Fun Facts 2

Here are even more tidbits about elements:

• The blood of the octopus is blue because it contains copper (Cu, #29), instead of iron like the blood of mammals.
• Many dandruff shampoos contain selenium (Se, #34), which helps relieve itching and flaking.
• Many expensive camera lenses are made with glass containing lanthanum (La, #57), which gives clearer photos than regular glass does.
• Erbium (Er, #68) lasers can be used to remove wrinkles the skin.
• Berkelium (Bk, #97) is named after the city of Berkeley, CA, where it was first created at the University of California.
• The gemstones emerald, aquamarine, and alexandrite all contain beryllium (Be, #4).
• Radioactive technetium (Tc, #43) is used to detect tumors in the body.
• In the future, computer chips may be made with the element hafnium (Hf, #72), instead of with silicon, as they are today.
• All fluorescent light bulbs, including the new compact fluorescent lights (CFL's), contain the poisonous element mercury (Hg, #80). Because of this, you cannot throw them away with the regular trash.
• Many new cars come with xenon (Xe, #54) headlights, which give off a blue-ish light. They are very bright and can bother other drivers.