Fun Facts 7

MORE element information!

• The famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven probably died from lead (Pb, #82) poisoning. That would explain why he was sick so often, and why he lost his hearing.
• The metal rhenium (Re, #75) is used to make jet engines because it remains strong at high temperatures.
• Glass containing boron (B, #5) can be used in the oven; this is sometimes called Pyrex glass.
• Vanadium (V, #23) was actually discovered twice! In 1801, Manuel del Rio from Mexico City found vanadium in a metal ore sample. However, other scientists convinced him that he had made a mistake. It wasn't until 1831 that the Swede Nils Gabriel Sefström rediscovered it. Scientists quickly realized that del Rio had been first, and he is considered to be the official discoverer of vanadium.
• Some compounds made with bromine (Br, #35) do not burn easily, so they may be added to plastics as flame retardants.
• Albert Einstein is one of the most famous scientists of all time, so it is not surprising that he has an element named after him - einsteinium (Es, #99). Unfortunately, it's not really used for anything!
• The radioactive element uranium (U, #92) strengthens the armor on miliary vehicles such as tanks.
• Iodine (I, #53) is commonly added to table salt to help keep people's thyroid glands healthy.
• Small, but very powerful, magnets made with neodymium (Nd, #60) are used in cell phones, computers, and cars.
• Arsenic (As, #33) is well-known as a poison, and has been used to kill pests such as bugs and mice since the time of the ancient Chinese.