Batteries to Beer Signs - Part One

The elements of the second Period of the Periodic Table are those with their outermost elections in the second orbital, namely the 2s and 2p orbitals.



The elements in this period are Lithium, Beryllium, Boron, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Fluorine and Neon. The first three are metals and solids. Carbon is also a solid but is not considered a metal. The remaining four are gases. The first two elements, Lithium and Beryllium, have one and two electrons in the 2s orbital respectively. The remaining six fill the 2p orbitals.

Lithium is an alkali metal. It contains one electron in its outermost shell and wants to release that electron to have a more stable electron structure. It is highly reactive and flammable. It is also very light and is one of only two elemental metals that can float in water. Because it has only one electron in the 2s shell, Lithium is an excellent electron donor and is used extensively in batteries. Lithium batteries have a high energy density and a high electrochemical potential. Thus they can hold a greater charge with less weight. This makes them useful for portable applications. Because of Lithium's reactivity with Oxygen and Water, with a release of Hydrogen gas, Lithium batteries have been known to catch fire or explode when they leak.

Beryllium is an alkaline earth metal. it has two electrons in each of its 1s and 2s shells. As with all the alkaline earths, Beryllium wants to lose two electrons to have a stable electron shell. Thus it is only found naturally in minerals. Beryllium is found in the Beryl family of minerals, which includes Aquamarine and Emerald. Beryllium is also very corrosive and toxic to living tissues and has no function in living systems.