Elements
Beryllium
Sometimes beautiful, sometimes useful, always deadly
Chlorine
John Emsley investigates the halogen we love to hate, but can’t live without
Samarium
John Emsley looks at a low profile element with some valuable applications
Sodium
It’s salt, soda and street lights, but also much more, explains John Emsley
Molybdenum
John Emsley looks at an element that holds the key to life on Earth
Bismuth
John Emsley examines a heavy metal that gleams, calms and quenches
Barium
John Emsley looks at an element that, despite first appearances, has some interesting applications
Boron
John Emsley looks at the element that links olive trees with semiconductors
Nickel
John Emsley investigates the element of batteries, blades and baked beans
Holmium
When it comes to powerful magnets, nothing beats holmium. John Emsley investigates
Aluminium
John Emsley looks at the element that’s so useful, so abundant, but so difficult to extract
Manganese
John Emsley looks at the element that has been essential to humanity since before the stone age
Phosphorus
John Emsley looks at the element that's the devil in disguise
Mercury
John Emsley looks at the element that's fascinating, feared and fatal
Neon
John Emsley looks at the element that shines brightly and keeps cool but continues to puzzle
Tungsten
John Emsley looks at the heavy metal that makes light work of tough jobs
Tin
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Education in Chemistry, John Emsley takes a look at the 50th element
Lithium
John Emsley investigates the element that is the lightest of metals and celebrated in song
Arsenic
John Emsley investigates the element that has harmed many, but now heals a few
Sulfur
We can't live with it and we can't live without it
Vanadium
When the Earth moves so does the price of vanadium
Lead
An element with a colourful and dubious past
Gallium
Goes liquid, glows blue and grabs neutrinos
Zinc
An essential element of life and lifestyle
Technetium
Technetium, so unique, so useful, so universal
Cerium
Cerium, the not so rare earth metal with down to earth uses
Potassium
Needed by nerves, plants, and spaceships
Cobalt
Vitamin B12, blue glass and invisible ink
Silicon
Standard weight and stinging nettles
Strontium
Red alert
Thorium
The nuclear fuel that could last 10,000 years
Silver
The noble metal that's now down at heel
Iodine
A little goes a long way
Scandium
The shadowy metal that shines like the Sun
Helium
The inert element with extreme behaviour
Platinum
Not just another form of silver, it's pure platinum
Europium
Seeing red? That'll be europium
Fluorine
Can this most vicious of elements, Fluorine, be tamed?
Indium
Long neglected, indium is essential for solar cells and flat-screen TVs
Titanium
Forget iron and aluminium, titanium is the metal of the future
Xenon
A knock-out element, xenon changed chemical theory of the noble gases
Gold
Colourful in the colours it exhibits, and in its chemistry and uses
Americium
Americium emits deadly radiation - but every home should have some
Magnesium
Once the destroyer of cities, magnesium is now an energy saver
Bromine
Once so essential, now mired in controversy
Zirconium
Wear it sparkling on your finger, zirconium is also key to nuclear energy
Argon
It's lazy, it's hard working, it's colourless, it's colourful - it's argon