Elements

This month we focused on the theme of elements. The word ‘element’ can be defined in multiple ways, be it relating to the substances; earth, water, fire, and air or as something more figurative such as the element of surprise. Our poets scope the natural, the behavioural and the...

In 1669, phosphorus was discovered by a German alchemist called Henning Brand; almost 350 years later, the periodic table is now completed with 118 elements officially named, all with their own unique tales of discovery. The final four elements to be named were; 113, 115, 117 and 118 and...

As scientific heroes go, Dimitri Mendeleev is right up there. If his name doesn’t naturally trip off the tongue, every chemist knows his discovery: he is the father of the Periodic Table as we know it. Back in 1869 Mendeleev drew up the first successful table, basing it on atomic...