A scientific question :)

[Shunsin no Shisui]

This actually a pretty simple question and I think it's really stupid I can't find it on the internet. Just goes to show I guess that you can't find EVERYTHING on the internet.

My question is: Why do some Elements in the Periodic Table not have much uses on their own? Like for example, I think most need to become compounds in order to bring about many uses. By the way to make it easier, I'm concentrating specifically on the elements in group 1 and group 7. So in other words, the question mainly applies to them.

Please help me out. The best answer/s will get pos+ repped

 

[YowYan]

I never really went deep into it, so I can't really post a legit answer :3

You must be registered for see images

 

[Braveknight]

Well

Every thing is made up from atoms

Periodic table have almost all known basic atoms

So if you found one atom that does not goes with other atom it might be able to compile with other atom

 

[smokesup]

Because the creator wants us to learn about TEAM work and how we are stronger together then apart!

T ogether
E veryone
A ccomplishes
M ore

 

[Shunsin no Shisui]

Well

Every thing is made up from atoms

Periodic table have almost all known basic atoms

So if you found one atom that does not goes with other atom it might be able to compile with other atom

Well, I know that I'm talking about the uses of elements though. If we compare the uses which an element has and the uses which a compound has, they would be different depending on which elements they are.

PS: C'mon guys, I'm sure it's not that hard of a question. :shrug: Is there a scientist in the crowd?

 

[-S-]

Well, it's because we need certain compounds for important things. Atoms on their own are like building blocks; not all are useful for us alone.

Chlorine is deadly, but with Sodium you get salt which benefits humans.

Essentially, elements on their own aren't there to be all useful to us.

 

[Codawg]

Whew it's been a while...Given group 1 and group 7 elements are the "most" reactive, concerning the number of electrons they're willing to give up or receive to obtain a "perfect" state, may have a lot to do with their use. Though I personally enjoy what happens before they're in a perfect state. v_v I think I'm just rambling now...gah, I'm bout bloody mental -_-

 

[Frankenstein]

I am not a chemist but this is obvious. No element is useful alone because that way the structure isn't stable.

Another reason is because it just is that way in nature, deal with it xd

Trust me, I am an engineer

 

[Shunsin no Shisui]

Well, it's because we need certain compounds for important things. Atoms on their own are like building blocks; not all are useful for us alone.

Chlorine is deadly, but with Sodium you get salt which benefits humans.

Essentially, elements on their own aren't there to be all useful to us.

Nice, I would appreciate if you could please elaborate a bit more You were doing well, a pos+ rep is headed your way

Whew it's been a while...Given group 1 and group 7 elements are the "most" reactive, concerning the number of electrons they're willing to give up or receive to obtain a "perfect" state, may have a lot to do with their use. Though I personally enjoy what happens before they're in a perfect state. v_v I think I'm just rambling now...gah, I'm bout bloody mental -_-

No please carry one I've gooott plenty of pos+ reeeppp to hand oouutt

I am not a chemist but this is obvious. No element is useful alone because that way the structure isn't stable.

Another reason is because it just is that way in nature, deal with it xd

Trust me, I am an engineer

Oh man you doing well, please talk about their uses

 

[Wesobi]

Before I go further into this topic, do you mean solely based on the periodic table or also the substance as themselves?

Look at helium for example in real life situations, it has so many uses.

It causes things to have a light weight (balloons), is used to create light (in a lamp for example), is used as a sedative drug (dentists), can be used as laughing gas, and potentially can be used as a weapon given that its properties are changed in some way, though it's still solely helium.

Forgive me if my info is off, it's been a while.

 

[Shunsin no Shisui]

Before I go further into this topic, do you mean solely based on the periodic table or also the substance as themselves?

Look at helium for example in real life situations, it has so many uses.

It causes things to have a light weight (balloons), is used to create light (in a lamp for example), is used as a sedative drug (dentists), can be used as laughing gas, and potentially can be used as a weapon given that its properties are changed in some way, though it's still solely helium.

Forgive me if my info is off, it's been a while.

****, Wesobi! Don't scare me like that man, I thought you were gonna close the thread! O_O U_U .... hehe kidding xd

Erm.. both explanations would be appreciated, :shrug: it's mainly about the comparison between uses of the elements alone and uses of the elements as compounds. I'll also elaborate, the elements I wonna know about are in Groups 1 and 7 so basically in the form of compunds I have: Sodium Chloride, Lithium Fluoride, Sodium Iodide, Potassium Chloride and Sodium Bromide(yah only 5).

No no it's cool, thanks but what I'm specifically looking for is info on Group 1 and Group 7 elements(ones above^)

 

[beuciphalus]

brother im not sure but regarding your group 1 and 2 elements they are most reactive due to fact that they are eletron gaining atoms...
group 1 and 2 require only 1 and 2 atom respectively to complete their octate.....
and in the case of group 3 to 7 they have vacant d-orbitals...sothat they can share electrons easily from other compounds....
hope this helps....

 

[pandu]

Well! elements alone are generally not very useful due to their unstable and reactive nature and groups 1 & 7 are most reactive.Hence handling them is pretty difficult.Although some elements like chlorine and fluorine have good uses in various fields, storing them is difficult.When u cant handle or store any thing it is pretty much useless commercially.

 

[Prometheus Beta]

Err the better question would be why you expect the elements and compounds, most of which have distinct chemical properties, to be equally useful. Pretty much all stable elements and compounds are going to have some uses here and there, the difference is that there are at least tens of thousands of compounds (well actually millions but most of them are carbon compounds) whereas there are only 118 elements.

 

[Shunsin no Shisui]

brother im not sure but regarding your group 1 and 2 elements they are most reactive due to fact that they are eletron gaining atoms...
group 1 and 2 require only 1 and 2 atom respectively to complete their octate.....
and in the case of group 3 to 7 they have vacant d-orbitals...sothat they can share electrons easily from other compounds....
hope this helps....

Well! elements alone are generally not very useful due to their unstable and reactive nature and groups 1 & 7 are most reactive.Hence handling them is pretty difficult.Although some elements like chlorine and fluorine have good uses in various fields, storing them is difficult.When u cant handle or store any thing it is pretty much useless commercially.

Err the better question would be why you expect the elements and compounds, most of which have distinct chemical properties, to be equally useful. Pretty much all stable elements and compounds are going to have some uses here and there, the difference is that there are at least tens of thousands of compounds (well actually millions but most of them are carbon compounds) whereas there are only 118 elements.

Thanx alot guys, you're on the right lines but something's still missing. I'll try and make it easy as possible. What can you tell me about the uses: of Sodium on its own, Potassium on its own, Lithium on its own, Chlorine on its own, Bromine on its own, Fluorine on its own and Iodine on its own? I already know that they don't have many uses as elements but I wonna know them. Also do these elements occur naturally, if so or if not then why? Sorry for being fussy , I'm just curious and wonna find out :shrug:

 

[beuciphalus]

dude sodium paotassium litium are all highly reactive...due to the fact that they require only 1 electron as i stated...they cant remain in thier elemental state...regarding the use of sodium one simple use is that it is used in making h2 gas...as when sodium is added to water...the h20 molecules gets dissosiated inti h2 and o2...oxygen reacts with sodim to form Na2O and H2 gas...thats why when you add sodium meta to water it catches fire...
and in the case of iodine...the size of the iodine atom is very big so t is not at stable so it cant remain in its elemental form and tend to form I2..and in the case of chlorine...as it has small size then iodine but it has vacant p-orbital so it also tends to form compounds...
one should also remember the fact that as we go down the group the size of atom increases with increase in shell....
woohh....that waslong... ....and took some time tooo....

 

[Shunsin no Shisui]

dude sodium paotassium litium are all highly reactive...due to the fact that they require only 1 electron as i stated...they cant remain in thier elemental state...regarding the use of sodium one simple use is that it is used in making h2 gas...as when sodium is added to water...the h20 molecules gets dissosiated inti h2 and o2...oxygen reacts with sodim to form Na2O and H2 gas...thats why when you add sodium meta to water it catches fire...
and in the case of iodine...the size of the iodine atom is very big so t is not at stable so it cant remain in its elemental form and tend to form I2..and in the case of chlorine...as it has small size then iodine but it has vacant p-orbital so it also tends to form compounds...
one should also remember the fact that as we go down the group the size of atom increases with increase in shell....
woohh....that waslong... ....and took some time tooo....

Thank you so much I'll pos+ rep you since I keep my word ¬3 (<that icon is supposed to be Naruto's 'thumb of good will' )

What I know about Sodium is that it does react with the oxygen in water so it has to be stored under oil. So is there no use of Potassium and Lithium? Isn't Fluorine used in toothpaste? xd Is Iodine used as an anticeptic or is that when it's a compound just like Fluorine? And what about Bromine? :shrug:

The pos+ rep is on its way headed towards you, but it will arrive when you've answered the questions above^
Good Luck

 

[AirWind]

The minimal usage of certain elements doesnt means that they never been used, just that the things that need their elements are limited or rare.

 

[beuciphalus]

potassium and litium have unlimited industrial uses...1 of them is making batteries....ever heard of litium ion batteries...
and yes flourine is used in tooth-paste as it has anti bacterial properties and helps in providing an alkali medium in mouth...
and iodine is indeed an antiseptic as it also has strong anti-bacterial properties...
regarding bromine hmmm..in my classes it is generally used for titration...
but it has many uses in pharmacy...mostly in skin or acne creams....

 

[Shunsin no Shisui]

potassium and litium have unlimited industrial uses...1 of them is making batteries....ever heard of litium ion batteries...
and yes flourine is used in tooth-paste as it has anti bacterial properties and helps in providing an alkali medium in mouth...
and iodine is indeed an antiseptic as it also has strong anti-bacterial properties...
regarding bromine hmmm..in my classes it is generally used for titration...
but it has many uses in pharmacy...mostly in skin or acne creams....

I see. Damn, I don't mean to be rude but alot of people have some sort of problem understanding what others say I don't mean you specifically but I mean, what I was saying in the previous post was basically what the uses of the aformentioned elements were and as the elements being on their own NOT as compounds. I'm sure Fluoride is used in toothpaste not on its own but as either a compound or a mixture. Iodine as well, i'm sure it works together as a compound with another substance as a disinfectant for water treatment. But nevermind, the question was: Why don't they have many uses as elements alone? Such as let's say Bromine, why does it have more uses when it is a compound? < Please answer this and I'll pos+ rep.