Element Properties: 46-52 atomic number

PALLADIUM, SILVER, CADMIUM, INDIUM, TIN, ANTIMONY, TELLURIUM

 

 

PALLADIUM

Atomic symbol: Pd

Atomic weight: 106.42

Atomic number: 46

Electron configuration: 2-8-18-18-0

Oxidation states: +2, +4

State of matter: solid

Heavy metal, ductile

Discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston

Boils at 2927°C, melts at 1552°C

Notes:

Palladium is a silver, white metal that also occurs as a black powder and as spongy masses that can be compressed to a compact mass. It is extremely ductile and often used as a catalyst. Small amounts of palladium alloyed with gold produces the best white gold. Its chief use is for electrical contacts on telephone equipment.

 

SILVER

Atomic symbol: Ag

Atomic weight: 107.8682

Atomic number: 47

Electron configuration: 2-8-18-18-1

Oxidation states: 1

State of matter: solid

Heavy metal, ductile

Discovered in ancient times

Boils at 2212°C, melts at 960.8°C

Notes:

Silver is a white, precious metal, more malleable and ductile than any other metal except for gold. It is the best conductor of heat and electricity. It is very rare, and the largest percentage of silver is found in lead sulfide. Silver bearing ores are called argentiferous. The biggest demand for silver comes from photography because silver is used in film.

 

CADMIUM

Atomicsymbol:Cd

Atomicweight:112.411

Atomicnumber:48

Electronconfiguration:2-8-18-18-2

Oxidationstates:+2

Stateofmatter:solid

Heavymetal,lowmelting

Discoveredin1817byFreidrichStrohmeyer

Boilsat765°C,meltsat321°C

Notes:

Cadmiumisasilvery-whitemetalthatisalmostassoftastin.Liketin,itemitsacracklingsoundwhenbent.Itisextremelyrare,andmostcadmiumisusedinelectroplatingvariousalloystohelppreventcorrosion.

 

INDIUM

Atomicsymbol:In

Atomicweight:114.818

Atomicnumber:49

Electronconfiguration:2-8-18-18-3

Oxidationstates:+3

Stateofmatter:solid

Heavymetal,lowmelting

Discoveredin1863byFerdinandReichandTheodorRichter

Boilsat2080°C,meltsat156.61°C

Notes:

Indiumisaboutasrareassilver.Itisasoft,whitemetalwithbluishtinge.Liketin,itemitsascreechingsoundwhenbent.Itisusedinbearingalloys,asathinfilmonmovingsurfaces madefromothermetals,indentalalloys,andinsemiconductor research.

 

TIN

Atomic symbol: Sn

Atomic weight: 118.710

Atomic number: 50

Electron configuration: 2-8-18-18-4

Oxidation states: ++2, +4

State of matter: solid

Heavy metal, low-melting

Discovered in ancient times

Boils at 2260°C, melts at 231.88°C

Notes:

Tin is silver white, lustrous, soft, very malleable, and ductile metal. It Is slightly tenacious, easily powdered, and comes in the form of bars, foil, powder, shot, etc. It is most widely used for solder, metal used for bearings and plating steel cans for food containers. It is nontoxic, and exists in two allotropic forms—white and gray tin. Gray tin changes to white tin when heated to 55.8°F and more rapidly at 212°F. The reverse happens at low temperatures.

 

ANTIMONY

Atomicsymbol:Sb

Atomicweight:121.760

Atomicnumber:51

Electronconfiguration:2-8-18-18-5

Oxidationstates:±3,+5

Stateofmatter:solid

Heavymetal:lowmelting

Discoveredinancienttimes

Boilsat1380°C,meltsat630.5°C

Notes:

Antimonyexistsinmanyallotropicforms,suchasabrightsilverywhitemetal,whichishardandbrittle.Itisapoorconductorofelectricityandheatanddoesnottarnishinairunlesstheairismoist,inwhichcaseitslowlyoxides.Itshowsararecharacteristicofexpandingwhenitsolidifies,andthusisgoodforcastingandtypemetals.Combinedwitheithertin,lead,orcopperitformsanti-frictionalloysthatareusedinmachinerybearings.

 

TELLURIUM

Atomic symbol: Te

Atomic weight: 127.60

Atomic number: 52

Electron configuration: 2-8-18-18-6

Oxidation states: +4, +6, -2

State of matter: solid

Non-metal

Discovered in 1782 by Franz Joseph Müller von Reichenstein

Boils at 989.9°C, melts at 449.8°C

Notes:

Tellurium is a semi-metallic element that physically and chemically resembles selenium. Tellurium exists in two forms: a silvery-white brittle, crystalline solid that has a metallic luster, and an amorphous powder that is dark gray to brown. It burns in air and oxygen with a blue- green flame.