Home >> Science & Nature >> Nature

How to Identify the Natural Frequency of Elements

Identifying the natural frequency of the elements may seem difficult but it can be more easily understood through a systematic approach of categorizing common substances and objects.

Originally there was only one element: hydrogen. The two most abundant elements in the universe are now hydrogen and helium. The combining of hydrogen and helium atoms billions of years ago created all other elements.

One way to identify the natural frequency of other elements is to understand what substances account for much of the matter in the universe, and what elements are part of that matter.

Things You'll Need

Pen or pencil
Pad or paper

Instructions

- 1
  
  Mountains, buildings and roads are basically made of the same materials.
  
  Create a list of 10 to 15 nonliving things common on Earth. Start with natural things, such as rocks, dirt and water (oceans, rivers and lakes, for example), then include man-made things such as cars, roads and buildings.
- 2
  
  A considerable portion of limestone came from fossils millions of years ago.
  
  Group those objects by their composition, such as rock, metal and water. For example, mountains, buildings and dirt are all made up of similar substances, usually either calcium carbonate or silicon dioxide.
  
  Calcium carbonate is formed when calcium, carbon and oxygen atoms chemically bond together. Cinder blocks, marble, limestone, seashells and coral are primarily calcium carbonate, as is chalk.
  
  Another common compound, silicon dioxide, is the result of silicon and oxygen atoms bonding. Sand, granite, glass, the gritty part of soil and dirt, quartz and most other minerals are forms of silicon dioxide.
  
  All water -- H2O -- is composed of hydrogen and oxygen, so there is an abundance of these elements on Earth.
- 3
  
  Gold has one of the lowest frequency distributions of any element.
  
  Circle the objects in your list that have metal in them. There will be fewer metallic objects in the list than any other type. Most common metal elements are of "medium" abundance, but iron is one exception. For very complicated reasons, iron is one of the most abundant metals in the universe -- but not on Earth.
  
  The above elements -- calcium, carbon, silicon, hydrogen, and oxygen -- are very common on Earth. Some uncommon elements include metals like gold, silver, platinum, palladium and iridium. In fact, the total amount of gold mined in all of history would only fill about a 66-foot cube, making it one of the least abundant elements.

Nature