Continuing the International Year of the Periodic Table theme, today we look at the elements we can’t live without. Which elements from the 118 in the periodic table are essential for human life, and what role do they play? See the full graphic on the C&EN site.
Element 16 in our International Year of the Periodic Table series is sulfur. Known since ancient times, but only confirmed as an element in the late 1700s, it’s responsible for a host of bad smells we encounter, and also finds uses in car tyres and gunpowder.
The latest element in our International Year of the Periodic Table series is phosphorus – essential for life, found in several forms, and the element that helps safety matches light when you strike them.
Element number 14 in our International Year of the Periodic Table series is silicon. The second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, silicon is found in almost all electronic devices, glass, and in some lubricants.
The thirteenth element in our International year of the Periodic Table series is aluminium. The most abundant metal in Earth’s crust, aluminium finds use in drinks cans, aluminium foil, and aeroplane construction.
Magnesium is element number 12 in our International Year of the Periodic Table elements series. It’s a key component of the pigment that plants use to photosynthesis, and also finds use in sparklers and fireworks.