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Elements and Their Uses

A compact, tabular revision of common chemical elements, their symbols and everyday and industrial uses, for CAPF Paper I General Science (chemistry)

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At a glance

SubjectGeneral Science

RevisionGeneral ScienceChemistryElementsPaper 1

Cover the right columns and recall symbol and use. CAPF Paper I chemistry tests element symbols, common uses and a few key facts. These are standard textbook associations. For instruments see scientific instruments and uses and for alloys see important alloys and composition.

Common metals and their uses

Element	Symbol	Main uses
Iron	Fe	Steel, construction, machinery; haemoglobin
Aluminium	Al	Aircraft, foil, utensils, electrical cables (light, corrosion-resistant)
Copper	Cu	Electrical wiring, coins, alloys (brass, bronze)
Gold	Au	Jewellery, electronics, reserve asset
Silver	Ag	Jewellery, mirrors, photography, electronics
Lead	Pb	Batteries, radiation shielding
Zinc	Zn	Galvanising iron, alloys, dry cells
Tin	Sn	Tin plating, solder, bronze
Mercury	Hg	Thermometers, barometers (the only liquid metal at room temperature)
Sodium	Na	Sodium-vapour street lamps, common salt compounds
Potassium	K	Fertilisers, gunpowder compounds
Tungsten	W	Filaments of bulbs (very high melting point)
Uranium / Plutonium	U / Pu	Nuclear fuel and weapons
Titanium	Ti	Aircraft, implants (strong and light)
Platinum	Pt	Catalysts, jewellery, lab equipment

Common non-metals and their uses

Element	Symbol	Main uses
Carbon	C	Diamond (cutting), graphite (pencils, electrodes), fuels
Hydrogen	H	Fuel, ammonia synthesis, hydrogenation of oils
Oxygen	O	Respiration, combustion, welding, medical use
Nitrogen	N	Fertilisers, inert atmosphere, food packaging
Sulphur	S	Sulphuric acid, gunpowder, vulcanising rubber
Phosphorus	P	Matches, fertilisers, crackers
Chlorine	Cl	Water disinfection, bleaching, PVC
Iodine	I	Antiseptic (tincture), thyroid health
Silicon	Si	Semiconductors, chips, glass, solar cells
Helium	He	Balloons, airships, cryogenics (inert and light)
Neon	Ne	Neon signs and lamps
Argon	Ar	Inert filling in light bulbs, welding shield

Quick-recall single facts

Fact	Answer
Only liquid metal at room temperature	Mercury
Lightest element	Hydrogen
Most abundant element in the Earth's crust	Oxygen
Most abundant metal in the crust	Aluminium
Element used in bulb filaments	Tungsten
Element used in semiconductors	Silicon
Element added to drinking water for disinfection	Chlorine
Hardest natural substance (form of carbon)	Diamond

Cross-references

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