P6+-+Actinides

RICKY MUNDRANE & NICK LAMBERT

ACTINIDES Actinides consist of the following elements: The unique elements in the group called Actinides, are in period 5 of the periodic table of elements.
 * Actinium
 * Thorium
 * Protactinium
 * Uranium
 * Neptunium
 * Plutonium
 * Americium
 * Curium
 * Berkelium
 * Californium
 * Einsteinium
 * Fermium
 * Mendelevium
 * Nobelium
 * Lawrencium

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES The elements in the Actinide group have some common physical properties. One of these properties is that all of these metals are dense. This means that their particles are packed closely together. Another physical property of Actinide elements is that they are shiny. The last physical property of Actinide elements is that they are all hard in their solid state.

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES The Actinides also have some common chemical properties. One chemical property that all of the Actinides share is radioactivity. This is a chemical property because the particles in these elements are unstable, which causes a lot of energy and these elements emit a glow. Another chemical property these elements share is the ability to release hydrogen gas when they react with boiling water or dilute acid. The final chemical property that these fascinating elements share is the ability to tarnish while exposed to the air.

SOLID, LIQUID, OR GAS? The elements in the Actinide group can actually be in all three states because they are metals. They can be in the solid, liquid, and in some cases, they can be in the gas form. The changes between state all depends on the temperature of the metal. The metals will melt if the temperature rises, or harden if they are left in a neutral or cold temperature.

COMMON USES Actinide metals are used in a helpful way, and also in a sometimes harmful way. Some of the actinide elements are used to make atomic bombs. This would be a harmful use because atomic bombs are usually made to kill people. Another use of some of the Actinide elements is that they are used in cancer therapy. This a helpful use because these elements are helping people treat cancer. Another common use of the Actinide metals is they are used in making artificial pacemakers. This is another example of a helpful use.

INTERESTING FACTS One interesting fact about Actinides is that only four of the Actinide metals occur naturally in nature, the rest are made artificially in laboratories. Another interesting fact about Actinides is that in past years, they didn't used to be thought of as important, but now they are some of the most popular and most interesting elements in science. The last interesting fact about Actinides is that some of them are used in powering spacecrafts, and used as another source of energy for sending messages from space to Earth.

WORKS CITED

Stewertka, Albert. //A Guide to the Elements Second Edition.// Berlin: Oxford University Press Incorporated, 2002.

"Actinides." //Chemistry.about.com.// New York Times, 2009. October 21-26, 2009.< []>

"Chemical Periodic Table." //Calculatoredge.com.// October 21-26, 2009. 

"Actinides." //answers.com.// The Gale Group Incorporated, 2002. October 21-26, 2009. 