Chemical Properties
Science: KS3, topic 2.4.2
Chemical Properties of Elements
Chemical properties of elements are properties that can be observed during a chemical reaction. The properties include how likely they are to undergo a chemical reaction.
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Chemical properties
- The properties of elements that allow them to react and undergo a chemical change are called chemical properties.
- We will look at the chemical properties of elements on the next slides...
Toxicity
- Toxic elements are those that are poisonous to humans and can cause serious illness, even death.
- Mercury used to fill thermometers but it is easily absorbed through your skin and can be inhaled. Inhalation can cause death.
- Arsenic is used as a poison. It can also cause cancer.
- Lead in your body causes vomiting, coma and death. Lead was once used to line water pipes, and can be seen on the periodic table with the element symbol Pb.
- Pb comes from its latin name, Plumbum.
Flammability
- The flammability of an element is how easily it will react with oxygen, causing a fire.
- If an element is more flammable, it will react with oxygen and burn at a much lower temperature.
- Hydrogen gas is very flammable. The Hindenberg, a hydrogen-filled German Zeppelin airship in 1937, was destroyed by fire.
Test yourself on Chemical Properties
Why did the hydrogen-filled Hindenburg airship catch fire so easily in 1937?
Which of these are true of the toxic elements?