Elemental Limericks

The hydrogen atom has one
Single proton; that’s where it’s begun.
Most abundant by far
In a typical star
And in water, it’s second to none.

While helium isn’t as light,
It’s used more for balloons to take flight,
As it doesn’t bond much
With an oxygen touch
And is far less inclined to ignite.

The lithium atom’s least dense
Among metals and solids, and hence
It’s unstable enough
To make nuclear stuff
(And an antidepressant -- makes sense?).

Beryllium, brittle and gray,
Found in gemstones, is useful today
For devices in space,
But do cover your face:
To inhale it could put you away.

Does boron sound boring? Take heed:
The fifth element’s truly a need
For nutrition in plants
And, in glass, can enhance
Insulation and strength. Dull indeed!

Pure carbon is black and opaque
When it’s graphite, but pressure will make
It transparent as diamond
With adequate time, and
It then is a challenge to break.

Quite often when people say “air,”
They mean oxygen. Well, it seems fair,
For that colorless gas
Is the one that must pass
Through our lungs, as we should be aware.

Pure fluorine’s extremely reactive.
Its explosions are highly impactive.
Though it’s useful for cooking
And tooth care, I’m looking
At lab deaths: It’s not so attractive.

By contrast, old neon’s inert
And not nearly as likely to hurt.
In electrical fields,
It turns visible -- yields
A red light that is used to advert.