Kate in Arabia Posted May 4, 2010 Share Posted May 4, 2010 I bought this tiny package of six element cubes in a small shop in Saudi a few years ago. Well I've finally brought it out for us to look at as we learn about rocks. Each has the abbreviation engraved in it, but one of them I cannot figure out what it is. I feel really dense. So we have: Fe - iron Pb - lead Zn - zinc Cu - copper Al - aluminum Bs - ??? So, any ideas? It's bronze in color, if that helps. I think it's lighter than iron, copper and lead but heavier than zinc and aluminum. I've been searching the internet with no success... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christine in al Posted May 4, 2010 Share Posted May 4, 2010 (edited) never mind. I shouldn't try to read while folks are talking to me at this end. good luck with your project. Edited May 4, 2010 by christine in al I'm an idiot . and can't read. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted May 4, 2010 Share Posted May 4, 2010 Could it be a typo for Bi, Bismuth? It doesn't have a copper colour, but can have a reddish tinge. I thought maybe it was antimony with the letters reversed, but antimony is toxic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mammaofbean Posted May 4, 2010 Share Posted May 4, 2010 no element i know of. possibly the engraving is wrong? maybe look at this to see what it is like. http://periodictable.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate in Arabia Posted May 4, 2010 Author Share Posted May 4, 2010 That is a very cool table of the elements. However, I'm having a hard time guessing because what I have is a totally smooth cube. edited to add: I found a similar set on a Singapore physics supply website! RM5087 Density Cubes Set of six 25mm cubes one each of lead, zinc, brass, copper, aluminum, iron, all with equal volume but different masses. http://www.kbescientific.com.sg/physics_apparatus.htm So I think it's brass, does brass have an "official" abbreviation? Thanks for talking me through it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted May 4, 2010 Share Posted May 4, 2010 So I think it's brass, does brass have an "official" abbreviation?Yay! Since it's an alloy, I don't think brass has an official abbreviation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dansamy Posted May 4, 2010 Share Posted May 4, 2010 No. Brass is a mixed metal. It is not a pure element. It wouldn't have an elemental periodic table abbreviation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate in Arabia Posted May 4, 2010 Author Share Posted May 4, 2010 My kids actually were fascinated with the density aspect -- six cubes all the exact same size, but the weights are so different. It's like one of those little toys you buy to keep your hands busy, that you just can't put down, lol. Ok, maybe I was a little fascinated too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted May 4, 2010 Share Posted May 4, 2010 Well I know what BS usually stands for, but it's not an element :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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