1Tungsten
Tungsten is a naturally radioactive element, but its isotopes half-lives are so long it is considered stable.
2Molybdenum
Molybdenum is an essential element for mammals (you need it to live) and Molybdenum is also present within human tooth enamel and may help prevent its decay.
3Gold
There’s enough gold in Earth’s core to coat its surface in 1.5 feet of the stuff.
4Beryllium
Beryllium, the 4th element on the periodic table, is rarely used by chemists. However, because it is light and strong, it is used in aircraft and cell phones. It is also highly toxic. Just 1/4 milligram (mass of a grain of salt) can kill a rat.
5Aluminum
Aluminum used to be one of the most expensive metals in the world. Only the wealthiest ate with aluminum utensils, while lesser nobility ate with gold.
6Osmium
A ton of Osmium, the densest occurring natural element, would only be about the size of a 10-gallon fish tank.
7Palladium
More than half of the world’s supply of palladium is used in catalytic converters, which converts as much as 90% of the harmful gases emitted in automobile exhaust into less noxious substances.
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8Titanium
In order to obtain the vast amounts of titanium needed for the construction of the SR-71, the CIA created fake companies throughout the world to purchase the metal from the biggest supplier, the USSR.
9Iridium
A cube of iridium of 6 inches on a side (15 cm) would weigh as much as an average adult human.
10Gold on trees
Gold can grow on trees. This actually happens. When a tree has deep root growth, it can “strike gold” and absorb it through a biochemical process and in turn deposit the mineral into the tree’s bark and leaves.
