In Your Element

Trick cutlery and mobile phones have one peculiar element in common, as Marshall Brennan explains.

From Earth to the stars and back again, John Emsley surveys the uses, occurrences and mysteries of an element that is playing an increasing role in human affairs.

From rubies to Rolls-Royce, Anders Lennartson explores the colourful history of chromium and its coordination compounds.

Thomas Albrecht-Schmitt explains the origin of element 98's striking green glow, and why the future for californium chemistry is just as bright.

Anders Lennartson muses on molybdenum and its essential role in catalysing reactions from the bacterial to the industrial scale.

Alfred Nobel's eponymous element, nobelium, was 'first' discovered either in the 1950s or 1960s, in the USSR, Sweden or the USA. Brett F. Thornton and Shawn C. Burdette delve into the ensuing decades of internecine strife over the discovery of element 102.

John Arnold, Thomas L. Gianetti and Yannai Kashtan look back on thorium's chemistry, and look forward to harnessing its nuclear potential.

Eric Ansoborlo considers the disproportionate potency of polonium compared with its relative scarcity on Earth.

Claude Piguet reflects on the history of erbium, which is very much intertwined with its rare earth cousins yttrium, ytterbium and terbium.

From fake gems to a fixture of nuclear plants, John Emsley considers the many uses of zirconium.

Elements that are widespread in nature and have been used for thousands of years are not typically deemed exciting, but Anders Lennartson argues that we shouldn't take zinc for granted.

Markku Räsänen remembers making a neutral compound featuring argon, and ponders on the reactivity of this inert element.

Joel D. Blum considers the two faces of mercury. It has many unique and useful properties in chemistry — yet it comes with a dark and dangerous side.

John Emsley looks at an element that is vital to life.

Somobrata Acharya explores the history, properties and uses of lead — an ancient metal that is still very relevant to today's technologies, but should be used with caution.

Brett F. Thornton and Shawn C. Burdette look back at the discovery — and the many different names — of element 86.

Barbara Finlayson-Pitts muses on how chlorine has come to play a role in many aspects of our lives — for better or for worse.

The chemistry of element 114 seems to be in reach, yet Peter Schwerdtfeger cautions that we should expect the unexpected from this young element, which is so different to its lighter counterparts.

From toothpaste to Tebbe reagents, Michael Tarselli takes a look at the many different faces of titanium.

Felice Grandinetti ponders on the peculiarity of neon among the noble gases — and whether it should occupy the top-right position in the periodic table.