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Chemical Elements
Chemical elements are substances composed of only one type of atom and they cannot be broken down further. Chemical elements are the simplest forms of matter and each one is assigned a specific atomic number. Check out these articles on chemical elements.
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Gallium Boils at 4,044 Degrees F, But Will Also Melt in Your Hand
More than fodder for melt-in-your-hand YouTube videos, gallium is a key component in LED lights and the powerful microchips in your smartphone.
Alkali Metals: Facts About the Elements on the First Column of the Periodic Table
Although the term might be unfamiliar, you know all about alkali metals. Ever used salt or eaten a banana? So, what special properties do these elements have?
Tungsten's Boiling Point Is 10,030 F and Other Crazy Facts
Tungsten's hardness and heat resistance make it a must for products like rocket engine nozzles, armor-piercing bullets and even the humble light bulb filament. In fact, pure tungsten boils at 10,030 F, the same as the photosphere of the sun.
What's the Difference Between Pyrite and Gold?
Don't know your fool's gold from the real deal? We'll tell you how to tell what's pyrite (aka fool's gold) and the good ol' 24 karat stuff you want.
What Are the 7 Diatomic Elements?
Diatomic elements are molecules composed of only two atoms, every time, always. There are only seven of them on the entire periodic table.
The Ancient Element Bismuth Is the Pink in Today's Pepto-Bismol
Bismuth is a naturally occurring element with many applications in our daily lives, but even more than that, it looks amazing when it cools!
What Are Isotopes?
You don't need to be a fan of chemistry to appreciate isotopes. They affect geology and medicine, too.
Elemental Haiku: A Poetic Take on the Periodic Table
Award-winning poet and fiction writer Mary Soon Lee has found a charming way to combine science and poetry in a refreshing new take on the periodic table of elements.
It's Elementary: The Periodic Table Quiz
It’s the ultimate cheat sheet for science class — and it’s right there hanging on the wall. What do you really know about the indispensable periodic table of elements?
Common Pool Chemical Could Be Key to Building Triple-Helix DNA Nanomaterials
A molecule used to protect the chlorine in swimming pools from sunlight could be key to building new kind of DNA structures
How Gold Works
We love it. We wear it glittering around our necks and sparkling at our ears, wrists and feet. We pass it down to our children and hoard it in secret stashes. Why is this precious metal so prized?
How the Periodic Table Works
It begins with an unassuming "H" and ends in crazy elements that you've likely never heard of. But the periodic table, encapsulated on a mere sheet of paper, can be a scientist's best friend and a testament to our human drive to organize the world.
How Lead Works
Lead is one of the most maligned metals on the periodic table and for good reason. Lead poisoning is serious. But the beleaguered element isn't all bad, especially when it's protecting you from radiation.
How Aluminum Works
Once considered a semiprecious metal alongside gold and silver, aluminum pretty much languished in obscurity until the 19th century. How did the metal become so ubiquitous?
Is it harmful to breathe 100-percent oxygen?
We need oxygen to live, so it seems to me that if we got more oxygen, we would be better off. Is it harmful to breathe 100-percent oxygen? What will happen?
How Is Helium Made?
Helium is the second lightest element on the Periodic Table. How is helium created?
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