Name That Element!

In its pure form, this nonmetal is a yellow, odorless solid. But in nature, it’s found only in combination with other elements. These compounds often have a telltale scent: rotten eggs! It’s the mystery element that gives both skunks and garlic their stink. A compound containing the mystery element is also added to natural gas in stoves and heaters. Its foul odor can alert people to a dangerous gas leak. Game over already? Score 100 points. If not, read clue 2.

The pure form of this nonmetal is a yellow, odorless solid. But in nature, it’s always combined with other elements. These compounds often have a telltale scent. They smell like rotten eggs! The mystery element gives both skunks and garlic their stink. And a compound of the mystery element is added to natural gas in stoves and heaters. Its bad odor can warn of a dangerous gas leak. Game over already? Score 100 points. If not, read clue 2.

You can thank the mystery element for keeping snacks fresh months after they were packaged. That’s because the element is a preservative. Food manufacturers add it to dried fruits, pickles, and baked goods like breads so they stay fresh longer. The mystery element prevents food from spoiling by disrupting the growth of microbes. “It kills bacteria, yeast, and molds,” says food scientist Joseph Hotchkiss. Figured it out? Score 80 points. Still playing? Check out clue 3.

Some snacks stay fresh for months after they were packaged. You can thank the mystery element for that. The element is a preservative. Food manufacturers add it to dried fruits, pickles, and baked goods like breads. This helps the foods stay fresh longer. The mystery element disrupts the growth of microbes. That’s how it prevents food from spoiling. “It kills bacteria, yeast, and molds,” says food scientist Joseph Hotchkiss. Figured it out? Score 80 points. Still playing? Check out clue 3.

People burn fossil fuels, like coal, in power plants to produce electricity. This releases gas molecules made up of one atom of the mystery element bonded to two atoms of oxygen (O)—both found in the same group, or column, on the periodic table. In the atmosphere, this gas forms an acid—a chemical that can eat away at other substances. It falls to the ground as acid rain, which can harm plants and aquatic organisms. Acid rain also damages buildings, bridges, and monuments. Got it? Score 60 points. Not sure? Try the next clue.

Many power plants burn fossil fuels like coal to produce electricity. This releases gases. Molecules of one of these gases contain one atom of the mystery element and two atoms of oxygen (O). Both elements are in the same group, or column, on the periodic table. In the atmosphere, this gas forms an acid. That’s a chemical that can eat away at other substances. It falls to the ground as acid rain and can harm plants and aquatic organisms. Acid rain also damages buildings, bridges, and monuments. Got it? Score 60 points. Not sure? Try the next clue.

The mystery element makes toothpaste foam, shampoo lather, and soap sudsy. That’s because compounds containing the element are added to personal care products and household cleaners as surfactants. Surfactants are chemicals that help water and oil mix to wash away dirt and grime. They work by lowering water’s surface tension. Reducing the ability of water’s molecules to stick together makes it easier for bubbles to form. All done? Score 40 points. Still need help? There’s one last clue.

The mystery element makes toothpaste foam. It makes lather in shampoo and suds in soap. Compounds of the element are added to personal care products and household cleaners. These compounds are called surfactants. They help water and oil mix to wash away dirt and grime. These chemicals work by lowering water’s surface tension. They reduce the ability of water’s molecules to stick together. That makes it easier for bubbles to form. All done? Score 40 points. Still need help? There’s one last clue.

The mystery element spews from as many as 400 volcanoes on Jupiter’s moon Io. “Most of Io’s reds, greens, browns, and even blacks are due to different forms of this element,” says Moses Milazzo, a scientist at NASA. The mystery element has many allotropes—different structural forms in which an element’s atoms can be arranged. Each allotrope of the mystery element, which has an atomic number of 16, has a different hue. Write your answer and score 20 points. Then continue.

Jupiter’s moon Io has as many as 400 volcanoes. They spew out the mystery element. Moses Milazzo is a scientist at NASA. “Most of Io’s reds, greens, browns, and even blacks are due to different forms of this element,” he says. The mystery element’s atoms can be arranged into many different structures. They’re known as allotropes. This element’s atomic number is 16, and each of its allotropes has a different shade. Write your answer and score 20 points. Then continue.