Periodic Table of Toxic Elements

Simply 'click' on any of the colored elements to access the information.
Group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Period
1 1
H		 2
He
2 3
Li		 4
Be		 5
B		 6
C		 7
N		 8
O		 9
F		 10
Ne
3 11
Na		 12
Mg		 13
Al		 14
Si		 15
P		 16
S		 17
Cl		 18
Ar
4 19
K		 20
Ca		 21
Sc		 22
Ti		 23
V		 24
Cr		 25
Mn		 26
Fe		 27
Co		 28
Ni		 29
Cu		 30
Zn		 31
Ga		 32
Ge		 33
As		 34
Se		 35
Br		 36
Kr
5 37
Rb		 38
Sr		 39
Y		 40
Zr		 41
Nb		 42
Mo		 43
Tc		 44
Ru		 45
Rh		 46
Pd		 47
Ag		 48
Cd		 49
In		 50
Sn		 51
Sb		 52
Te		 53
I		 54
Xe
6 55
Cs		 56
Ba		 * 71
Lu		 72
Hf		 73
Ta		 74
W		 75
Re		 76
Os		 77
Ir		 78
Pt		 79
Au		 80
Hg		 81
Tl		 82
Pb		 83
Bi		 84
Po		 85
At		 86
Rn
7 87
Fr		 88
Ra		 ** 103
Lr		 104
Rf		 105
Db		 106
Sg		 107
Bh		 108
Hs		 109
Mt		 110
Ds		 111
Rg		 112
Uub		 113
Uut		 114
Uuq		 115
Uup		 116
Uuh		 117
Uus		 118
Uuo
*Lanthanoids * 57
La		 58
Ce		 59
Pr		 60
Nd		 61
Pm		 62
Sm		 63
Eu		 64
Gd		 65
Tb		 66
Dy		 67
Ho		 68
Er		 69
Tm		 70
Yb
**Actinoids ** 89
Ac		 90
Th		 91
Pa		 92
U		 93
Np		 94
Pu		 95
Am		 96
Cm		 97
Bk		 98
Cf		 99
Es		 100
Fm		 101
Md		 102
No
Rare earth elements

The periodicity of chemical elemental species pioneered by Mendeleev at the end of the 19th century is a familiar template to present these elements as a function of their properties. In the present module, the properties that are discussed relate to the toxic impact some of these elements and associated molecules.

Human civilization with its exponential increase in industrial activities of recent times has seriously redistributed many toxic metals from the earth's crust to the environment and increased the possibility of human exposure. In some cases the knowledge of the toxic aspect of chemical compounds goes far back in history. In other cases the story is much more modern and sometimes goes back only one decade or two. It should also be said that one element showing up in the present page does not mean that this element is entirely bad. It just indicates that the particular element indicated could be catastrophic to the environment or to the health of some human or other life forms. Any basic course in chemistry would have shown you that one single element often exists in many oxidation states or can be preferentially associated with many other molecules, ions, and ligands.

We anticipate this section of the Corrosion Doctors Web site will grow as we gather more information and related cases.You want to share your knowledge and sources of information with our avid visitors please send a note to our We will be more than happy to include your contribution where it fits.

See also: Development of the Periodic Table, Dobereiner, Environmental toxicology, Mendeleev, Moseley, Newlands, References, Seaborg

Radionuclides

While there are hundreds of radionuclides, many of them are rarely encountered. People are much more likely to encounter a few that are used routinely for medical, military, or commercial purposes. The list below shows twelve most commonly encountered radionuclides. (reference)

Name Atomic Number

Radiation Type

Alpha

 Beta Gamma
americium-241 95 Americium is primarily an alpha particle emitter. It also emits some gamma rays. Americium primarily emits alpha particles, but also emits some gamma rays.
cesium-137 55 Cesium-137 is a beta particle emitter. Cesium-137 is a gamma emitter.
cobalt-60 27 Cobalt-60 is a beta particle emitter. Cobalt-60 is a gamma emitter.
iodine-129 &-131 53 Iodine-129 and -131 are beta particle emitters Iodine-129 and -131 are gamma ray emitters
plutonium 94 Most plutonium isotopes are alpha particle emitters; some emit other forms of radiation. Most plutonium isotopes are alpha particle emitters; some emit other forms of radiation. Most plutonium isotopes are alpha particle emitters; some emit other forms of radiation.
radium 88 Radium isotopes are alpha particle emitters. Radium isotopes are also gamma ray emitters.
radon 86 The isotopes of radon are alpha particle emitters.
strontium-90 38 Strontium-90 is a beta particle emitter.
technetium-99 43 Technitium-99 is a beta particle emitter. Technitium-99m is a gamma emitter.
tritium 1 Tritium is a beta particle emitter.
thorium 90 Thorium emits alpha particles with gamma rays Thorium emits alpha particles with gamma rays
uranium

92

Uranium is an alpha particle emitter. Uranium is a gamma ray emitter.

*tritium is a specific isotope, H-3.

Corrosion Doctors Web site