The Period I & II Elements - Some Interesting Scientific Facts

The world is full of many fascinating facts, in all kinds of arenas. Lets look at a few basic scientific facts relating to some of the elements in the first two periods, Hydrogen to Neon. These elements are the fundamental building blocks of our existence and it is the unique properties of these elements that are the basis for many of the different compounds we know. Here are just a few interesting facts about these elements and a few of the simpler compounds they make.

1. Hydrogen is the simplest, least dense and most abundant element in the universe.
   
   • Hydrogen consists of one proton and one electron.
     
   • Hydrogen accounts for approximately 75% of all the physical mass in the universe, mostly found in stars.
     
   • Hydrogen is believed to be one of only three elements produced in the Big Bang; the other two are helium and lithium.
     
2. Diamonds are the hardest substance known to man.
   
   • Most gemstones contain several elements. The exception? The diamond. It is all carbon.
     
   • A diamond will not dissolve in acid. The only thing that can destroy it is intense heat.
     
   • Graphite, one of the softest of substances, is also all carbon and one of its most stable forms.
     
3. Boron nitride (BN) is the second hardest substance known to man.
   
   • Boron is element 5, one less than carbon (6).
     
   • Nitrogen is element 7, one more than carbon.
     
   • Boron nitride also exists in a soft, graphite-like form.
     
4. Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen make up over 95% of the human body.
   
   • Oxygen (65.0%)
     
   • Carbon (18.5%)
     
   • Hydrogen (9.5%)
     
   • Nitrogen (3.2%)
     
5. Hydrofluoric acid (HF) will dissolve glass.
   
   • Hydrofluoric acid dissolves many oxides, of which glass (mainly quartz - SiO₂) is just one.
     
   • Other acids, such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and sulfuric acid, do not dissolve glass.
     
   • Hydrofluoric acid must be stored in plastic containers.
     

These are just a few of the many facts about these elements. It is incredible what God has made with just the simplest of His creation. There is a vast multitude of possible substances that can be formulated from just the first 10 elements in the Periodic Table.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)"