All Elements and the periodic table articles – Page 10

Elements
Mercury

2013-07-01T00:00:00Z

John Emsley looks at the element that's fascinating, feared and fatal
Opinion
Chemistry of the noble gases

2013-07-01T00:00:00Z

Behind the scenes of Education in Chemistry 50 years ago - The not-so-stable octet theory
Elements
Neon

2013-05-01T00:00:00Z

John Emsley looks at the element that shines brightly and keeps cool but continues to puzzle
Elements
Tungsten

2013-03-01T00:00:00Z

John Emsley looks at the heavy metal that makes light work of tough jobs
Soundbite
A stench from the French

2013-03-01T00:00:00Z

Phillip Broadwith investigates a thiol that made the news
Exhibition chemistry
Luminol fountain

2013-03-01T00:00:00Z

Create a dramatic and eerie 'cold light' fountain
Elements
Tin

2013-01-01T00:00:00Z

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Education in Chemistry, John Emsley takes a look at the 50th element
Exhibition chemistry
Sublimation of Iodine

2013-01-01T00:00:00Z

Sublimination without the dry ice
Resource
On This Day - Jun 26 : Fluorine was isolated

The existence of fluorine (F) was well known, but for years scientists had failed to isolate it from its compounds, with some even dying in the attempt (called “fluorine martyrs”). Fluorine is the lightest of the halogen elements and has one single stable isotope, ¹⁹F.
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On This Day - Jun 16 : First vanadium isolated

Vanadium (V) is a useful transition metal. Adding small amounts of vanadium to steel considerably increases its strength. Vanadium oxide (V₂O₅) is used as a catalyst in the industrial manufacture of sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄).
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On This Day - Jun 15 : Pilâtre de Rozier died

Pilâtre de Rozier was a pioneer of aviation, but he and his partner Pierre Romain were sadly killed when trying to cross the English Channel in a hot air balloon fuelled by hydrogen. Their balloon deflated and crash-landed just 5 km away from the starting point.
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On This Day - Mar 24 : Joseph Priestley was born

He is most famous for his discovery of oxygen (O), but he also discovered laughing gas, was the first to carbonate water and was a pioneer of research into electricity.
Resource
On This Day - Dec 30 : Tungsten filaments patent

American physicist William David Coolidge brought tungsten (W) from laboratory obscurity to the centre of the industrial stage and gave the x-ray a central role in the progress of medicine throughout the world.
Elements
Lithium

2012-11-01T00:00:00Z

John Emsley investigates the element that is the lightest of metals and celebrated in song
Resource
On This Day - May 30 : Krypton was discovered

Krypton (Kr) was discovered by William Ramsay and Morris Travers. Its name is derived from the Greek “kryptos”, meaning hidden. Krypton is one of the rarest gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, accounting for only 1 part per million by volume.
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On This Day - Nov 30 : Smithson Tennant was born

He discovered iridium (Ir) and osmium (Os), the latter named for the unpleasant odour of some of its compounds (from the Greek word ‘osme’ meaning odour). He also proved that diamonds are pure carbon.
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On This Day - Nov 29 : Iodine was discovered

The discovery was made during the process of producing potassium nitrate for gunpowder and was made public in a meeting of the Imperial Institute of France. Its name is derived from the Greek ‘iodes’ meaning violet.
Resource
On This Day - Apr 27 : Philip Abelson was born

He proposed the gas diffusion process to separate uranium-235 and uranium-238 needed to develop the atomic bomb. He also co-discovered the element neptunium (Np) with Edwin McMillan.
Resource
On This Day - Nov 26 : Discovery of niobium

Now known as niobium (Nb), this metal element is very similar to tantalum (Ta), and was in fact confused with it during parts of the 19th century. This lead to it being renamed niobium after the daughter of Tantalus in Greek mythology.
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On This Day - Feb 25 : Ida Noddack was born

Noddack co-discovered rhenium (Re) while working with her future husband Walter Noddack. They named the element after the river Rhine. Rhenium is one of the rarest metals on earth and is used in filaments and for catalysts in the chemicals industry.