A Letter to His Parents

1. ARSENIC

* bronzing

* pyrotechnics

* hardening and improving the sphericity of shot

* doping agent in solid-state devices such as transistors

* the arsenide is used as a laser material to convert electricity directly into coherent light

2. BARIUM

* the sulphate, as permanent white or blanc fixe, is used in paint, in X-ray diagnostic work (BaSO4)

* glassmaking

* barite is extensively used as a weighting agent in oil well drilling fluids, and in making rubber

* the carbonate is a rat poison

* the nitrate and chlorate give green colours (CARE!) in pyrotechnics

* sulphide is a white pigment

* making rubber

* rat poison

3. ANTIMONY

* used in semiconductor technology for making infrared detectors, diodes, and Hall-effect devices

* used in alloys with percentages ranging from 1 to 20 - greatly increases the hardness and mechanical strength of lead

* batteries, antifriction alloys, type metal, small arms and tracer bullets, cable sheathing, and minor products use about half the metal produced

* oxides, sulphides, sodium antimonate, and antimony trichloride are used in manufacturing flame-proofing compounds, paints, ceramic enamels, glass, and pottery.

* tartar emetic (hydrated potassium antimonyltartate) is used in medicine

4. IRON

* pig iron is an alloy containing about 3% carbon with varying amounts of S, Si, Mn, and P. It is hard, brittle, fairly fusible, and is used to produce other alloys, including steel

* wrought iron contains a few tenths of a percent of carbon, is tough, malleable, less fusible, and has usually a "fibrous" structure

* carbon steel is an alloy of iron with carbon, with small amounts of Mn, S, P, and Si

5. ARGON

* used in electric light bulbs and in fluorescent tubes at a pressure of about 3 mm, photo tubes, glow tubes, etc.

* used as an inert gas shield for arc welding and cutting

* blanket for the production of titanium and other...