There are several elements that have been known since antiquity, meaning that they were discovered and used by ancient civilizations, long before the advent of modern chemistry.

Most substances encountered in nature are chemical compounds, formed by the combination of different elements. In some cases scientists were aware of an element within a sample, but when we reference the people making elemental discoveries, it will refer to the physical isolation of a sample of the element.

  • Gold (Au): Gold has been known and valued by humans since ancient times. It was used for decorative purposes, currency, and jewelry. The ancient Egyptians, for example, used gold to make masks for their pharaohs and other important figures.

  • Silver (Ag): Silver has also been used since ancient times for currency, jewelry, and decorative purposes. It was valued almost as highly as gold in many civilizations.

  • Copper (Cu): Copper was one of the first metals to be used by humans. It was used to make tools, weapons, and decorative objects. The ancient Egyptians used copper to make jewelry, while the ancient Greeks and Romans used it to make coins.

  • Iron (Fe): Iron was also known and used by ancient civilizations, although it was not as common as copper. The Hittites, an ancient civilization that flourished in the Middle East, were among the first to use iron extensively.

  • Lead (Pb): Lead has been used by humans for thousands of years. The ancient Romans used lead to make water pipes, while the ancient Egyptians used it to make amulets and other decorative objects.

  • Tin (Sn): Tin was used by ancient civilizations to make bronze, an alloy of copper and tin. Bronze was used for weapons, tools, and decorative objects.

  • Mercury (Hg): Mercury was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who used it in medicine and in the production of cosmetics.

  • Antimony (Sb): Antimony was used by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks in the form of stibnite, a mineral that contains antimony sulfide. It was used for medicinal purposes and to make kohl, a cosmetic product.

  • Arsenic (As): Arsenic was used by ancient civilizations for medicinal purposes and to poison enemies. The ancient Greeks and Romans knew about arsenic compounds but did not know the element itself.

- 1669 - (P) - Phosphorus

- 1669 - (P) - Phosphorus

  • Hennig Brand was a 17th-century German alchemist who is best known for his discovery of phosphorus, one of the first chemical elements to be discovered. He was searching for the philosopher's stone, a mythical substance that was believed to have the power to turn base metals into gold and provide eternal life.

    In 1669, Brand boiled large quantities of urine and collected the residue, which he then heated until it became red hot. The resulting substance glowed in the dark and emitted a pale greenish light, which he called "cold fire". This was the first time phosphorus had been discovered, and the element's unique properties led to its widespread use in a range of fields, including agriculture, medicine, and warfare. Brand's discovery of phosphorus was a significant contribution to the field of chemistry and helped to lay the groundwork for the development of modern chemistry.

1766 Hydrogen (H)

Hydrogen, the chemical element with the atomic number 1 and symbol H, has a long and interesting history in the field of chemistry.

Hydrogen was first recognized as a distinct substance by the English chemist Henry Cavendish in 1766. Cavendish conducted a series of experiments in which he reacted metals with acids, and observed that a flammable gas was produced. He called this gas "inflammable air" because it was highly combustible.

To isolate hydrogen, Cavendish performed a series of experiments in which he reacted iron with hydrochloric acid. He collected the gas that was produced and observed that it was highly flammable and burned with a pale blue flame. He also noticed that the gas was much lighter than air.

Cavendish realized that he had discovered a new element and called it "inflammable air". He later recognized that this gas was the same as the gas that was produced when acids reacted with certain metals, and he suggested that this gas was a component of water.

Later, in 1781, the French chemist Antoine Lavoisier showed that hydrogen combined with oxygen to form water, and he was the first to accurately describe the composition of water. He gave the element it’s name "hydrogen" in 1783. Lavoisier recognized the importance of hydrogen in chemical reactions and proposed that it be considered a fundamental element, which it is today.

Over the years, hydrogen has been used for a wide range of applications, including as a fuel for rockets, as a chemical feedstock for the production of ammonia and other chemicals, and as a potential clean fuel for cars and other vehicles.

Henry Cavendish was an English scientist and chemist who made significant contributions to the field of chemistry in the 18th century. He is most famous for his discovery of hydrogen, which he referred to as "inflammable air". He also conducted experiments on the composition of air, discovering a small amount of a new gas that he later identified as argon. Cavendish's work on gases helped establish the principles of molar volume and the behavior of gases under different conditions, and laid the foundation for later work in the field of chemistry. He is considered one of the most important scientists of his time and his work continues to influence the field of chemistry to this day.