Chemical Element Density Chart

Density is the fundamental physical property of matter (mass per volume). The densities of chemical elements are usually expressed in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) or kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³). Density values vary greatly from element to element, reflecting differences in atomic structure, atomic mass, and atomic packing. Alfa Chemistry provides the following chart to help you understand the densities of the elements in the periodic table.

Density Diagram of Elements: Summarizing the Density of All Elements

Atomic Number	Element	Symbol	Density ( g/cm3)
1	Hydrogen	H	0.0000899
2	Helium	He	0.0001785
3	Lithium	Li	0.534
4	Beryllium	Be	1.848
5	Boron	B	2.34
6	Carbon	C	2.26
7	Nitrogen	N	0.0012506
8	Oxygen	O	0.001429
9	Fluorine	F	0.001696
10	Neon	Ne	0.0009
11	Sodium	Na	0.971
12	Magnesium	Mg	1.738
13	Aluminum	Al	2.702
14	Silicon	Si	2.33
15	Phosphorus	P	1.82
16	Sulphur	S	2.07
17	Chlorine	Cl	0.003214
18	Argon	Ar	0.0017824
19	Potassium	K	0.862
20	Calcium	Ca	1.55
21	Scandium	Sc	2.99
22	Titanium	Ti	4.54
23	Vanadium	V	6.11
24	Chromium	Cr	7.19
25	Manganese	Mn	7.43
26	Iron	Fe	7.874
27	Cobalt	Co	8.9
28	Nickel	Ni	8.9
29	Copper	Cu	8.96
30	Zinc	Zn	7.13
31	Gallium	Ga	5.907
32	Germanium	Ge	5.323
33	Arsenic	As	5.72
34	Selenium	Se	4.79
35	Bromine	Br	3.119
36	Krypton	Kr	0.00375
37	Rubidium	Rb	1.63
38	Strontium	Sr	2.54
39	Yttrium	Y	4.47
40	Zirconium	Zr	6.51
41	Niobium	Nb	8.57
42	Molybdenum	Mo	10.22
43	Technetium	Tc	11.5
44	Ruthenium	Ru	12.37
45	Rhodium	Rh	12.41
46	Palladium	Pd	12.02
47	Silver	Ag	10.5
48	Cadmium	Cd	8.65
49	Indium	In	7.31
50	Tin	Sn	7.31
51	Antimony	Sb	6.684
52	Tellurium	Te	6.24
53	Iodine	I	4.93
54	Xenon	Xe	0.0059
55	Cesium	Cs	1.873
56	Barium	Ba	3.59
57	Lanthanum	La	6.15
58	Cerium	Ce	6.77
59	Praseodymium	Pr	6.77
60	Neodymium	Nd	7.01
61	Promethium	Pm	7.3
62	Samarium	Sm	7.52
63	Europium	Eu	5.24
64	Gadolinium	Gd	7.895
65	Terbium	Tb	8.23
66	Dysprosium	Dy	8.55
67	Holmium	Ho	8.8
68	Erbium	Er	9.07
69	Thulium	Tm	9.32
70	Ytterbium	Yb	6.9
71	Lutetium	Lu	9.84
72	Hafnium	Hf	13.31
73	Tantalum	Ta	16.65
74	Tungsten	W	19.35
75	Rhenium	Re	21.04
76	Osmium	Os	22.6
77	Iridium	Ir	22.4
78	Platinum	Pt	21.45
79	Gold	Au	19.32
80	Mercury	Hg	13.546
81	Thallium	Tl	11.85
82	Lead	Pb	11.35
83	Bismuth	Bi	9.75
84	Polonium	Po	9.3
86	Radon	Rn	0.00973
88	Radium	Ra	5.5
89	Actinium	Ac	10.07
90	Thorium	Th	11.724
91	Protactinium	Pa	15.4
92	Uranium	U	18.95
93	Neptunium	Np	20.2
94	Plutonium	Pu	19.84
95	Americum	Am	13.67
96	Curium	Cm	13.5
97	Berkelium	Bk	14.78
98	Californium	Cf	15.1

What are the factors that affect the density of an element?

The density of a material is intricately linked to the atomic mass of its constituent elements and the atomic number density, denoted as N (atoms/cm³). These factors not only define the material's overall mass but also influence how atoms are packed in a given volume.

Atomic Mass and Its Influence on Density

The atomic mass of an element is primarily determined by the mass of its nucleus, which is composed of protons and neutrons. Despite the nucleus occupying only a small fraction of the atom's overall volume (approximately 10^-12 of the total atomic size), it contains nearly all of the atom's mass, making it a significant factor in determining the material's overall density. For example, elements with high atomic masses, such as osmium, tend to exhibit higher densities.

Atomic Number Density and Atomic Packing

Atomic number density refers to the number of atoms per unit volume (atoms/cm³), which is linked to the atomic radius of the element. A higher atomic number density means more atoms are packed into a given volume, resulting in greater mass per unit volume, and thus a higher density. The density of pure materials can be calculated by the formula:

Where:

N is the atomic number density (atoms/cm³),

N_A is Avogadro's constant (approximately 6.022×10²³ atoms/mol),

M is the molecular mass in g/mol,

ρ is the density of the material in g/cm³.

Applications of Element Density Data

• Material Science and Engineering

Material science relies heavily on density when it comes to choosing materials for particular purposes. Dense materials are mainly used in the construction, aviation, and automobile industries where durability is needed. For example, tungsten and osmium are used in high-density uses such as radiation shielding and for heavy metal alloys.

• Environmental and Geophysical Studies

There is an environmental and geophysical use for elemental density. The density of minerals and metals, for instance, is applied in geochemistry to classify ore deposits. High-density elements like gold and platinum are also mined for their weight and rarity. The same is true for oceanic and atmospheric composition, where densities of elements are often taken into account (for gases or liquids).

• Pharmaceutical and Chemical Industries

For a pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturer, establishing elemental density is essential for precise formulations, especially in the case of metal catalysts, organometallic compounds, or drug delivery systems. Firms need this sort of density information to make the right choice of material in manufacturing, with the outcome having implications for the stability and performance of the product.

• Aerospace and Defense

When used in aerospace and defense, the density of materials determines if the material is appropriate for a particular part. High-density alloys are a common feature in special-purpose alloys for aircraft and spacecraft that must perform under challenging conditions without compromising structure. Ti, aluminum, and nickel are all desirable because they have the right density and hardness.

For more information on the chemical elements see: Periodic Table of the Elements