1. This element can join together in a variety of rings and chains.

2. Odourless colourless gas used in enormous quantities in steel blast furnaces.

silver.

Google the second: gas used in blast furnaces.

Carbon. Wikipedia it.

I agree with Trevor on Carbon. I was thinking about silver soldier (rings and chains). Carbon is the right chemical answer.

1. To identify the element that can join together in a variety of rings and chains, you can consult the periodic table. The periodic table is a tabular arrangement of chemical elements, organized based on their atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring properties. Look for elements that are known to exhibit properties like forming rings and chains.

2. To identify the odourless colourless gas used in enormous quantities in steel blast furnaces, you can narrow down the options by considering the properties. Steel blast furnaces require a gas that can support combustion and react with iron ore to extract iron. Additionally, the gas needs to be abundant and inexpensive, as it is used in large quantities.

From these criteria, the most likely gas is carbon monoxide (CO). Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that is produced by the partial oxidation of carbon-containing compounds, such as coal or natural gas. It is commonly used as a reducing agent in steel production, where it reacts with iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) to yield metallic iron (Fe) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) in a process known as the blast furnace reaction.

It is worth noting that other gases, such as hydrogen (H₂) and methane (CH₄), can also be used in steel blast furnaces to some extent. However, carbon monoxide is the primary gas used in enormous quantities due to its abundant availability and strong reducing properties.