catalyst in some platinum alloys. Dissolves in fused alkalis, and is not
attacked by acids. Reacts with halogens and oxygen at high temperatures.
Isolated in 1844 by K.K. Klaus.

%h rhodium
%d
Symbol: Rh
Atomic number: 45
Atomic weight: 102.905
Silvery white metallic transition element. Found with platinum and used in
some platinum alloys. Not attacked by acids, dissolves only in aqua regia.
Discovered in 1803 by W.H. Wollaston.

%h palladium
%d
Symbol: Pd
Atomic number: 46
Atomic weight: 106.4
Soft white ductile transition element. Found with some copper and nickel
ores. Does not react with oxygen at normal temperatures. Dissolves slowly
in hydrochloric acid. Discovered in 1803 by W.H. Wollaston.

%h silver
%d
Symbol: Ag
Atomic number: 47
Atomic weight: 107.870
White lustrous soft metallic transition element. Found in both its
elemental form and in minerals. Used in jewellery, tableware and so on.
Less reactive than silver, chemically.

%h cadmium
%d
Symbol: Cd
Atomic number: 48
Atomic weight: 112.40
Soft bluish metal belonging to group 12 of the periodic table. Extremely
toxic even in low concentrations. Chemically similar to zinc, but lends
itself to more complex compounds. Discovered in 1817 by F. Stromeyer.

%h indium
%d
Symbol: In
Atomic number: 49
Atomic weight: 114.82
Soft silvery element belonging to group 13 of the periodic table. The most
common natural isotope is In-115, which has a half-life of 6*10^4 years.
Five other radioisotopes exist. Discovered in 1863 by Reich and Richter.

%h tin
%d
Symbol: Sn
Atomic number: 50
Atomic weight: 118.69
Silvery malleable metallic element belonging to group 14 of the periodic
table. Twenty-six isotopes are known, five of which are radioactive.
Chemically reactive. Combines directly with chlorine and oxygen and
displaces hydrogen from dilute acids. 

%h antimony
%d
Symbol: Sb
Atomic number: 51
Atomic weight: 121.75
Element of group 15. Multiple allotropic forms. The stable form of
antimony is a blue-white metal. Yellow and black antimony are unstable
non-metals. Used in flame-proofing, paints, ceramics, enamels, and rubber.
Attacked by oxidizing acids and halogens. First reported by Tholden in
1450.

%h tellurium
%d
Symbol: Te
Atomic number: 52
Atomic weight: 127.60
Silvery metalloid element of group 16. Eight natural isotopes, nine
radioactive isotopes. Used in semiconductors and to a degree in some
steels. Chemisty is similar to {sulphur}. Discovered in 1782 by Franz
Miller.

%h iodine
%d
Symbol: I
Atomic number: 53
Atomic weight: 126.904
Drak violet nonmetallic element, belongs to group 17 of the periodic
table. Insoluble in water. Required as a trace element for living
organisms. One stable isotope, I-127 exists, in addition to fourteen
radioactive isotopes. Chemically the least reactive of the halogens, and
the most electropositive metallic halogen. Discovered in 1812 by Courtois. 

%h xenon
%d
Symbol: Xe
Atomic number: 54
Atomic weight: 131.30
Colourless, odorless gas belonging to group 18 on the periodic table (the
noble gases.) Nine natural isotopes and seven radioactive isotopes are
known. Xenon was part of the first noble-gas compound synthesized.
Serveral others involving Xenon have been found since then. Xenon was
discovered by Ramsey and Travers in 1898.

%h caesium
%d
Symbol: Cs
Atomic number: 55
Atomic weight: 132.9054
Soft silvery-white metallic element belonging to group 1 of the periodic
table. Cs-133 is the natural isotope. Fifteen other radioisotopes exist.
Lowest ionization potential of all elements.

%h barium
%d
Symbol: Ba
Atomic number: 56
Atomic weight: 137.34
Silvery-white reactive element, belonging to group 2 of the periodic
table. Soluble barium compounds are extremely poisonous. Identified in
1774 by Karl Scheele and extracted in 1808 by Humphry Davy.

%h lanthanum
%d
Symbol: La
Atomic number: 57
Atomic weight: 138.9055
(From the Greek word lanthanein, to line hidden) Silvery metallic element
belonging to group 3 of the periodic table and oft considered to be one of
the lanthanoids. Found in some rare-earth minerals. Twenty-five natural
isotopes exist. La-139 which is stable, and La-138 which has a half-life
of 10^10 to 10^15 years. The other twenty-three isotopes are radioactive. 
It resembles the lanthanoids chemically. Lanthanum has a low to moderate
level of toxicity, and should be handled with care. Discovered in 1839 by
C.G. Mosander.

%h cerium
%d
Symbol: Ce
Atomic number: 58
Atomic weight: 140.12
Silvery metallic element, belongs to the lanthanoids. Four natural
isotopes exist, and fifteen radioactive isotopes have been identified.
Used in some rare-earth alloys. The oxidized form is used in the glass
industry. Discovered by Martin .H. Klaproth in 1803.

%h praseodymium
%d
Symbol: Pr
Atomic number: 59
Atomic weight: 140.907
Soft silvery metallic element, belongs to the lanthanoids. Only natural
isotope is Pr-141 which is not radioactive.  Fourteen radioactive isotopes
have been artificially produced. Used in rare-earth alloys. Discovered in
1885 by C.A. von Welsbach.

%h neodymium
%d
Symbol: Nd
Atomic number: 60
Atomic weight: 144.24
Soft silvery metallic element, belongs to the lanthanoids. Seven natural
isotopes, Nd-144 being the only radioactive one with a half-life of 10^10
to 10^15 years. Seven artificial radioisotopes have been produced. The
metal is used in glassworks to color class a shade of violet-purple and
make it dichroic. Used in some rare-earth alloys. Discovered by C.A. von
Welsbach in 1885.

%h promethium
%d
Symbol: Pm
Atomic number: 61
Atomic weight: (147)
Soft silvery metallic element, belongs to the lanthanoids. Pm-147, the
only natural isotope, is radioactive and has a half-life of 252 years.
Eighteen radioisotopes have been produced, but all have very short
half-lives. Found only in nuclear decay waste. Pm-147 is of interest as a
beta-decay source, however Pm-146 and Pm-148 have to be removed from it
first, as they generate gamma radiation. Discovered by J.A. Marinsky,
L.E. Glendenin and C.D. Coryell in 1947.

%h samarium
%d
Symbol: Sm
Atomic number: 62
Atomic weight: 150.35
Soft silvery metallic element, belongs to the lanthanoids. Seven natural
isotopes, Sm-147 is the only radioisotope, and has a half-life of
2.5*10^11 years. Used for making special alloys needed in the production
of nuclear reactors. Also used as a neutron absorber. Small quantities of
samarium oxide is used in special optical glasses. The largest use of the
element is its ferromagnetic alloy which produces permenant magnets that
are five times stronger than magnets produced by any other material.
Discovered by Francois Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1879.

%h europium
%d
Symbol: Eu
Atomic number: 63
Atomic weight: 151.25
Soft silvery metallic element belonging to the lanthanoids. Eu-151 and
Eu-153 are the only two stable isotopes, both of which are {neutron}
absorbers. Discovered in 1889 by Sir William Crookes.

%h gadolinium
%d
Symbol: Gd
Atomic number: 64
Atomic weight: 157.25
Soft silvery metallic element belonging to the lanthanoids. Seven natural,
stable isotopes are known in addition to eleven artificial isotopes.
Gd-155 and Gd-157 and the best neutron absorbers of all elements.
Gadolinium compounds are used in electronics. Discovered by J.C.G Marignac
in 1880.

%h terbium
%d
Symbol: Tb
Atomic number: 65
Atomic weight: 158.924
Silvery metallic element belonging to the lanthanoids. Tb-159 is the only
stable isotope, there are seventeen artificial isotopes. Discovered by
G.G. Mosander in 1843.

%h dysprosium
%d
Symbol: Dy
Atomic number: 66
Atomic weight: 162.50
Soft silvery metallic element, belongs to the lanthanoids. Seven natural
isotopes and twelve artificial isotopes. Limited use as a nuetron absorber
in nuclear technology. Discovered by Francois Lecoq de Boisbaudran in
1886.

%h holmium
%d
Symbol: Ho
Atomic number: 67
Atomic weight: 167.26
Soft silvery metallic element, belongs to the lanthanoids. Occurs in some
rare-earth minerals. One natural isotope, Ho-165 exists, eighteen
artificial isotopes have been produced. No known uses for the element.
Discovered by Per Theodor Cleve and J.L. Soret in 1879.

%h erbium
%d
Symbol: Er
Atomic number: 68
Atomic weight: 167.26
Soft silvery metallic element which belongs to the lanthanoids. Six
natural isotopes that are stable. Twelve artificial isotopes are known.
Used in nuclear technology as a neutron absorber. It is being investigated
for other possible uses. Discovered by Carl G. Mosander in 1843.

%h thulium
%d
Symbol: Tm
Atomic number: 69
Atomic weight: 168.934
Soft grey metallic element that belongs to the lanthanoids. One natural
isotope exists, Tm-169, and seventeen artificial isotopes have been
produced. No known uses for the element. Discovered in 1879 by Per Theodor
Cleve.

%h ytterbium
%d
Symbol: Yb
Atomic number: 70
Atomic weight: 173.04
Silvery metallic element of the lanthanoids. Seven natural isotopes and
ten artificial isotopes are known.  Used in certain steels. Discovered by
J.D.G. Marignac in 1878.

%h lutetium
%d
Symbol: Lu
Atomic number: 71
Atomic weight: 194.97
Silvery metallic element, belongs to the lanthanoids. Least abundant of
all the (natural) elements. Two natural isotopes exist, Lu-175, which is
stable, and Lu-176 which has a half-life of 2.2*10^10 years. Used as a
catalyst. Identified in 1907 by G. Urban.

%h hafium
%d
Symbol: Hf
Atomic number: 72
Atomic weight: 178.49
Silvery lustrous metallic transition element. Used in tungsten alloys in
filaments and electrodes, also acts as a neutron absorber. First reported
by Urbain in 1911, existance was finally established in 1923 by D. Coster,
G.C. de Hevesy in 1923.

%h tantalum
%d
Symbol: Ta
Atomic number: 73
Atomic weight: 180.948
Heavy blue-grey metallic transition element. Ta-181 is a stable isotope,
and Ta-180 is a radioactive isotope, with a half-life in excess of 10^7
years. Used in surgery as it is unreactive. Forms a passive oxide layer in
air. Identified in 1802 by Ekeberg and isolated in 1820 by Jons J.
Berzelius.

%h tungsten
%d
Symbol: W
Atomic number: 74
Atomic weight: 183.85
White or grey metallic transition element, formerly called {wolfram}.
Forms a protective oxide in air and can be oxidized at high temperature.
First isolated by Jose and Fausto de Elhuyer in 1783.

%h rhenium
%d
Symbol: Re
Atomic number: 75
Atomic weight: 186.2
Silvery-white metallic transition element. Obtained as a by-product of
molybdenum refinement. Rhenium-molybdenum alloys are superconducting.

%h osmium
%d
Symbol: Os
Atomic number: 76
Atomic weight: 190.2
Hard blue-white metallic transition element. Found with platinum and used
in some alloys with platinum and iridium.

%h iridium
%d
Symbol: Ir
Atomic number: 77
Atomic weight: 192.2
Silvery metallic transition element. Occurs with platinum. Discovered in
1804 by Tennant.

%h platinum
%d
Symbol: Pt
Atomic number: 78
Atomic weight: 195.09
Silvery white metallic transition element. Used in jewellery, laboratory
apparatus, electrical contacts and in some alloys. Also a hydrogenation
catalyst. Does not oxidize or dissolve in hydrochloric acid.

%h gold
%d
Symbol: Au
Atomic number: 79
Atomic weight: 196.967
Soft yellow malleable metallic transition element. Used in jewellery,
dentistry, and electronics. Unreactive chemically.

%h mercury
%d
Symbol: Hg
Atomic number: 80
Atomic weight: 200.59
Heavy silvery liquid metallic element, belongs to the zind group. Used in
thermometeres, barometeres and other scientific apparatus. Less reactive
than zinc and cadmium, does not displace hydrogen from acids. Forms a
number of complexes and organomercury compounds.

%h thallium
%d
Symbol: Tl
Atomic number: 81
Atomic weight: 204.37
Greyish metallic element, belongs to group 13. The naturally occuring
isotopes are l-203 and Tl-205. Eleven radioactive isotopes have been
identified. Used in some experiemtnal alloys and electronics. The sulphate
form was used as a rodentcide at one time. Discovered by Sir William
Crookes in 1861.

%h lead
%d
Symbol: Pb
Atomic number: 82
Atomic weight: 207.19
Heavy dull grey ductile metallic element, belongs to group 14. Used in
building construction, lead-place accumulators, bullets and shot, and is
part of solder, pewter, bearing metals, type metals and fusible alloys.

%h bismuth
%d
Symbol: Bi
Atomic number: 83
Atomic weight: 208.980
White crystalline metal with a pink tinge, belongs to group 15. Most
diamagnetic of all metals and has the lowest thermal conductivity of all
the elements except mercury. Lead-free bismuth compounds are used in
cosmetics and medical procedures. Burns in the air and produces a blue
flame. In 1753, C.G. Junine first demonstrated that it was different from
lead.

%h polonium
%d
Symbol: Po
Atomic number: 84
Atomic weight: (210)
Rare radioactive metallic element, belongs to group 16 of the periodic
table. Over 30 known isotopes exist, the most of all elements. Po-209 has
a half-life of 103 years. Possible uses in heating spacecraft. Discovered
by Marie Curie in 1898 in a sample of pitchblende.

%h astatine
%d
Symbol: At
Atomic number: 85
Atomic weight: (210)
Radioactive halogen element. Occurs naturally from uranium and thorium
decay. At least 20 known isotopes. At-210, the most stable, has a
half-life of 8.3 hours. Synthesized by nuclear bomardment in 1940 by D.R.
Corson, K.R. MacKenzie and E. Segre at the University of California.

%h radon
%d
Symbol: Rn
Atomic number: 86
Atomic weight: (222)
Colorless radioactive gaseous element, belongs to the noble gases. Twenty
known isotopes, the most stable is Rn-222 with a half-life of 3.8 days.
Forms by the decay of Radium-226. Used in radiotherapy. As a noble gas, it
is effectivly inert, though radon flouride can be synthesized. First
isolated in 1908 by Ramsey and Gray.

%h francium
%d
Symbol: Fr
Atomic number: 87
Atomic weight: (223)
Radioactive element, belongs to group 1 of the periodic table. Found in
uranium and thorium ores. The 22 known isotopes are all radioactive, with
the most stable being Fr-223. Its existance was confirmed in 1939 by
Marguerite Perey.

%h radium
%d
Symbol: Ra
Atomic number: 88
Atomic weight: (226)
Radioactive metallic transuranic element, belongs to group 2 of the
periodic table. Most stable isotope, Ra-226 has a half-life of 1602 years,
which decays into radon. Isolated from pitchblende in 1898 Marie and
Pierre Curie.

%h actinium
%d
Symbol: Ac
Atomic number: 89
Atomic weight: (227)
Silvery radioactive metallic element, belongs to group 3 of the periodic
table. The most stable isotope, Ac-227, has a half-life of 217 years.
Ac-228 (half-life of 6.13 hours) also occurs in nature. There are 22 other
artificial isotopes, all radioactive and having very short half-lives.
Chemistry similer to lanthanum. Used as a source of alpha particles.
Discovered by A. Debierne in 1899.

%h thorium
%d
Symbol: Th
Atomic number: 90
Atomic weight: 232.038
Grey radioactive metallic element. Belongs to actinoids. Found in monazite sand
in Brazil, India and the US.  Thorium-232 has a half-life of 1.39x10^10 years.
Can be used as a nuclear fuel for breeder reactors. Thorium-232 captures slow
{neutron}s and breeds uranium-233. Discovered by Jons J. Berzelius in
1829.

%h protactinium
%d
Symbol: Pa
Atomic number: 91
Atomic weight: (231)
Radioactive metallic element, belongs to the actinoids. The most stable
isotope, Pa-231 has a half-life of 2.43*10^4 years. At least 10 other
radioactive isotopes are known. No practical applications are known.
Discovered in 1917 by Lise Meitner and Otto Hahn.

%h uranium
%d
Symbol: U
Atomic number: 92
Atomic weight: (231)
White radioactive metallic element belonging to the actinoids. Three
natural isotopes, U-238, U-235 and U-234. Uranium-235 is used as the fuel
for nuclear reactors and weapons. Discovered by Martin H. Klaproth in 1789.

%h neptunium
%d
Symbol: Np
Atomic number: 93
Atomic weight: (237)
Radioactive metallic transuranic element, belongs to the actinoids.
Np-237, the most stable isotope, has a half-life of 2.2*10^6 years and is
a by product of nuclear reactors. The other known isotopes have mass
numbers 229 through 236, and 238 through 241. Np-236 has a half-life of
5*10^3 years. First produced by Edwin M. McMillan and P.H. Abelson in
1940.

%h plutonium
%d
Symbol: Pu
Atomic number: 94
Atomic weight: (242)
Dense silvery radioactive metallic transuranic element, belongs to the
actinoids. Pu-244 is the most stable isotope with a half-life of 7.6*10^7
years. Thirteen isotopes are known. Pu-239 is the most important, it
undergoes nuclear fission with slow neutrons and is hence important to
nuclear weapons and reactors. Plutonium production is monitored down to
the gram to prevent military misuse. First produced by Gleen T. Seaborg,
Edwin M. McMillan, J.W. Kennedy and A.C. Wahl in 1940.

%h americium
%d
Symbol: Am
Atomic number: 95
Atomic weight: (243)
Radioactive metallic transuranic element, belongs to the actinoids. Ten
known isotopes. Am-243 is the most stable isotope, with a half-life of
7.95*10^3 years. Discovered by Glenn T. Seaborg and associates in 1945, it
was obtained by bombarding {uranium}-238 with alpha particles.

%h curium
%d
Symbol: Cm
Atomic number: 96
Atomic weight: (247)
Radioactive metallic transuranic element. Belongs to actinoid series.
Nine known isotopes, Cm-247 has a half-life of 1.64*10^7 years. First
identified by Glenn T. Seaborg and associates in 1944, first produced by
L.B. Werner and I. Perlman in 1947 by bombarding americium-241 with
{neutron}s. Named for Marie Curie.

%h berkelium
%d
Symbol: Bk
Atomic number: 97
Atomic weight: (247)
Radioactive metallic transuranic element. Belongs to actinoid series.
Eight known isotopes, the most common Bk-247, has a half-life of
1.4*10^3 years. First produced by Glenn T. Seaborg and associates in 1949
by bombarding americium-241 with alpha particles.

%h californium
%d
Symbol: Cf
Atomic number: 98
Atomic weight: (249)
Radioactive metallic transuranic element. Belongs to actinoid series.
Cf-251 has a half life of about 700 years. Nine isotopes are known.
Cf-252 is an intense {neutron} source, which makes it an intense
{neutron} source and gives it a use in {neutron} activation analysis
and a possible use as a radiation source in medicine. First produced
by Glenn T. Seaborg and associates in 1950.

%h einsteinium
%d
Symbol: Es
Atomic number: 99
Atomic weight: (254)
Radioactive metallic transuranic element belonging to the actinoids.
Es-254 has the longest half-life of the eleven known isotopes at 270 days.
First identified by Albert Ghiorso and associates in the debris of the
1952 hydrogen bomb explosion. In 1961 the first microgram quantities were
available.

%h fermium
%d
Symbol: Fm
Atomic number: 100
Atomic weight: (253)
Radioactive metallic transuranic element, belongs to the actinoids. Ten
known isotopes, most stable is Fm-257 with a half-life of 10 days. First
identified by Albert Ghiorso and associates in the debris of the first
hydrogen-bomb explosion in 1952.

%h mendelevium
%d
Symbol: Md
Atomic number: 101
Atomic weight: (256)
Radioactive metallic transuranic element. Belongs to the actinoid series.
Only known isotope, Md-256 has a half-life os 1.3 hours. First identified
by Glenn T. Seaborg, Albert Ghiorso and associates in 1955. Alternative
name {unnilunium} has been proposed. Named after the 'inventor' of the
periodic table, Dmitri Mendeleev.

%h nobelium
%d
Symbol: No
Atomic number: 102
Atomic weight: (254)
Radioactive metallic transuranic element, belongs to the actinoids. Seven
known isotopes exist, the most stable being No-254 with a half-life of 255
seconds. First identified with certianty by Albert Ghiorso and Glenn T.
Seaborg in 1966. {Unnilbium} has been proposed as an alternative name.

%h lawrencium
%d
Symbol: Lr
Atomic number: 103
Atomic weight: (262)
Radioactive metallic transuranic element. Belongs to the actinoids series.
Only one known isotope, Lr-257 has a half-life of 8 seconds. Identified in
1961 by Albert Ghiorso and associates.

%h unnilquadium
%d
Symbol: Unq
Atomic number: 104
Atomic weight: (261)
Radioactive transactinide element. Expected to have similar chemical
properties to those displayed by hafnium. Rf-260 was discovered by the
Joint Nuclear Research Institute at Dubna (U.S.S.R.) in 1964. Researchers
at Berkeley discovered Unq-257 and Unq-258 in 1964.

%h unnilpentium
%d
Symbol: Unp
Atomic number: 105
Atomic weight: (262)
Radioactive transactinide element. Half-life of 1.6s. Discovered in 1970
by Berkeley researchers. So far, seven isotopes have been discovered.

%h unnilhexium
%d
Symbol:
Atomic number: 106
Atomic weight: (263)
Half-life of 0.9 +/- 0.2 s. Discovered by the Joint Institute for Nuclear
Research at Dubna (U.S.S.R.) in June of 1974. Its existance was confirmed
by the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and Livermore National Labrotory in
September of 1974.

%h unnilseptium
%d
Symbol:
Atomic number: 107
Atomic weight: (262)
Radioactive transition metal. Half-life of approximately 1/500 s.
Discovered by the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research at Dubna (U.S.S.R.)
in 1976. Confirmed by West German physicists at the Heavy Ion Research
Laboratory at Darmstadt.

%h unniloctium
%d
Symbol: Uno
Atomic number: 108
Atomic weight: (265)
Radioactive transition metal.

%h meitnerium
%d
Symbol: Mt
Atomic number: 109
Atomic weight: (266)
Half-life of approximatly 5ms. The creation of this element demonstrated
that fusion techniques could indeed be used to make new, heavy nuclei.
Made and identified by physicists of the Heavy Ion Research Laboratory,
Darmstadt, West Germany in 1982. Named in honor of Lise Meitner the
Austrian physicist.

%h unnildecium
%d
Symbol: Unn
Atomic number: 110
Atomic weight: (272)?
Half-life of approximatly 10ms. Reported in 1994 by German researchers at
Darmstadt, Germany.

%h wolfram
%d
Original name for {tungsten}.

%h cuprum
%d
Roman name for {copper}.

%h columbium
%d
The original name for {niobium}.

%h unnilunium
%d
Symbol: Unu
Name proposed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics to
settle the dispute over naming the 101st element {mendelvium}.

%h unnilbium
%d
Symbol: Unb
Name proposed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics to
settle the dispute over naming the 102nd element {nobelium}.

%h lawrencium
%d
Symbol: Lr
Name proposed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics to
settle the dispute over naming the 103rd element {lawrencium}.

%h kurchatovium
%d
Symbol: Ku
Competing name for {unnilquadium}, the 104th element, proposed by Russian
scientists.

%h dubnium
%d
Symbol: Db
Competing name for {unnilquadium}, the 104th element, proposed by the
IUPAC.

%h rutherfordium
%d
Symbol: Rf
Competing name for {unnilquadium}, the 104th element, proposed by the
American Chemical Society.

%h hahnium
%d
Symbol: Ha
Competing name for {unnilpentium}, the 105th element, proposed by the
American Chemical Society. Also a competing name for {unniloctium}, the
108th element, proposed by the IUPAC. Both were chosen in honor of German
researcher, Otto Hahn.

%h joliotium
%d
Symbol: Jl
Competing name for {unnilpentium}, the 105th element, proposed by the
IUPAC.

%h seaborgium
%d
Name proposed for the 106th element ({unnilhexium}) by the American
Chemical Society in honor of Gleen T. Seaborg, an American nuclear
physicist and Nobel prize winner.

%h nielsbohrium
Competing name for {unnilseptium}, the 107th element, proposed by its West
German discoverers and supported by the American Chemical Society. The
name was chosen in honor of physicist, Niels Bohr.

%h bohrium
Competing name for {unnilseptium}, the 107th element, proposed by the
IUPAC in response to the discoverers of the element wanting to name it
{nielsbohrium}.

%h hassium
%d
Competing name for {unniloctium}, the 108th element, proposed by its
German discoverers and supported by the American Chemical Society.

%h neutron
%d
Weight: 1.6749286*10^-27kg
A neutral hadron that is stable in the atomic nucleus but decays into a
protron, an electron and an antineutrino with a mean life of 12 minutes
outside the nucleus. Neutronics exist in all atomic nuclei except normal
hydrogen. Reported in 1932 by James Chadwick.

%h deuterium
%d
Symbol: D
Atomic Weight: 2
A {hydrogen} atom which has but one proton and {neutron}. Deuterium makes up
about 0.015% of all natural hydrogen. Chemical properties are like that of
normal {hydrogen}, though somewhat slower.
