Ore Source - The most abundant element in the universe, most Hydrogen is obtained from water (H2O).

Uses - Large quantities of Hydrogen are needed in the petroleum and chemical industries for such things as processing fossil fuels, ammonia, methanol, increasing saturation of fats and oils, food additives.

Items Displayed in Compartment

Vial of Deuterium Hydrogen gas.

Bottle of "Heavy Water" has one proton and one neutron. Used in some fission reactors as a moderator to slow neutrons and has a non-radioactive tracer in chemistry, biochemistry and environmental sciences. An ice cube made of Heavy Water would sink.

Keychain is radio-luminescent (glows in the dark). It contains Tritium isotope (one proton and two neutrons) and a phosphor which gives off light when struck by alpha particles from the Tritium.

Postcard of the Hindenburg zeppelin that exploded over Lakehurst, N.J. in 1937. Originally designed to use more expensive and safer Helium. Helium gas was banned for export by the USA and flammable Hydrogen was selected with disastrous results.

Ore Source - Helium is found as a byproduct of natural gas extraction. The world's greatest reserves are found in gas fields in Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma.

Uses - Helium is used to inflate airships and balloons, in deep water diving to reduce the danger of narcosis, lasers, leak detectors, as a shielding gas in welding, growing silicon and germanium crystals, as a coolant in thermo-acoustic refrigerators, superconductivity and gas cooled nuclear reactors, and is also used in helium dating to determine the age of rocks and minerals.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Gas sign containing Helium and excited by 8,000 volts causing it to glow.

Vial of Helium gas.

Ore Source - The minerals Petalite and Spodumene are the most commercially viable sources of Lithium. We have a pink crystal of Spodumene (Kunzite) in our table (right). A mass of Petalite is shown (left).

Uses - Lithium is in heat transfer applications, Lithium-ion batteries, in medications as mood stabilizers and in migraine prevention and in chemical industries for plastic production and as a lubricant.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Tube of Lithium grease.

The bottle contains pure Lithium in oil because Lithium (like all the alkaline metals) is very reactive and would tarnish quickly in air. Also reacts with water producing a caustic hydroxide. Notice that since Lithium is the lightest of all metals, it floats in the surrounding oil.

Bottle of Lithium Carbonate prescribed to help treat bipolar disorders.

Battery- Lithium-ion battery high capacity battery.

Ore Source - We have the mineral Beryl in our table.

Uses - Applications for Beryllium include rocket nozzles, radiation windows for x-ray tubes, high-energy particle physics experiments, welding electrodes, springs, gyroscopes, military fire control systems, some telescope mirrors and as a hardening agent in alloys.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Beryllium-Copper tools are non-sparking and therefore are safer to use around explosives. Beryllium is used as a hardener in this alloy.

Round disc and chunk of pure Beryllium metal are at center-front of cubicle.

Boule (solidified blob) of Beryllium Aluminum Oxide (Chrysoberyl or Alexandrite) on left.

Ore Source - We have the minerals Borax in our table. Turkey and the United States are the world's largest producers of boron (Turkey has almost 72% of the world's reserves).

Uses - Some of the many uses of boron include detergents, glass, pottery, cosmetics, enamel glazes, fire retardants, anti-fungal compounds for fiberglass, insecticides, flux for metallurgy, gold extraction in mining, swimming pools to control pH, fertilizers, semiconductors, tank armor, bulletproof vests, to add texture in cooking and nuclear reactors.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Antique can of Borax powder.

A piece of Boron metal.

Many telescopes use borosilicate glass, which has a low coefficient of thermal expansion- meaning it doesn't change in size, or shape over a wide range of temperatures.

Ore Source - We have the mineral Calcite in our table. Most metallic Calcium is obtained from lime in how low pressure containers.

Uses - Calcium is found in the limestone in Portland cement, and is also used to make white paint, cleaning powder, toothpaste, antacids, gypsum drywall, fertilizer, plaster, metal alloy production, ice melter, insecticides, fireworks, flares, chalk, fluorescent lights, in the production of acetylene gas, crayons and plastics.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Bottle of seashells which are made out of Calcium Carbonate (in your bones and teeth as well).

Jar with metallic Calcium under mineral oil. The oil prevents the unstable Calcium from reacting with moisture in the air.

Container of Tums antacid containing Calcium Carbonate.

Ore Source - The air in our atmosphere is composed of 78% Nitrogen and is the major commercial source of Nitrogen.

Uses - Nitrogen is found in foods, drugs, fertilizers, poison, explosives and is used in annealing steel, preserving freshness of package food, incandescent light bulbs, production of electronic parts, filling aircraft tires, Nitrogenated beer and laughing gas anesthetic.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Bottle of Nitroglycerin tablets used to regulate blood pressure and heart action by dilating blood vessels. Yes, it is the same compound as the explosive!

Ampoule of Nitrogen gas.

The box of MiracleGro fertilizer contains Nitrogen, which is an important nutrient for plants. Nitrogen compounds are naturally formed during lightning storms and are an important source of natural fertilizer.

Ore Source - The air in our atmosphere is composed of 21% Oxygen and is produced commercially from air and electrolysis of water.

Uses - We cannot breathe without oxygen, so it is used in medicine, diving, mountain climbing, airplanes. It is also used in the fabrication of steel and many other metals, the chemical industry, welding, rocket fuels, and organic compounds such as hydrogen peroxide, alcohols, ethers, acetone, methanol.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Ampoule of Oxygen gas.

Teeth whitening strips contain Hydrogen Peroxide, a very strong bleach.

Ore Source - Our table contains the mineral Fluorite, which is used in the industrial production of Fluorine.

Uses - Fluorine is the most reactive of all the elements and is used in semiconductor manufacturing, insecticides, to etch glass in light bulbs, Freon gas used in air conditioning and refrigeration, the low friction plastic Teflon, anesthetics, fluoride toothpaste to prevent cavities, antibiotics, antidepressants, and nuclear medicine imaging.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Ampoule of Fluorine gas in Quartz container. If stored in regular glass, the Fluorine gas would react and burn its way through. This vial was specially prepared by a university professor using his secret process at a cost of over $500.

This is only one of a handful of Fluorine gas samples that actually displays the natural yellow color of the substance!

A roll of Teflon tape used in plumbing.

A tube of toothpaste containing Sodium Fluoride to help prevent cavities.

Ore Source - Neon is rare on earth and the major commercial source of Neon is cryogenic fractional distillation of liquefied air.

Uses - Neon is used gas signs (such as PIZZA signs) where it gives a bright reddish- orange light, vacuum tubes, high-voltage indicators, lightning arrestors, television tubes, lasers, and as a refrigerant.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Gas sign containing Neon and excited by 8,000 volts causing it to glow.

Ore Source - We have the ore Halite (Sodium Chloride or rock salt) in our table.

Uses - Sodium is used in table salt, baking soda, in certain alloys, some streetlights, as a coolant in some types of nuclear reactors, some soaps, some medicines, and as a preservative in some foods. The exhaust valves in some high performance Corvette engines contain a core of metallic Sodium in order to transmit heat more efficiently in order keep them cooler.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Box of baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) used to cause batters to rise in baking.

Ampoule with metallic Sodium in mineral oil.

Pure Sodium oxides quickly with air causing it tarnish and it reacts violently with water, which is why our shiny sample is stored in mineral oil.

Sodium lamp shows ring of metallic Sodium that vaporizes within the bulb to conduct electricity and glow to incandescence.

Ore Source - Electrolysis of seawater is the primary source of Magnesium in the United States. We have the ore Dolomite in our table which also an important commercial source of Magnesium.

Uses - Magnesium is used as an alloy in airplanes, car engine casings, in flares, flashbulbs, fireworks, as bricks and liners in furnaces, soil additive for plants, Milk of Magnesia (antacid and laxative), Epsom salts (Magnesium Sulfate).

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Bottle of Epsom Salt used for footbaths to reduce inflammation.

Two ampoules containing metallic Magnesium.

Block of metallic Magnesium.

The lightweight pencil sharpener made out Magnesium.

The Magnesium fire starter is used with a knife and flint.

Shavings from the fire starter are ignited by sparks generated from striking the steel and flint together.

Burns at 5,610°F making it useful to start emergency fires if stranded.

Ore Source - We have the ore Bauxite in our table.

Uses - Aluminum metal is strong and lightweight and the most widely used non-ferrous metal. It used in aircraft, cars, trucks, bicycles, building construction, cooking utensils, cans, foil, baseball bats, electrical transmission lines, paint, pyrotechnics, solid rocket fuels, thermite, in ruby lasers, as a reflective coating in mirrors. Aluminum compounds are used in such things as antiperspirants, synthetic gemstones, in glass making, antacids, water purification and in paper manufacture.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Three pure Aluminum cylinders, and two small ingots.

Aluminum cigar tube.

The firecrackers contain Aluminum powder mixed with an oxidizer.

Box of Aluminum foil.

Glass vial containing short clippings of Aluminum wire.

O2e Source - We have the ore Quartz in our table.

Uses - Silicon is the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust. It is used in glass, concrete and cement and is found in natural stones such as granite countertops. Silicon is mixed with aluminum as an alloy used to produce cast parts for the automobile industry. It is used in desiccants, lubricants, soaps, adhesive, preservatives and semiconductors in electronics.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A Silicon wafer with a mirror finish used in semiconductor manufacture for everything from computers to cell phones to mp3 players. A chunk sample of pure Silicon metal. The flask contains Silicon chips and is also made of Silicon.

Ore Source - We have the ore Fluorapatite in our table.

Uses - Phosphorus is another very reactive element. It is used in fertilizers, flame retardants, pesticides, steel production, glass for sodium lamps, fine china, soda beverages, incendiary bombs, smoke bombs, tracer ammunition, matchbook strikers, flares, safety matches, in semiconductors and radioactive tracers.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The small bottle contains powdered Red Phosphorus.

One of the many allotropes of this element.

Strike anywhere matches.

The larger bottle contains Yellow Phosphorus. This is incredibly reactive and would spontaneously ignite if not stored under water. Once ignited, White or Yellow Phosphorus is nearly impossible to extinguish. Once used in munitions, it is now virtually outlawed and only used in smoke grenades.

Ore Source - We have the ore pure Sulfur in our table. Most sulfur is obtained as a co-product recovered from oil and gas production.

Uses - Sulfuric acid is to produce fertilizers and in car batteries. Sulfur is used in pigments, non-ferrous metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, cosmetics, rubber vulcanization, water treatment, steel pickling, bleaching paper, preservatives in dried fruit and Epsom salts.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Glass vial containing solidified Sulfur.

Ore Source - We have the ore Halite (Sodium Chloride) in our table. Chlorine is produced commercially by electrolysis of Sodium Chloride in water.

Uses - Chlorine is used for water purification, in disinfectants, and in bleach. It is also used in the production paper products, dyes, textiles, petroleum products, medicines, antiseptics, insecticides, solvents, paints, plastics and was used as a weapon in World War I.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A shaker of table salt (Sodium Chloride).

A rocking vial of liquid and gaseous Chlorine showing its characteristic yellow color.

The liquefied Chlorine is under 12 atmospheres of pressure and is so viscous that the rocking display shows that it does not flow as a normal liquid would.

Ore Source - Argon is 0.93% by volume of the earth’s atmosphere and the major commercial source of argon is cryogenic fractional distillation of liquefied air.

Uses - Argon is used in incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs to keep oxygen from corroding the hot filament, in gas signs and as a shielding gas in welding, growing semiconductor crystals, preservatives by displacing oxygen and moisture.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Ampoule of Argon gas. Gas sign containing Argon and excited by 8,000 volts causing it to glow.

Ore Source - Potassium can be obtained from electrolysis of potash and from the ore minerals Sylvite, Carnallite, Langbeinite, Polyhalite. We have the ores Sylvite and, jar of Carnallite in our table.

Uses - Potassium is used in fertilizers, fireworks, low sodium salt substitute, soaps, drain cleaners, baking powder, food preservatives, match heads, a coolant in nuclear reactors, Potassium Superoxide is used in oxygen generators and carbon dioxide remover in submarines, rebreathers and Russian spacecraft. A Potassium isotope is used in Potassium-Argon dating to determine the age of some rocks.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Ampoule of metallic Potassium. Potassium is very reactive with water and oxygen so it has to be stored under mineral oil or sealed in an ampoule.

A shaker of Potassium Chloride, a low-Sodium salt substitute.

Metallic chunk of Potassium stored under mineral oil to prevent it from reacting with the atmosphere.

Ore Source - We have the mineral Calcite in our table. Most metallic Calcium is obtained from lime in how low pressure containers.

Uses - Calcium is found in the limestone in Portland cement, and is also used to make white paint, cleaning powder, toothpaste, antacids, gypsum drywall, fertilizer, plaster, metal alloy production, ice melter, insecticides, fireworks, flares, chalk, fluorescent lights, in the production of acetylene gas, crayons and plastics.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Bottle of seashells which are made out of Calcium Carbonate (in your bones and teeth as well). Jar with metallic Calcium under mineral oil. The oil prevents the unstable Calcium from reacting with moisture in the air. Container of Tums antacid containing Calcium Carbonate.

Ore Source - We have pure Scandium metal in our table. Scandium is distributed sparsely and occurs only in trace amounts in minerals. The rare minerals Thortveilite, Euxenite and Gadolinite are the only concentrated sources of this element.

Uses - Scandium is added to Aluminum alloys used in some aerospace components and sports equipment including Aluminum bats, lacrosse sticks and bicycle frames, it is also used in Mercury-vapor and metal halide lamps and as tracing agent in oil refineries.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A chunk of golden colored Scandium on a stand. Once incredibly expensive to produce in metallic form, it is now more reasonably priced.

Some metal halide bulbs have small amounts of scandium added to the electrode in the form of scandium iodine so the light from the bulb has a color similar to sunlight.

Ore Source - We have the ore Rutile in our table as small grey nuggets in the bottle. Commercial production of Titanium is a multi-step and rather expensive process.

Uses - Titanium is a high strength, low weight, corrosion-resistant metal and as such is used submarines, aircrafts, missiles, sports equipment. Because of its durability, inertness and is non-toxic it is used in jewelry and medical and dental implant devices. The largest use of titanium is titanium dioxide (TiO2), which is used as a white pigment in everything from paint to food coloring (it is nontoxic).

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A cylinder of Titanium metal.

A small polished plate, half-round blank of polished metal, and ampoule of Titanium are shown in the front of the cubicle.

A replacement Titanium knee joint. Strong and non-toxic, the bone grafts to the roughened and textured surface.

A jar of M&Ms, the white letter M on the candy is made from TiO2.

The white filling of Oreo cookies contains Titanium Dioxide in order to make it look more whitish in color, opaque, and appetizing!

A heart pacemaker case is made from Titanium- strong and non-toxic.

A photograph of the a SR-71 Blackbird jet, the skin of the plane is composed of a Titanium alloy to resist the high temperature of flying over 3 times the speed of sound.

Ore Source - We have the ore Vanadinite in our table. Most Vanadium metal is used in steel and in that case Vanadium bearing magnetite ore is used in the production of steel.

Uses - Vanadium is added to steel for increased strength and toughness for use in everything from bicycle components to high-speed tool steels. It is also combined with aluminum in titanium alloys used in aerospace, military and many other applications. Vanadium compounds are used in making ceramics, glass coatings, simulated jewelry, rust prevention and chemical manufacturing processes.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A coin minted of pure Vanadium metal for element collectors.

A Vanadium rod.

A Vanadium alloy steel socket for a racket wrench.

Ore Source - We have the colorful ore Crocoite (also known as Siberian red lead) and grey Chromite in our table. The primary commercial ore of Chromium is Chromite.

Uses - Chromium has been used in paints, dyes for glass, tanning salts, wood preservatives and making synthetic rubies. It is for protective coatings on cars, plumbing fixtures, in the chemical industry and primarily in metals alloys such as chrome-moly steel, stainless steels and nickel superalloys for increased strength and corrosion resistance.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A beaker of stainless steel ball-bearings. Stainless steel gets it resistance to corrosion from Chromium being added (alloyed) with the steel.

An ampoule of chips and two chunks of pure chromium metal.

A synthetic boule of Chromium-tainted synthetic ruby for the production of lasers.

Chrome-plated bolts from a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Ore Source - We have the most important commercial ore Pyrolusite in our table.

Uses - Manganese is used in unleaded gasoline to boost octane and reduce knock, in glass production, the manufacture of some paints, in older dry cell and newer alkaline batteries and primarily in metal alloy such as high strength steel for increased tensile strength, stainless steel and aluminum for corrosion resistance.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

An ampoule containing pure Manganese metal.

An older dry-cell battery containing Manganese Dioxide.

A chunk of Manganese metal.

A slice of Manganese metal showing characteristic bumpy texture from the casting process.

Ore Source - We have the ore Magnetite in our table.

Uses - Iron is the most widely used of all the metals. Iron is readily available and inexpensive compared to most metals. It is used in wrought Iron, steel, magnetic media storage (recording, computers), wood preservatives, dyes, insecticides, paints, fertilizers, and flour to increase nutritional Iron levels.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

An Iron-Nickel meteorite was sliced, polished and etched with nitric acid to show the crystal grain pattern of the Nickel-Iron alloys. The centers of most planets contain Iron and this is responsible for the protective magnetic field of the Earth.

An ampoule of pure Iron powder.

A nut and bolt made from steel (an engineered mixture of Iron and other elements).

Ore Source - We have the ores Cobaltite and Eurythrite in our table.

Uses - Cobalt superalloys for such things as turbine blades in gas turbines and jet engines use most of the Cobalt produced. Other Cobalt alloys are used for dental prosthetics, hip and knee replacements, high speed steel and high strength magnets. Cobalt compounds are also used as a blue pigment in glass, ceramics and paints, in Lithium Ion, NiCd, and NiMH batteries, and as catalysts in the chemical industry.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Cobalt metal sphere and cylinder.

Two chunks of Cobalt metal.

Beaker with droplets of Cobalt metal.

An ALNICO magnet made with Aluminum, Nickel, and Cobalt.

A coin made with Cobalt for element collectors.

A cutting bit for a metal lathe is made harder and more durable by adding Cobalt.

Ore Source - We have the ore Niccolite in our table.

Uses - Nickel is used primarily for the alloys it can form. It is used superalloys, stainless steels and other corrosion resistant steels. Nickel is used in coins, armor plate, vaults, batteries, electroplating, magnets and as a green tint for glass.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Nickel nodules/balls in a jar. An ampoule containing Nickel.

A disc of Nickel. Nickel-Titanium shape memory wire, if bent at one temperature it will return to its original shape when heated.

Canadian quarter dollar coins-nearly pure Nickel. Our US 5 cent nickels have no Nickel in them.

An ampoule of Nickel showing the silver grey color of the pure metal.

A large commemorative coin made with pure Nickel.

Two Invar slugs are made of an alloy containing Nickel and display very little size variation due to changes in temperature.

Ore Source - We have the ores Azurite and Malachite in our table.

Uses - Copper is used for piping for water, refrigerators and air conditioning equipment, wire, printed circuits, lead-free solder, relays, switches, motors, generators, roofing, statues, cookware, fungicides, ceramic glazes, to color glass, ammunition (bullet jacketing, shaped charges) and electroplating, Copper alloys include, brass (copper and zinc), Monel (copper and nickel) and bronze (there are many different types of bronze alloys).

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A sphere of Copper used for electroplating.

An ampoule of Copper wire clippings.

A Copper block and small ingot.

A spool of Copper wire.

A Copper clamp for electrical connections.

A Copper form with a highly-polished face.

A Copper coin for collectors.

Copper gaskets and washers.

Ore Source - We have the ores Zincite, Franklinite, and Willemite in our table.

Uses - Zinc is used as an anti-corrosion agent (such as galvanization), white paint pigment, heat dispenser in rubber and UV protector in tires, U.S. pennies since 1982, the varistor semiconductor, wood fire retardant and preservative, infrared lasers, dyes, model rocket propellant, vitamin and mineral supplement, cosmetics, sun block, diaper rash protector, toothpaste and shampoos. Zinc alloys include brass, nickel silver, solder.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A Zinc sphere.

A roll of thin Zinc sheeting.

A tiny beaker of Zinc droplets.

A small ingot of Zinc.

A chunk of Zinc.

An ampoule of pure Zinc showing its natural color.

A bottle of Zinc supplement pills for the immune system.

Ore Source - We have the ore Jarosite in our table. It is also recovered as a byproduct of Aluminum production from the Bauxite since it always occurs together in small amounts.

Uses - Almost all of the Gallium produced in the U.S. is used in electronic components like semiconductors. It is also used in solders, medical thermometers, some mirrors and pharmaceuticals. It is also used in vast quantities for astronomical research to detect strange particles from the Cosmos. Since it a liquid and conductive metal at room temperature, Gallium finds uses similar to Mercury, however, it is non-toxic.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A plastic bottle containing Gallium. This pound of Gallium is worth over $1000! It should be stored in plastic so that when it freezes (below 85 F) expansion does not crack the container. Donated by a visitor!

A small glass bottle of pure Gallium showing its natural color.

A wafer of Gallium Arsenide used to produce semiconductor components.

Two LED’s are shown that utilize Gallium Arsenide as their active components.

Ore Source - We have the ore Sphalerite in our table. It is recovered as a by-product from Zinc refining. This specimen is especially rich in Germanium.

Uses - Germanium is used in fiber optic systems, infrared optics, as a catalyst in plastic production, electronic semiconductors, fluorescent lamps, solar cells, metallurgy and chemotherapy agents.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Two chunks and a rod of pure Germanium metal showing its natural color.

Several lengths of fiber optic cables showing the actual fibers being thinner than a human hair.

Encoded light pulses carry tremendous amounts of information.

Ore Source - We have the ores Orpiment (yellow), Realgar (red), Arsenopyrite (grey), and Native Arsenic (in rear right corner) in our table.

Uses - Arsenic is used in wood preservatives (no longer used for this purpose in the U.S. after 2003), insecticides, semiconductors, LEDs, pyrotechnics, lead shot and bullets, metallurgy, and some brass alloys. Due to its poisonous nature it has been used to murder people particularly royalty throughout history and thus has been called the Poison of Kings.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A bottle of arsenic metal pieces.

A boule (large droplet) of Gallium Arsenide compound used in semiconductors (man-made).

Ore Source - We have the ore Pyrite in our table. Selenium is found in economic quantities in sulfide ores such as Pyrite, partially replacing the Sulfur in the ore matrix.

Uses - Selenium is an important trace element in our bodies, it is used in chemistry as a catalyst, glass and ceramic manufacturing for red coloring, in some brass alloys, vulcanized rubbers, photocells, light meters, solar cells, photographic toners and medical research.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A piece of pure Selenium metal showing its purplish grey color.

A beaker containing pieces of Selenium metal.

A container of Selenium metal sticks.

Three small cylinders of Selenium showing its grey form.

A bottle Selenium supplements pills.

Ore Source - Bromine is extracted from brine (salt water) well that are in rich this element as well and from sea water. The largest reserves in the U.S. are in Arkansas.

Uses - Bromine used in medicines, water purification, dyes, photography, drilling fluids flame retardants and pesticides.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

An ampoule of Bromine.

An ampoule of bromine on a rocker to show that is liquid at room temperature (only mercury and bromine are liquid at temperatures below 80°F). Notice the red-brown bromine vapor above the liquid. This is highly irritating if inhaled even in small concentrations.

A miniature can of Mountain Dew containing brominated vegetable oil. Food scientists have discovered that adding Bromine to the oil-based citrus flavors makes it the same density as water and prevents them from separating into different layers in the can.

Ore Source - The major commercial source of Krypton is cryogenic fractional distillation of liquefied air.

Uses - Krypton is used in fluorescent lamps, incandescent bulbs to increase filament life, gas signs and photography lights for its bright white color, some Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) applications and lasers.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A gas sign containing Krypton showing its bright white color under 8,000 volts excitation.

Ore Source - We have the ore Lepidolite in our table.

Uses - Rubidium is used in frequency references to maintain frequency accuracy in cell transmitters and other electronic transmitters, some fireworks for a purple color, photocells, vacuum tubes, and some glass.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

An ampoule of Rubidium metal. Rubidium is extremely reactive due to a single electron that is weakly held in its distant outer electron shell. As such, this specimen must be stored in a vacuum in the glass ampoule. Rubidium has a melting point of only 103 F. This ampoule was purchase for $250!

Ore Source - We have the ore Celestine in our table.

Uses - Strontium is used glass for color television Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) to absorb X-rays, cancer therapy, refining zinc, fireworks (red flames), flares, magnets, optics, toothpaste for sensitive teeth and pottery glazes.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A block of Strontium metal under mineral oil in a jar to prevent it from reacting with water vapor in the atmosphere.

Ore Source - We have the ore Synchysite in our table.

Uses - Yttrium is used to make the red color in Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) televisions, in some high performance spark plugs, in gas mantels for propane lanterns, synthetic garnet production, white LED’s, lasers, microwave filters, camera lenses glass, cancer medications, medical instruments and to increase the strength of Aluminum and Magnesium alloys.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A piece of Yttrium metal on the stand.

An ampoule containing pieces of Yttrium metal.

A bottle of Yttrium Oxide.

A large cut slab of purple Yttrium ruby.

Man-made Yttrium garnet crystals used for microwave frequency regulating devices.

Ore Source - We have natural Zircon crystals in our table. It is often found as sand grains on many beaches.

Uses - Zirconium has excellent resistance to corrosion and as such is used in materials exposed to corrosives, steel alloys used in surgical appliances, explosive primers, vacuum tube getters, bulb filaments, flash bulbs, furnaces, nuclear reactors, space vehicle parts, abrasives and in ceramic coatings for high temperature parts. The ore mineral zircon is used as a gemstone in jewelry and synthetic Cubic Zirconia (Zirconium Dioxide) are sold as a competitor for diamonds.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A bottle of natural Zircon sand.

A container of anti-perspirant that uses Zirconium.

A disk of Zirconium.

A cylinder of Zirconium metal.

A chunk of Zirconium metal showing its natural silver-grey color.

A water-clear Cubic Zirconia pendant on a chain.

A flash bulb containing Zircon “wool” as the burning filament. Chunks of man-made colored Zircon crystals for inexpensive jewelry.

Ore Source - We have the ore Samarskite in our table (as a large mass) and also as pebble-sized grains (in the small bottle).

Uses - Niobium is used in steel alloys, super-alloys, superconducting magnets in MRIs, welding rods, nuclear industries, electronics, optics, commemorative coins and jewelry.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A bottle of Niobium Oxide used in the production of capacitors and optical glass.

A commemorative European coin with a green anodized Niobium center.

An ampoule containing a cylinder of pure Niobium metal.

Ore Source - We have the ore Molybdenite in our table (in both a massive chunk and a bottle of concentrate).

Uses - Molybdenum is used high strength steels, especially those used at high temperatures, in stainless steels, solid lubricants, high temperature oven heating elements, adhesives and pigments for ceramics and plastics.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A disk of Molybdenum.

An ampoule containing pieces of Molybdenum.

Two Molybdenum bolts that will not melt under high temperatures.

A cylinder of Molybdenum.

Ore Source - Only minute amounts of Technetium is found in nature, all the Technetium used by man is produced synthetically.

Uses - There are no stable isotopes of Technetium (they are all radioactive) which limits its usefulness. It is used primarily as tracer in nuclear medicine. It also is used for equipment calibration in the research field.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A picture of medical gamma camera for detecting circulation problems, cancer tumors and other diagnostic purposes.

Ore Source - We have the ore Laurite in our table. Ruthenium is also obtained commercially as a by-product from Nickel and Copper mining.

Uses - Ruthenium is used to harden Platinum and Palladium alloys for use in electrical contacts; it is used in some gold jewelry, in super-alloys, fountain pen nibs, as a catalyst in the chemical industry and cancer drugs.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A small pellet of pure Ruthenium showing its natural silver-white color.

A bottle of Tris(bipyridyltrichlorideruthenium(II) being investigated in research for use as a photosensitizer and for its electroluminescence properties.

Ore Source - We have the Rhodium ore in our table.

Uses - The main use of Rhodium is in automobile catalytic converters. Rhodium is also used to harden and provide corrosion resistance for alloys used in furnace windings, aircraft spark plug electrodes, automotive catalytic converters and laboratory crucibles. It is also used in jewelry, high quality pen surfaces, mammography filters and neutron detectors.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A bottle with very small grains of natural (native) Rhodium.

A small 1 gram pellet of pure Rhodium showing its natural silver white color.

An ampoule of Wilkinson’s Catalyst used for hydrogenation of alkenes.

A graph showing the price variation of Rhodium, the most expensive metals in the periodic table. Since its use is tied to auto catalytic converter production, the price varies greatly and is related to annual automobile production. Just a few years ago, its price was over $10,000 per gram. The 1 gram, BB sized pellet in the cubicle was purchased for $300!

Ore Source - We have the ore Chalcopyrite in our table and a small sample of natural (native) Palladium in matrix.

Uses - The largest use of Palladium is in automobile catalytic converters. It is also used in jewelry, dentistry, watch making, aircraft spark plugs, carbon monoxide sensors, surgical instruments, as a catalyst in the chemical industry and electronic capacitors.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A ceramic slice from an automotive catalytic converter containing tiny particles of Palladium that act as “reaction sites” to convert un-burned gasses.

A one troy ounce ingot of pure Palladium.

Ore Source - We have the ore native (natural) Silver in our table.

Uses - Silver is used in currency, jewelry, dental fillings, photographic film, electronics, mirrors and optics, percussion caps, medicine and clothing for its antimicrobial and antiviral properties and as a catalyst in some chemical industry processes.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Various Silver U.S. coins (minted prior to 1964).

A 10 Troy Ounce bar of Silver. A one troy ounce Silver bullion coin.

An ampoule of pure Silver.

A Sterling Silver spoon containing 92.5% Silver and 7.5% Copper.

Ore Source - We have the ore Greenockite (yellowish crust) in our table.

Uses - Cadmium is used in nickel-cadmium batteries, jewelry, pigments, low friction bearing alloys, corrosion resistant plating of steel, lasers, solder, color television tube phosphors, photocopiers, nuclear reactors, semiconductors and some plastics.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Two spheres of Cadmium.

Three cylinders of Cadmium.

A beaker with Cadmium droplets showing its natural bluish white color.

Two steel aircraft bolts plated with Cadmium for corrosion resistance.

A bottle of Cadmium metal.

Ore Source - We have the ore Sphalerite in our table since Indium is produced as the byproduct of zinc refining.

Uses - Indium is used as a film for Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) and touchscreens, in semiconductors, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), solar thin films, Aluminum alloys used in salt water, vacuum seals, nuclear reactor control rods, scintigraphy medical imaging and low pressure Sodium vapor lamps.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A disk of Indium metal.

A cylinder of Indium.

An ampoule containing small pieces of Indium.

Three pieces of Indium.

A roll of Indium gasket tape.

Ore Source - We have the ore Cassiterite in our table.

Uses - Tin is used in solder, plating of Lead, Zinc and steel to prevent corrosion, in window glass production, pipe organs, pewter, and bronze. (Bronze is a mixture of Copper and Tin).

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A sphere of Tin. A disk of Ti.n

A roll of solder containing Tin in place of toxic Lead.

A beaker of tin pieces showing its natural silvery color.

Two ingots of Tin.

An ampoule of Tin filings.

Real Tin foil (not the more common aluminum foil).

Ore Source - We have the ore Stibnite in our table.

Uses - Antimony is used semiconductors, to increase strength and hardness in alloys, in lead storage batteries, cable sheathing, matches, medications, plumbing, solder, pewter, fire proofing materials, ceramics, glass and paints.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A cone of Antimony metal.

A bottle containing the Antimony metallic chips.

Ore Source - We have the ore of Native (natural) Tellurium in our table.

Uses - Tellurium is added to stainless steel and copper to make them more machinable. It is used in solar panels, semiconductors, rewritable compact discs, to color ceramics, in blasting caps and to vulcanize rubber.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Five small chunks of pure tellurium showing its natural silver white color and radial crystal structure.

An ampoule containing pieces of Tellurium.

Ore Source - Most Iodine comes brine recovered from gas fields.

Uses - Iodine is used as a disinfectant, in medicine, dyes and film photography.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

An ampoule of pure Iodine crystals showing its natural shiny grey color. Iodine can sublimate (change directly from solid to gas) at standard temperature becoming a violet-pink gas. Eventually, by deposition (changing directly from gas to solid), the Iodine reforms as a solid (crystals) on the side of the glass ampoule. This is why the Iodine crystals are now scattered throughout the ampoule.

A bottle of Iodine tincture used to disinfect wounds and to sanitize surface water for drinking.

Ore Source - The major commercial source of Xenon is cryogenic fractional distillation of liquefied air.

Uses - Xenon is used in flash lamps (strobe and warning lights), arc lamps, as a general anesthetic and as the propellant for spacecraft ion engines.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A gas sign containing xenon under 8000 volts of excitation electricity.

A xenon flash tube.

A xenon flash bulb for photography.

A xenon arc lamp used to produce bright white similar to natural daylight in color.

Ore Source - We have the ore Pollucite in our table.

Uses - Cesium is used drilling fluid for the oil industry, atomic clocks, photoelectric cells, scintillation (radiation) counters, vacuum tube getters, high energy lasers, flares and as a catalyst in the chemical industry.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

An ampoule of pure Cesium metal showing its golden-silvery color. Cesium is the most reactive metal due to a single electron that is weakly held in its very distant outer electron shell. As such, this specimen must be stored in a vacuum in the ampoule. Cesium is one of the few metals that are liquid at room temperature (83F). This ampoule was purchase for $250!

One photocell (larger device) for converting light into electrical current.

Three photo-resistors that can vary the current/voltage based on the amount of light that strikes the surface of the device.

Ore Source - We have the ore Barite in our table.

Uses - Barium is used as a “getter” to react and combine with unwanted gas to remove them in television and other electronic tubes, in rat poison, rubber production, as a drilling fluid for drilling oil wells, the green color in fireworks, glass making and as a contrasting agent for x-rays.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The mineral Barite sometimes occurs in the “desert rose” form. It occurs by precipitation in arid desert regions and contains trapped sand and Barite.

A bottle of Barium Sulfate (“Barium Milkshake”) used to increase contrast therefore visibility during x-ray imaging of the digestive system.

A bottle containing pure Barium metal under oil to prevent it from reacting with moisture in the atmosphere.

Ore Source - Monazite and Bastnasite are the principal ores of Lanthanum. We have no Lanthanum ore in our table as of this time.

Uses - Lanthanum is used in oil refining, Nickel-metal hydride batteries, camera lenses, lighter flints, vacuum tubes, scanning electron microscopes, spacecraft Hall thrusters, glass additives, movie carbon lighting, some steel alloys for increased ductility, gas-Tungsten arc welding electrodes, medications, radiometric dating of rocks and as a catalyst in the chemical industry.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A bottle of Lanthanum Oxide, which is used in making special optical glasses.

A bottle with pure Lanthanum in oil.

Ore Source - Monazite and Bastnasite are the principal ores of Cerium. We have no Cerium ore in our table as of this time.

Uses - Cerium is used in automotive catalytic converters, diesel fuel additives, as a catalyst in self-cleaning ovens, optical component polisher, to color glass, in various Aluminum and Iron alloys, stainless steel, lighter flints, gas-Tungsten arc welding electrodes and permanent magnets.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The Ammonium Cerium Sulfate is used as an oxidizer in the chemical industry.

A bottle with pure Cerium metal under oil to prevent it from reacting with moisture in the atmosphere. Cerium oxide is used in ceramics, to polish glass and stones, in the walls of self-cleaning ovens as a hydrocarbon catalyst during the high-temperature self-cleaning process.

The man-made Ce-Y-Silicate crystal is used in a scintillation counter, which measures ionizing radiation similar to a Geiger Counter.

Ore Source - Monazite and Bastnasite are the principal ores of Praseodymium. We have no Praseodymium ore in our table as of this time.

Uses - Praseodymium is used with Magnesium in high strength alloys for aircraft engines, in carbon arc lights in the movie industry, for coloring glass and enamel yellow and green, in welding safety glass, to color cubic zirconia, in lighter flints.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The bottle contains Praseodymium Acetate powder.

The green glass dish is colored with a Praseodymium salt.

The bottle in front contains a piece of pure Praseodymium metal in oil to prevent it from reacting with moisture in the atmosphere.

Praseodymium Carbonate powder is used to color glasses and ceramics.

Ore Source - Monazite and Bastnasite are the principal ores of Neodymium. We have no neodymium ore in our table as of this time.

Uses - Neodymium is used to make the strongest permanent magnets, which are used in such things as motors, microphones, speakers and computer hard drives. It is used in welding safety glass, incandescent lamp glass, coloring ceramics, lasers, cell phones and dating rocks.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The glass dish in the back is a Neodymium glass. It appears lavender under daylight or incandescent lighting but appears pale blue under fluorescent lighting. The glass is used in solid-state lasers and some incandescent bulbs to provide a more natural light.

The Neodymium Oxide in the bottle to the left is used to make Neodymium glass.

The Neodymium Carbonate is used to make capacitors and color glass.

The Neodymium Sulfate is used to make capacitors, as a catalyst and to color glass.

The bottle in front contains pure Neodymium metal in oil.

The ampoule contains pure Neodymium metal chips.

The Neodymium magnet in the front is very powerful and was removed from a computer hard drive.

Ore Source - Only trace amounts are found in nature. It has been calculated that there is only about 1.26 lbs in the earth’s crust at any one time. It is recovered commercially from the byproducts of the Uranium fission process.

Uses - There are no stable isotopes of Promethium (they are all radioactive), which limits its usefulness. Promethium is used as a beta radiation source for a thickness gage, in portable x-ray machines and nuclear batteries.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A photo of a Promethium-based thickness gage.

Ore Source - Monazite and Bastnasite are the principal ores of Samarium. We have no Samarium ore in our table at this time.

Uses - Samarium is used in carbon-arc lighting in the movie industry, lasers, neutron absorbers in nuclear reactors, headphone and musical instrument magnets, optical glass, nuclear medicine, dating rocks and the chemical industry.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The samarium oxide in the bottle in the rear is used in optical glass to absorb infrared light and as a catalyst for the dehydration and dehydrogenation of ethanol.

The middle bottle contains pure Samarium metal in oil to protect if from moisture in the atmosphere.

In front is an ampoule containing pure shavings of Samarium showing its natural silver color.

The ampoule to the right contains powdered Samarium Oxide.

Ore Source - Monazite and Bastnasite are the principal ores of Europium. We have no europium ore in our table at this time.

Uses - Europium is used in some types glass to make lasers, screening for genetic diseases in medicine, lasers, optical electronics and television sets and fluorescent lamps as a phosphor.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The Europium Oxide in the bottle to the left is widely used as a red phosphor in television sets and fluorescent lamps. This powder glows very intensely under Ultraviolet light.

The bottle in the middle contains pure Europium metal under oil to prevent it from oxidizing.

Ore Source - Monazite and Bastnasite are the principal ores of Gadolinium. We have no Gadolinium ore in our table.

Uses - Gadolinium is used shielding in nuclear reactors, as a catalyst in the chemical industry, Iron, Chromium and related alloys to increase workability and high temperature resistance, in Magnesium alloys as strengthening additions, cancer therapy, as a MRI contrast agent, in making green phosphors for color TV tubes and making compact discs.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

Gadolinium Oxide powder is used in the creation of the phosphors used in television tubes as well as the creation of Gadolinium Yttrium Garnets used in microwaves and materials used to absorb atomic reactions.

The bottle in the middle contains pure Gadolinium metal stored under oil.

In front is a chunk of Gadolinium metal.

Ore Source - Monazite and Bastnasite are two primary ores of Terbium. The richest commercial sources of Terbium are the clays of southern China. We have no Terbium ore in our table at this time.

Uses - Terbium is used solid-state electronic devices, sonar systems, in green phosphors in fluorescent lamps and color TV tubes and is added to some alloys.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The Terbium Oxide powder in the bottle to the left is used in green phosphors in fluorescent lamps and color TV tubes.

The ampoule in the front contains shavings of Terbium showing its natural silver white color.

The bottle to the right contains pure Terbium metal stored under oil to prevent it from oxidizing.

Ore Source - Dysprosium is obtained primarily from Monazite sand. We have no dysprosium ore in our table at this time.

Uses - Dysprosium is used in making laser materials, nuclear reactor control rods, high power magnets, the study of chemical reactions, liquid fuel injectors, dosimeters for measuring radiation exposure and high intensity lighting.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The Dysprosium Oxide in the bottle is used to make cermets that are used in nuclear reactor control rods.

A rod and a chunk of Dysprosium metal are shown.

Ore Source - Holmium is obtained primarily from Monazite sand. We have no holmium ore in our table at this time.

Uses - Holmium has the highest magnetic strength of any element and is therefore used to create the strongest artificially-generated magnetic fields. It is used in solid-state lasers, as a yellow or red colorant for cubic zirconia and glass.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The Holmium Oxide in the bottle to the left is in is added to glass that is used as a calibration standard for optical spectrophotometers.

An ampoule containing shavings of pure Holmium showing its natural silver-white color.

The jar contains Holmium metal stored under oil to protect it from oxidation.

Ore Source - Erbium is obtained primarily from the mineral Euxenite as well as Monazite sands. We have a specimen of Euxenite in our Thorium cubicle.

Uses - Erbium is used in photographic filters, in vanadium alloys to improve workability, as a colorant for glass, cubic zirconia and porcelain, in optical amplifiers used in fiber optics, control rods for nuclear reactors and lasers.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The bottle to the left contains pink Erbium Oxide which is to color glass pink similar to the piece of glass next to the bottle.

Two pieces of pure Erbium metal.

A 4 gram element collector’s coin containing pure Erbium metal.

Ore Source - Thulium is obtained primarily from Monazite sand. We have no Thulium ore in our table at this time.

Uses - Thulium is rare and expensive (as of January 2010 the price of Thulium Oxide is around $2,800 per ounce) and as a result has few commercial applications. It is used in superconductors, lasers for laser-based surgery and in portable x-ray devices for medical and dental diagnosis as well as detecting defects in mechanical and electronic components.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The Thulium Oxide powder in the bottle to the left is used as a dopant for silica-based fiber amplifiers, and also have specialized uses in ceramics, glass, phosphors, lasers. As mentioned above, this one ounce sample is worth nearly $3,000!

The ampoule in the front contains shavings of pure Thulium metal showing its natural color.

The jar to the right contains a larger piece of Thulium metal stored under mineral oil for protection.

Ore Source - Ytterbium is obtained primarily from the minerals Xenotime and Euxenite as well as Monazite sand. We have a specimen of Euxenite in our Thorium cubicle.

Uses - Ytterbium is used in solid-state lasers, optical fibers, ceramics, x-ray machines, as a phosphor in color TV tubes and in seismographs (earthquake monitors).

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The Ytterbium Oxide powder in the bottle to the left is used in phosphor in color TV tubes.

The ampoule in the front contains shavings of pure Ytterbium showing its natural silver color.

The jar to the right contains a larger piece of Ytterbium metal protected under mineral oil.

Ore Source - Lutetium is obtained primarily from Monazite sand. We have no Lutetium, ore in our table at this time.

Uses - Lutetium is rare and expensive (as of January 2010 the price of Thulium Oxide is around $2,550 per ounce) and as a result has few commercial applications. It is used as a catalyst in petroleum cracking in refineries, LED light bulbs, in detectors in PET nuclear medical imaging devices and to date meteorites.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The Lutetium Oxide powder in the bottle to the left is used in petroleum cracking and is valued above $2,000!

The jar to the right contains a chunk of Lutetium stored under mineral oil for protection from oxidation.

Ore Source - The mineral Zircon is the primary ore source of Hafnium. We have the mineral Zircon in our Zirconium cubicle.

Uses - Hafnium is used in nuclear reactor control rods such as the ones found in nuclear powered submarines, some metal alloys and superalloys, integrated circuits, incandescent bulbs and plasma cutting electrodes.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The Hafnium Oxide powder in the bottle to the left is used in optical coatings and as a dielectric in electronic capacitors and semiconductors.

The disk in the front is pure hafnium metal as well as the small pellet in the dish.

Ore Source - Tantalite is the primary ore of Tantalum. We have the ore Columbite in our table.

Uses - Tantalum is used mainly in electronic capacitors and high power resistors. It is also used in a variety of alloys with high melting points and high strength, as well as some superalloys, surgical instruments and implants, special glass for camera lenses, armor piercing ammunition. If you hold it correctly in sunlight, it exhibits a silvery-pink color!

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The dish contains a pure pellet of Tantalum.

An electronic capacitor made with Tantalum.

A coil of Tantalum wire. A rod and flat bar of Tantalum.

A porous segment/link of replacement “Tantalum bone” for the human spine that will graft to the existing natural bone!

Ore Source - We have the ore Wolframite in our table.

Uses - Tungsten is used for the production, high speed steels, superalloys, incandescent bulb and x-ray tube filaments, pipe organs, armor piercing ammunition, fishing lures, and bronze.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

An ampoule containing powdered Tungsten metal.

Two cone shaped rock-drill teeth made super hard and durable Tungsten Carbide.

A projector light bulb with a tungsten filament.

A cylinder of pure Tungsten weighing several pounds!

Ore Source - Molybdenite is the primary ore of Rhenium. We have Molybdenite in our Molybdenum cubicle. Also shown are grains of native Rhenium in the gelatin capsule.

Uses - Rhenium is added to high-temperature superalloys used in jet engine parts, in catalysts used in making lead-free high-octane gasoline, tungsten alloys, high-temperature thermocouples, photography flash lamps, medicine.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The beaker contains pure Rhenium metal showing its natural silver color.

Ore Source - Osmiridium is the primary ore of Osmium. We have Osmiridium grains in our table.

Uses - Osmium is used primarily in alloys for high wear applications such as fountain pen tips, electrical contacts and for medical diagnostic purposes and in chemical manufacturing. Osmium is one of the densest metals known!

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The fountain pen uses osmium in the tip because it is very hard and as a result the long lasting.

The smaller bottle contains natural Osmiridium grains from the Ural Mountains.

The antique bottle shows one of the first available commercial samples of Osmium!

The pellet of pure Osmium in the dish in the middle shows its natural silver-blue color.

Ore Source - Osmiridium is the primary ore of Iridium. We have an antique vial of natural Osmiridium grain in our in our table.

Uses - Iridium is used spark plugs, electrodes for chemical processes, compass bearings, some long-life aircraft engine parts, high-temperature crucibles, as a catalyst for certain chemical processes, cancer treatment, and metal testing. Iridium is one of the densest metal known to man!

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The Platinum wedding ring (90% Pt) contains Iridium (10% Ir) to make it harder and more scratch-resistant.

The spark plug has Iridium electrodes because of its high melting point, hardness and corrosion resistance means it will last longer than regular spark plugs.

The pure Iridium pellet in the dish shows it natural silver-yellow color.

Ore Source - We have a natural (native) Platinum nugget from Russia in our table.

Uses - Over half of the Platinum produced is used automotive catalytic converters. Platinum is also used in jewelry, electronics and the chemical industry as a catalyst.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The CISplatin in the bottle in the right rear is a chemotherapy agent used to treat some cancers.

The ampoule contains pure Platinum wire used for various chemistry experiments.

The bullion coin, from the Isle of Man, contains one troy ounce of pure Platinum.

The ampoule to the left of the coin contains yellow Zeise’s Salt (one of the first oganometallic compounds reported)!

The small piece of Platinum foil shows its natural color.

The crucible in the front is made from Platinum. It has a very high melting point and is used in chemistry labs. This is “cup” contains over $1000 of pure Platinum!

The spark plug has platinum electrodes because of its high melting point, hardness and corrosion resistance means it will last longer than regular spark plugs.

Ore Source - Gold is recovered from different ores as well as its pure state. We have a small gold nugget in the dish in the front left.

Uses - Gold is used in jewelry, money, electronics, dental fillings, medicine, food coloring, cranberry glass, some photographic films, protective coatings for satellites, astronaut helmets and high end compact discs.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The computer board at the rear uses Gold on the electrical contacts because of its high conductivity and resistance to corrosion.

The bullion ingot contains one troy ounce of pure Gold. The flask contains Gold leaf (super thin wafers of pure Gold) in glycerin.

The dish in the middle has a small pellet of pure Gold.

The ampoule to the right contains Gold Cyanide and is used for electroplating.

The large antique adjacent safe contains both Gold nuggets and natural crystals in Quartz matrix.

Ore Source - We have the ore Cinnabar in our table as a polished square slab. The Cinnabar is the reddish veins.

Uses - Mercury is used in the manufacture of chemicals, thermometers, some barometers, fluorescent lights, dental amalgam fillings, medicine, older thermostats and switches and Mascara.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The rocking arm in the back uses a vial Mercury, which is a liquid metal that conducts electricity to turn the light on and off.

The bottle to the right contains mercurochrome antiseptic used on small cuts to prevent infection (and it stings). This is no longer in use because of Mercury’s toxic properties.

The thermometer in the front uses mercury, which melts at -38°F as the fluid that measures temperature. As the thermometer gets hotter or colder the volume of the mercury gets larger or smaller.

In the rear is a larger ampoule of pure Mercury from the old Becton-Dickinson thermometer factory in East Rutherford, New Jersey!

Ore Source - We have the rare ore Galkhaite in our table.

Uses - Thallium is used in photocells, synthesizing chemicals, semiconductor rectifiers, radiation detection equipment, to treat some skin infections, high index of refraction glasses and was used in older rat and ant poisons. Thallium is incredibly toxic.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The ampoule to the right contains a metallic cylinder of pure Thallium. It is stored under a vacuum in order to prevent it from oxidizing.

Ore Source - We have the ore Galena in our table.

Uses - Lead is used in solder, batteries, weights, ceramic and stain glass glaze colorings, PVC plastic, bullets, radiation shielding, sound deadening, pipes in pipe organs, electrodes, some brass alloys, semiconductors and radiometric dating.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The large power-to-weight ration and low cost of the Lead-acid battery in the back makes it very useful for applications that have high current surges like automobile starters.

The small Lead ingot to the left rear is stamped with the manufacturer’s name.

Lead is used for the small fishing sinker in the middle because its high density means the sinker can be heavy and small.

These bullets use Lead because of its high density and low cost.

The ampoule in the front contains flat Lead segments.

A Lead masonry anchor is also shown.

Ore Source - We have the ore Native Bismuth in our table.

Uses - Bismuth is used in solder, fire sprinkler systems, some iron alloys, temperature measuring thermocouples, thermoelectric refrigerators, iridescent glazes, paint and cosmetic pigments, nuclear reactors, and in medicine. Because Bismuth is much less toxic than Lead it is being investigated as a replacement for Lead in many applications.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The bottle of Pepto-Bismol contains Bismuth Subsalicylate. Although Bismuth is surrounded by many super-toxic elements in the Periodic Table, it appears to be actually quite safe! Bismuth is the last non-radioactive element in the table.

The two small spheres in front the bottle are fishing sinkers made from bismuth. This man-made Bismuth crystal develops an attractive an iridescent oxide surface coating. We sell these in the gift shop!!

The two pieces of pure bismuth metal show it natural silvery color.

Two small Bismuth metal ingots are quite heavy.

Ore Source - Polonium is recovered as a byproduct from Uranium ores. See the Protactinium cubicle for a view of Uraninite.

Uses - Polonium ionizes the air around it neutralizing statically dust particles making them easier to remove from the air, in antistatic brushes for optical lenses and film and also to eliminate static charges in textile mills. It has been used in satellites and lunar landers as a power source. Also tentatively called "Radium F,” Polonium was discovered by Marie Sklodowska‹Curie and her husband Pierre Curie in 1898 and was later named after Marie Curie’s native land of Poland. The murder of Alexander Litvinenko, a Russian dissident, in 2006 was announced as due to Polonium poisoning!

Items Displayed in Compartment:

A Polonium spark plug from the 1940’s used that the fact that Polonium ionizes the air in an attempt to create a stronger spark between the electrodes. Due to its short half-life, any benefit would have disappeared in a matter of months.

Ore Source - Astatine is the rarest naturally occurring element and it is estimated that there is less than 1 oz in the earth’s crust at any given time! It is produced artificially in nuclear accelerators.

Uses - Because it is radioactive and so short lived the only practical applications for astatine are in medical uses.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The photograph shows a medical radiation therapy device that utilizes Astatine.

Ore Source - Radon is formed as part of the natural radioactive decay chain of Uranium and Thorium.

Uses - Radon has been used in implantable seeds to treat cancers. It is an unwanted heavy gas that collects in trace amounts in old mines and some basements and may be responsible for many unexplained cases of lung cancer every year.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The glass vial contains a tiny piece of Uranium ore (Autunite) which constantly produces minute amounts of Radon gas. The Radon gas radioactively decays and becomes “Radon Daughters” of other metallic and radioactive metal elements. It poses no danger since it is fully sealed in this vial.

Ore Source - Francium is formed as a result of actinium decay and is very short lived with a half-life of 22 minutes for the most stable isotope. What little occurs in nature is found Uranium and Thorium ores where it is continually produced and decays quickly. It can be produced artificially by bombarding Thorium with protons.

Uses - Due to its short life and rarity there are no applications for Francium outside the research laboratory.

Items Displayed in Compartment: card with an explanation.

 

Ore Source - Radium is a decay product of Uranium and is found in all Uranium ores such as Uraninite and Carnotite. We have the ore Torbernite in our table.

Uses - Radium is used as a neutron source in physics experiments, and to produce Radon gas for cancer treatment (this limited use is being replaced by safer alternative radioisotopes). Formerly used in self-luminous watch and aircraft dials, as food preservatives and as an additive in many personal products in the first half the 1900’s until it detrimental health effects were discovered.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The aircraft speed indicator dial in the left rear has a self-luminous dial with a phosphor that was activated by the radiation from Radium.

The dial of the watch to the right is self-luminous as well.

The two Brazil nuts have small amounts of Radium (1,000 times higher than other foods) most of which is not retained by the body. The higher Radium levels come form the fact the trees have very extensive root systems within the volcanic soils.

The red plastic disk contains a small amount of Radium and is used as a Geiger Counter checking source.

Ore Source - Actinium is found in Uranium ores. Please see the Protactinium cubicle for Uraninite.

Uses - Actinium is as a neutron source in research and can be used to produce an isotope that is used in nuclear medicine.

Items Displayed in Compartment: card with an explanation.

 

Ore Source - Thorium can be found the ores Euxenite, Thorianite, and Monzanite. We have the ore Euxenite in our table.

Uses - Thorium is in aircraft Magnesium alloys, gas tungsten welding electrodes, the mantles of portable gas lights, heat-resistant ceramics, camera lens glass and as a catalyst in petroleum cracking and chemical processes.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

The two bottles contains pure Thorium metal under oil to protect it from oxidation.

Ore Source - Protactinium is found in Uranium ores. We have the ore Uraninite in our table which very minute amounts of Protactinium. In 60 tons of such Uranium ore you will find about 4 ounces of Protactinium.

Uses - Because of its scarcity and high radioactivity there no practical applications for Protactinium outside of research.

Items Displayed in Compartment:

 

Ore Source - Uraninite (pitchblende) is the most common uranium ore. Please see the Protactinium cubicle for our sample.

Uses - Uranium is used as a fuel in nuclear power plant reactors, in radiometric dating of rocks, as high-density penetrators in military ammunition, armor on military vehicles and radiation shielding. Uranium was used in small amounts to color glass and in pottery glazes (such as orange Fiestaware), in photographic chemicals, lamp filaments, dentures as well as stains and dyes before the long-term health effects of radioactivity were known.

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The two jars contain a pieces of metallic (depleted of U- 238) Uranium in oil.

The green color of the small glass in the front right comes from small amounts of Uranium (0.1 to 2%). This Uranium or “Depression Glass” fluoresces green under ultraviolet light.

We have two vials of “yellowcake” in our table which a concentrated mixture of various Uranium Oxides.

Ore Source - Trace amounts of Neptunium are found in nature as decay products of Uranium ores. Neptunium is produced artificially as a by-product of Plutonium production.

Uses - Neptunium is used in high-energy neutron-detection instruments. It is also used to produce 238Pu as the power source for thermal generators in spacecraft.

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As the Americium in our smoke detector (to the right) undergoes radioactive decay, it transforms into Neptunium. The older our smoke detector becomes, the more Neptunium we will have!

Ore Source - Trace amounts (a few parts per trillion) of Plutonium can be found in nature in concentrated ores of Uranium. All of the Plutonium used by man is produced in special purpose nuclear reactors.

Uses - Plutonium has only two uses outside of basic research, it is used as the power source for thermal generators in spacecraft are too far from the sun to use solar energy and it is also used in nuclear weapons and some nuclear reactors.

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The specimen in the front, named Trinitite, is the green glassy residue (desert sand that was melted by the blast) left from the first nuclear bomb test of 1945 at the Trinity Test site in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The first nuclear bomb used a Plutonium core to produce the chain reaction. Trace amounts of Plutonium were incorporated into this glass, however, decades later, it is quite safe to handle.

The photograph in the back of the cubicle is of that nuclear bomb test of 1945.

Ore Source - Americium was produced first in 1944 by bombarding Plutonium with neutrons. It produces alpha particles and low energy gamma rays as it decays to Neptunium. All of the Americium used by man is produced in special purpose nuclear reactors.

Uses - Americium is used in one type of smoke detector, to measure glass thickness and moisture/density gauges to check compaction of soils in highway construction for quality control purposes.

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The smoke detector uses Americium Dioxide to ionize smoke particles. As these particles congregate on a collector plate, they develop an adequate charge to set off an audible alarm. It can detect particles of smoke too small to be visible. See the small metal coffin-shaped box on the detector that contains the Americium compound.

Ore Source - Minute trace amounts of Curium exist in natural deposits of Uranium.

Uses - There is no commercial application for Curium, it has been used as the power source for thermoelectric generators for an X-ray spectrometer on some spacecraft such as the Mars Exploration Rover.

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The photograph is of Marie Curie, as the element was named after Marie and Pierre Curie.

Ore Source - Berkelium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally.

Uses - Berkelium is used only for nuclear research purposes.

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Berkelium was named after the University of Berkeley where it was first synthesized in a Cyclotron in 1949. The picture is of the seal of the university.

Ore Source - Californium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally.

Uses - Californium is used as a startup source for some nuclear reactors, certain cancer treatments, aircraft metal inspection, metal detectors, moisture gauges and determining water and oil layers in wells.

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Californium is named after the state of California and the University of California where it was synthesized. The picture is of the seal of the state of California.

Ore Source - Einsteinium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally.

Uses - There are no uses for Einsteinium outside of basic research in nuclear properties.

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Einsteinium was first found in the debris from the first Hydrogen bomb in 1952. It was named in honor of the great physicist Albert Einstein who developed the special and general theories of relativity. The photograph is of Einstein.

Ore Source - Fermium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally.

Uses - There are no uses for Fermium outside of basic research in nuclear properties.

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Ferium was first found in the debris from the first Hydrogen bomb in 1952. It was named after the nuclear physicist Enrico Fermi who was helped to develop the first nuclear reactor.

Ore Source - Mendelevium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally.

Uses - There are no uses for Mendelevium outside of basic research in nuclear properties.

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The discovery of Mendelevium in 1955 was based a total of 17 atoms that were synthesized in the cyclotron in Berkeley, California. It was named after Dmitri Mendeleev, the Russian chemist who created the periodic table that we use today. Using this table he and other scientists were able to predict elements and their properties even though these elements had not yet been discovered!

Ore Source - Nobelium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally.

Uses - There are no uses for Nobelium outside of basic research in nuclear properties.

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Nobelium is named after Alfred Nobel, the Swedish chemist who invented dynamite and instituted the Nobel Prizes.

Ore Source - Lawrencium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally.

Uses - There are no uses for Lawrencium outside of basic research in nuclear properties.

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Lawrencium is named for Ernest Lawrence, an American physicist who invented the cyclotron (a cyclotron accelerates charge particles in a beam to very high speeds using high frequency electric fields) that was so important to nuclear research and synthesized many of the artificially produced elements listed here. He was called the “Atom Smasher” at the University of California.

Ore Source - Rutherfordium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally.

Uses - There are no uses for Rutherfordium outside of basic research in nuclear properties.

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Rutherfordium is named after Ernest Rutherford, a New Zealand chemist who was known as the father of nuclear physics.

Ore Source - Dubnium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally.

Uses - There are no uses for Dubnium outside of basic research in nuclear properties.

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Dubnium is named after Dubna, Russia where the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research is located. This institute has synthesized some of the transuranium artificial elements we have listed here.

The picture is of the seal of the city of Dubna.

Ore Source - Seaborgium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally.

Uses - There are no uses for Seaborgium outside of basic research in nuclear properties.

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Seaborgium is named after Glenn Seaborg, the American chemist who was the principal or co-discover of ten transuranium elements (Plutonium, Americium, Curium, Berkelium, Californium, Einsteinium, Fermium, Mendelevium, Nobelium and element 106 which was named in his honor).

Ore Source - Bohrium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally.

Uses - There are no uses for Bohrium outside of basic research in nuclear properties.

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Bohrium is named after Niels Bohr, a Dane who was one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century. He made fundamental contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum mechanics.

Ore Source - Hassium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally.

Uses - There are no uses for Hassium outside of basic research in nuclear properties.

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Hassium was first synthesized at the Institute for Heavy Ion Research located in the city of Darmstadt in Germany. The name Hassium is derived from the Latin name for the German state of Hesse where Darmstadt is located.

The picture is of the seal of the state of Hesse.

Ore Source - Meitnerium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally.

Uses - There are no uses for Meitnerium outside of basic research in nuclear properties.

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Meitnerium is named after the Austrian physicist, Lise Meitner who helped discover Protactinium and first split the nucleus of Uranium.

Ore Source - Darmstadtium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally.

Uses - There are no uses for Darmstadtium outside of basic research in nuclear properties.

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Darmstadtium was first synthesized at the Institute for Heavy Ion Research located in the city of Darmstadt in Germany.

The picture is of the seal of the city of Darmstadt.

Ore Source - Roentgenium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally.

Uses - There are no uses for Roentgenium outside of basic research in nuclear properties.

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Roentgenium is named after Wihelm Roentgen, who was a German physicist who discovered X-rays for which he won the first Nobel Prize in physics.

Ore Source - Copernicium is artificially produced, as it does not exist naturally. It was made by firing a Zinc nucleus at a target of a certain Lead isotope. Its longest lived isotope has a half-life of 29 seconds.

Uses - There are no uses for Copernicium outside of basic research in nuclear properties.

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Copernicium was recently name for Nicolaus Copernicus on February 19th, 2010. Nicolaus Copernicus was the first astronomer to formulate a comprehensive heliocentric (sun centered) cosmology in place the geocentric (earth centered) cosmology. The photograph is from a painting of Nicolaus Copernicus.