Neptunium is a toxic and radioactive heavy metal, which exists on earth only in extremely small traces. It was named after planet Neptune, the neighbour of Uranus, since the element is the neighbour of uranium in the periodic table. It is only used in nuclear technology, specifically for atomic batteries.
The name is a combination of the greek prefix proto ("first" or "before", "original") and the element actinium, because it is the precursor of actinium in the so called decay chain of uranium.
Thorium is named after the nordic god Thor. Even though the element is radioactive, it has a half life of 14 billion years (in its most important isotope) – therefore more stable than uranium. It was formerly used for gas mantles in lamps.
The name actinium comes from the greek word aktis meaning "ray", because it generates radioactive rays and glows in the dark. It is name patron for a whole group of elements: the actinides. Because of its strong radioactivity there are only a few very special applications for it.
The story of radium is quite sad. After it was discovered, people were fascinated by this element which glows in the dark. Nobody knew that this was because of its harmful radioactivity. There was a hype around products containing radium, which were sold as cures and cosmetics. Only after workers, who painted glow-in-the-dark paint containing radium onto wrist-watches, began to develop cancer in the mouth, people started to realize that there was something wrong.
Francium is considered as the most unstable natural occurring element. Several scientists unsuccessfully claimed the discovery, but finally in the year 1939 Maguerite Perey was able to provide evidence and named it after her homeland France. The radioactivity is two million times higher than plutonium. Therefore it is impossible to produce visible amounts of it, the sample woud immediately evaporate because of the heat generated by its own radioactivity.
Radon the heaviest and at the same time the only radioactive noble gas. It is a decay product of naturally occurring uranium or thorium and dissolves out of the ground into the atmosphere, where it aggregates in caves or cellars. Even though the element is radioactive, it is supposed to have healing qualities. There are even official spas that offer radon baths as a form of therapy. The medicinal benefit is disputed.
Astat is the rarest naturally occurring element on earth. Any given moment there are only a few grams – as a decay product of uranium. The name comes ancient Greek meaning "unstable", because even its most stable isotope has a half-life of only a few hours. Because of its high radioactivity it can only be produced and examined in tiny amounts. Therefore there are no photos of this element nor can chemical experiments be conducted with it.
Nobody has seen the monster Asta Asta yet. Some believe it is ony a myth or a phantom.
This radioactive element was named by Marie Curie after her homeland Poland. It became famous with the poisoning of the former russian spy Alexander Litwinenko, who changed sides to the british secret service. In 2006 apparently he was given tea containing polonium, after which he died of radiation syndrome.
The monster resembles the eagle from the polish coat of arms. The body reminds of a rocket because the element is being used in nuclear weapons.
This highly toxic element got its name from the Greek word thallós, which translates into "green twig" because of its characteristic green spectral line. That means it turns flames into green when burning. Therefore it was used for green emergency flares. Other uses are in special optical glasses and in rat poison.
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