A small select bunch of us gathered to discuss Chemical Elements.
Our host provided us with a banner of the Periodic Table and an interesting introduction to it.
She described it as looking like a castle with at tower at each side.
Mendeleev arranged known elements by mass and patterns of similarities occurred in neighbouring elements on his table, which enabled him and others to predict and look for missing elements.
Our host also provided us with two musical interludes – one of an amusing song listing many elements, found on the latest episode of “Broadcasting House” Radio 4, and another song by John Linley our local poet about the dangers of mercury in the hat-making trade in Stockport.
Finally she read a short poignant tale of the naming of new elements and the real discoverer of Nuclear Fission – of course a woman unrecognised by the Nobel committee, but with her own named element. This provoked a lively discussion.
We heard about the following elements:
Sulphur
Carbon
Gold
Iron
Mercury
Aluminium
Sulphur (alt. Sulfur) – the presenter gave an illustrated and very atmospheric picturing of “fire and brimstone” (the first reference being in Genesis chapter 19 verse 24), also of hexing and witchcraft, volcanic areas as gateways to the underworld and the ancient symbol for Sulphur as a Satanic cross!
Carbon – We ourselves are carbon-based organisms. Forms of carbon – coal, graphite, diamond, buckminsterfullerene (buckyball), graphene were discussed and graphite’s use in pencils but also as a lubricant for cannonballs (plumbago).
Gold – the purer the gold the paler the yellow colour; one of few metals to concur in its natural state. Gold injections used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
Iron – Many common phrases including “iron” – iron horse, iron man, iron lung, “any old iron”, “Iron Lady”.
Iron with carbon -> steel, then + chromium -> stainless steel.
Where would we be without iron?!
Mercury – known as quicksilver after its 2 main properties – the only liquid metal at standard room temperature and pressure, and with high surface tension giving the characteristic balls and the domed meniscus seen in thermometers of our youth.
It is toxic to the nervous and immune systems and kidneys.
Yet is it used in amalgams in dentistry, still. Historic uses were quite questionable too – e.g teething powder in infants.
Charles II was poisoned by mercury experiments.
Aluminium – discovered and named Aluminum by Humphrey Davy. To get a more Latin-sounding name English added an extra “i” later.
We’d like to do more. Our understanding of the Periodic Table was limited and we were eager to explore further.