This Box Contains (Almost) Every Element On The Periodic Table

Curiosity Lab
28 Jul 202315:12
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this video, the creator showcases their 10-year journey of collecting all 80 stable elements from the periodic table. They explore various elements' unique properties, from hydrogen's pink glow under high voltage to bismuth's alien-like crystals. The collection includes both pure samples and compounds due to some elements' reactivity, like fluorine. The video also touches on the impracticality of collecting elements heavier than uranium due to their instability and radioactivity, highlighting the fascinating world of element collecting.

Takeaways
  • 🧪 The speaker has collected all 80 stable elements of the periodic table over a span of 10 years, focusing on pure samples to showcase their properties.
  • 🌌 The collection began before the discovery of some elements, as indicated by the outdated periodic table used for tracking progress.
  • 🚫 Elements beyond uranium are considered unstable and artificially created, which is why they were not included in the collection.
  • 🌈 Elements like hydrogen and helium emit characteristic glows when excited by high voltage, and their emission spectra can be observed through a spectroscope.
  • 💡 The collection includes elements with unique properties, such as beryllium's transparency to X-rays and phosphorus's role in DNA.
  • 🌟 Some elements, like fluorine and bromine, couldn't be obtained in pure form due to their reactivity, so compounds containing these elements were collected instead.
  • 🔬 The script covers elements with various applications, from industrial uses like aluminum and iron to scientific applications like scandium in stadium lighting.
  • 🌿 Elements like carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen are fundamental to life and the atmosphere, with unique spectral signatures and glows.
  • ⚠️ Several elements mentioned are toxic, such as arsenic, selenium, and tellurium, and their handling requires caution.
  • 💡 The noble gases, like neon and argon, are known for their distinctive glows and are used in lighting applications.
  • 🔬 Technetium and promethium, although not present in the collection due to instability, have important medical applications, such as in nuclear medicine and cancer treatment.
Q & A
  • What is the main focus of the video script?

    -The main focus of the video script is the presenter's collection of all 80 stable elements on the periodic table, their properties, and the process of collecting them.

  • How long did it take the presenter to collect all the stable elements?

    -It took the presenter over 10 years to collect all 80 stable elements.

  • What are the two different ways people collect elements mentioned in the script?

    -The two ways are collecting pure samples to show off elemental properties and appearance, or collecting samples that contain the element.

  • Why did the presenter choose to collect pure samples instead of compounds?

    -The presenter aimed to collect pure samples to demonstrate the elemental properties and their appearance more effectively.

  • What is the significance of the periodic table used by the presenter to track progress?

    -The periodic table is significant because it shows the progress of the collection and how some elements were not even discovered when the collection started.

  • Why did the presenter decide not to collect elements heavier than uranium?

    -Elements heavier than uranium are too unstable, radioactive, and were artificially created, making them impractical for collection.

  • Which element did the presenter use as a substitute for fluorine gas due to its reactivity?

    -The presenter used a compound containing fluorine, calcium fluoride mineral, as a substitute.

  • What is the unique property of lithium mentioned in the script?

    -Lithium is the lightest solid element and it floats on water.

  • Why is beryllium considered to have niche scientific uses?

    -Beryllium is transparent to X-rays, which gives it niche scientific uses, such as in scientific instruments.

  • What is the element that the presenter finds most visually appealing in their collection?

    -The presenter finds bismuth to be the most visually appealing element due to its geometric crystal structure and colorful oxidation states.

  • What element has an interesting biochemistry that the presenter finds intriguing?

    -Tellurium has an interesting biochemistry, as tellurium poisoning can cause a strong garlic aroma from the breath and perspiration.

  • Why is iridium significant in the study of the extinction of dinosaurs?

    -Iridium is significant because a layer of dust high in iridium is found in the geological record, which supports the asteroid impact hypothesis for the extinction of dinosaurs.

  • What is the only liquid metal at room temperature mentioned in the script?

    -Mercury is the only liquid metal at room temperature mentioned in the script.

  • Why is thallium not included in the collection?

    -Thallium is not included in the collection because it is incredibly toxic, and the presenter could not obtain a pure sample.

Outlines
00:00
🔬 Element Collection Journey

The speaker shares their passion for chemistry and collecting elements, having spent over a decade to amass all 80 stable elements of the periodic table. They explain the different approaches to element collecting, focusing on pure samples to showcase elemental properties. The speaker discusses the challenges of collecting highly reactive elements like fluorine, which they had to substitute with a compound. They also touch on the humorous and personal aspect of their collection, including the evolution of the periodic table and the elements that were not discovered at the start of their journey. The paragraph concludes with a brief introduction to the first few elements in the collection, such as hydrogen, helium, and lithium, highlighting their unique properties and uses.

05:01
🌌 Diverse Applications of Elements

This paragraph delves into the various applications and characteristics of elements ranging from titanium to bromine. Titanium is highlighted for its strength and biocompatibility in medical applications, while vanadium and chromium are noted for their durability and corrosion resistance, respectively. The speaker also mentions elements like iron, which is ubiquitous in our surroundings and essential for hemoglobin, and copper, known for its antibacterial properties and historical use in tools and weapons. The paragraph also covers elements with unique properties like gallium, which melts in hand, and arsenic, which is toxic but also has agricultural implications. The summary concludes with a mention of noble gases like krypton and their glow and spectral properties.

10:04
🌿 Elements in Nature and Technology

The speaker continues the exploration of elements, starting with rubidium, a highly reactive alkali metal, and moving through strontium, which is used in fireworks and glow-in-the-dark pigments. They discuss the use of elements like zirconium in nuclear reactors and niobium in superconducting technologies. The paragraph also touches on the rarity and unique properties of elements like molybdenum, which has a high melting point, and technetium, which is not found in nature but is used in nuclear medicine. The speaker also mentions elements with specific uses in technology and industry, such as palladium in catalytic converters and silver for its antimicrobial properties, concluding with a discussion on platinum and its various applications.

15:06
💎 Rare and Valuable Elements

This final paragraph focuses on the rare and valuable elements, starting with cerium, which is pyrophoric and used in fire-starting rods, to thorium, which has potential for clean nuclear power. The speaker discusses the unique properties of elements like neodymium in strong magnets, promethium in neutron capture therapy, and europium in creating red phosphors in old TVs. They also mention elements with specific applications in technology and science, such as terbium in green phosphors and holmium as a burnable neutron poison in nuclear reactors. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on elements like iridium, which is rare in the Earth's crust but abundant in space, and gold, prized for its unique color due to a quantum effect. The speaker invites viewers to share their favorite elements and reasons in the comments.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Periodic Table
The Periodic Table is a tabular arrangement of the chemical elements, organized by atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties. It is the central theme of the video, as the narrator discusses collecting all 80 stable elements. The table is used as a tracking tool for the narrator's progress in element collection.
💡Element Collection
Element Collection refers to the hobby of gathering samples of chemical elements, either in pure form or as compounds. The video's narrator has spent over a decade collecting pure samples of elements, showcasing their properties and appearances, which is the main narrative of the video.
💡Stable Elements
Stable elements are those with atomic nuclei that are not prone to radioactive decay. The narrator has completed a collection of all 80 stable elements on the periodic table, emphasizing the challenge and achievement of this pursuit.
💡Reactive Elements
Reactive elements are those that readily undergo chemical reactions with other elements. The script mentions elements like fluorine, which are so reactive that the narrator could not obtain a pure sample and instead collected a compound containing fluorine.
💡Emission Spectrum
The Emission Spectrum is the range of wavelengths a substance can emit when it is excited. In the video, the narrator uses a spectroscope to show the emission spectrum of hydrogen and helium when excited by a high voltage, illustrating the unique properties of these elements.
💡Noble Gases
Noble gases are a group of chemical elements that are very stable and unreactive due to their full valence electron shell. The video mentions several noble gases, such as neon and argon, which are known for their distinctive glow when electrified, highlighting their unique chemical properties.
💡Radioactive Elements
Radioactive elements are those that emit radiation as they decay. The narrator explains that elements heavier than bismuth, including all transuranic elements, are radioactive and not suitable for collection, which is a key point in understanding the limitations of the collection.
💡Allotropes
Allotropes are different structural forms of an element in the same physical state. The script refers to allotropes of phosphorus and sulfur, which have distinct properties and appearances, showcasing the diversity within a single element.
💡Transuranic Elements
Transuranic elements are the chemical elements with atomic numbers greater than that of uranium. The narrator discusses these elements as being too unstable and radioactive for collection, providing insight into the challenges of collecting elements beyond the actinide series.
💡Isotopes
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons. The video mentions technetium 99 as a radioactive isotope used in nuclear medicine, illustrating the application of isotopes in various fields.
💡Superconductivity
Superconductivity is a property of certain materials to conduct electricity without resistance at very low temperatures. The narrator mentions niobium as a superconducting element used in NMR and MRI technologies, highlighting its significance in modern science and medicine.
💡Catalysts
Catalysts are substances that increase the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed. The video discusses palladium and platinum as elements with excellent catalytic abilities, used in various industrial applications, such as catalytic converters and fuel cells.
Highlights

Completed a 10-year collection of all 80 stable elements on the periodic table.

Different methods of element collecting: pure samples or compounds containing the element.

Challenges with highly reactive elements like fluorine, collected as a compound instead.

Evolution of the periodic table with new elements discovered during the collection process.

Elements beyond uranium are too unstable and radioactive for collection.

Hydrogen's unique properties and emission spectrum under high voltage.

Helium's use in supercooling magnets and its emission spectrum.

Lithium's ability to float on water and its light metal properties.

Beryllium's transparency to X-rays and its scientific applications.

Carbon's importance as the basis for life and its various forms like graphite and diamonds.

Nitrogen's atmospheric abundance and unique glow and spectrum.

Neon's characteristic glow in neon lights and its warm orange color.

Sodium's use in street lights and its warm yellow glow.

Magnesium's role in creating bright white light in flashbangs and fireworks.

Silicon's significance in electronics and semiconductors.

Phosphorus's role in DNA and its allotropes like red and white phosphorus.

Sulfur's historical significance as Brimstone and its association with the smell of rotten eggs.

Argon's glow and spectrum despite being a noble gas.

Potassium's vital role in the body for heart and muscle function.

Calcium's presence in milk and bones, and its metallic form.

Technetium's absence in the collection due to its instability and lack of natural isotopes.

Bismuth's unique crystal structure and colorful oxidation states.

Tellurium's toxicity and its effect of causing a strong garlic aroma in breath and perspiration.

Iridium's role in the asteroid hypothesis and its distribution in Earth's crust.

Thorium's potential for clean nuclear power and its advantages over uranium.

Uranium's use in nuclear reactors, weapons, and its glowing glass under UV light.

Transcripts
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