CESIUM, IODINE, BARIUM, LANTHANUM, CERIUM, PRASEODYMIUM
IODINE
Atomic symbol: I
Atomic weight: 126.90447
Atomic number: 53
Electron configuration: 2-8-18-18-7
Oxidation states: ±1, +5, 7
State of matter: solid
Non-metal
Discovered in 1811 by Bernard Courtois
Boils at 184°C, melts at 113.5°C
Notes:
Iodine is bluish-black in color with a metallic luster, characteristic odor, and sharp acrid taste. At room temperature, iodine sublimes into a violet vapor that irritates the eyes, nose, and throat. It dissolves in alcohol and partially in water to make a brown colored solution.
XENON
Atomic symbol: Xe
Atomic weight: 131.29
Atomic number: 54
Electron configuration: 2-8-18-18-8
Oxidation states: +0
State of matter: gas
Noble gas
Discovered in 1898 by Sir William Ramsay and Morris W. Travers
Boils at -107.1°C, melts at -111.9°C
Notes:
Xenon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless relatively inert, monatomic gas. It is heavy and extremely rare. It is inert, meaning it does not react with other elements and has an octet atomic structure. Xenon flash lamps are used to activate ruby lasers. It is the first noble gas to combine with other elements, which was discovered in 1962 by Neil Bartlet, which was previously thought to be impossible.
CESIUM
Atomic symbol: Cs
Atomic weight: 132.9054519
Atomic number: 55
Electron configuration: 2-8-18-18-8-1
Oxidation states: +1
State of matter: solid
Light metal
Discovered in 1860 by Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff
Boils at 671°C, melts at 28.5°C
Notes:
Cesium was the first element to be discovered spectroscopically. It is a silvery-white metal that is extremely reactive and becomes a liquid in warmer atmospheres. Cesium causes an explosive reaction when dropped in water. It has also been used for the construction and operation of a type of atomic clock.
BARIUM
Atomic symbol: Ba
Atomic weight: 137.327
Atomic number: 56
Electron configuration: 2-8-18-8-18-5
Oxidation states: +2
State of matter: solid
Light metal
Discovered in 1808 by Sir Humphry Davy
Boils at 1640°C, mlts at 725°C
Notes:
Barium is used in metallurgy, pyrotechnics, radiology and petroleum mining. It has a silvery-white luster when cut. Like many other light elements, it is very reactive, and it displaces hydrogen in water to form barium hydroxide.
LANTHANUM
Atomic symbol: La
Atomic weight: 138.9047
Electron configuration: 2-8-18-32-9-2
Atomic number: 57
Oxidation states: +3
State of matter: solid
Heavy metal, brittle
Discovered in 1839 by Carl Gustaf Mosander
Boils at 3454°C, melts at 920°C
Notes:
Lanthanum is a ductile, malleable, silvery white rare earth metal. It forms alloys with several other metals, and has three allotropic forms. At 268°C Lanthanum becomes a superconductor.
CERIUM
Atomic symbol: Ce
Atomic weight: 140.116
Atomic number: 58
Electron configuration: 2-8-18-20-8-2
Oxidation states: +3, +4
State of matter: solid
Heavy metal, brittle
Discovered in 1803 by J