Building block of matter (or periodic tables)

noun

1. Any of the four substances air, water, fire, and earth formerly believed to compose the physical universe
2. Weather conditions
3. The state or sphere natural or suited to a person or thing

   "at school she was in her element"

4. The simplest principles of a subject of study rudiments
5. A distinct group within a larger group or community

   "the criminal element in the city"

6. Any of the fundamental substances that consist of atoms of only one kind and that singly or in combination constitute all matter
7. A distinct part of a composite device
8. A subdivision of a military unit
9. The bread and wine used in the Eucharist

noun phrase

1. The unexpected or surprising character of something

   "The attackers were relying on the element of surprise."

noun

1. An element (such as 0 in the set of all integers under addition or 1 in the set of positive integers under multiplication) that leaves any element of the set to which it belongs unchanged when combined with it by a specified operation

noun

1. Trace element

noun

1. Any of a series of metallic elements of which the oxides are classed as rare earths and which include the elements of the lanthanide series and sometimes yttrium and scandium

noun

1. A chemical element present in minute quantities

noun

1. A segment of genetic material that is capable of changing its location in the genome or in some bacteria of undergoing transfer between an extrachromosomal plasmid and a chromosome

idiom

1. In a place or situation where one is comfortable and does well

   "At school she was (really) in her element."

idiom

1. In a place or situation that is not suitable to a person

   "I tried living in the city, but I was/felt out of my element there."

noun

1. Any of various metallic elements (such as chromium, iron, and nickel) that have valence electrons in two shells instead of only one