Epilogue

The author ends the book by trying to experience the feeling of discovering an element or find someone who can. This is impossible however without consulting a surviving chemist who discovered an element. Now that you have learned all about the elements I encourage you to link to the video below. Thank you for reading my blog. That is the end of my book, Periodic Tales: a Cultural History of the Elements, from Arsenic to Zinc. I hope you enjoyed my blog.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUDDiWtFtEM

Earth

This is EARTH(part two)! Enjoy!

Gadolin and Samarsky, Everymen of the Elements:

This chapter was called "Gadolin and Samarsky, Everymen of the Elements" and it is about the elements that were named after people. Gadolinium was named after Johan Gadolin in 1880. Samarium was named after Vasili Samarsky in 1879. Curium was named in 1944. In the 1950's Einsteinium, Fermium, Mendelevium, and Nobelium were named at Convention. Gadolinium is used in stereos and speakers. Samarium is used in headphones. These two elements are the greatest representations of the struggle scientists had to endure to free these rare elements.

Picture Work Cited: Samarium, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samarium, Wikipedia, 2/16/14

Ytterby Gruva:

This chapter was called "Ytterby Gruva" and it was about the authors earthly elemental journey. He searched all over the earth for these elements, especially in mines and caves. He wanted to know where elements came from. He knew that they made up everything but he wanted to know exactly where to find them. He traveled to Ytterby mine to find answers. He stated that all elements can be found if you know where to look. He found that at this mine it was very different than any other mine he had seen. The soil was different and there was a variety of rocks. He feels a sort of thrill when he things about chemistry even if he does not succeed. 

Picture Work Cited: Ytterby, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ytterby, Wikipedia, 2/18/14

That is the end of EARTH(part two)! Bye!

Earth

This is the last section in my book, so here it is EARTH(part one)!

Swedish Rock:

This chapter is called "Swedish Rock" and it is about all of the discoveries made in Sweden. 19 elements were found in Sweden, that is one fifth of the naturally occurring elements! Many of these elements were named after where they were found. Each of these elements have caused either delight or horror in the eyes of society. The author found Sweden to be a very fertile ground for earthly elements. It has countless resources and laboratories to explore these elements as well. These discoveries did not happen suddenly however, they occurred over a long period of time. In the 18th century these process were exceptionally long and difficult because they did not have the equipment we have today. 

Picture Work Cited: Sweden, http://www.operationworld.org/swed, Operation World, 2014

Europium Union: 

The next chapter was called "Europium Union" and it is about some of the rare earth metals but is mostly about Europium. These elements are middleweight metals that are found in the earth. They have been isolated for a very long time within the earth. Europium metal is soft and must be stored under oil to prevent it from bursting into flames. It is the most reactive of the earth metals. It was discovered by Eugene-Anatone Demarcay in 1901. By naming it after all of Europe he started a frenzy in which other elements were named after places.

Picture Work Cited: Europium, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europium, Wikipedia, 4/15/14

Auerlicht:

This chapter was called "Auerlicht" and it was about Praseodymium and Neodymium. In 1885 Carl Auer discovered these two elements and their ability to produce beautiful colors for ceramic wares and glass. He also noticed that they glowed brightly when burned. He used his rare metals to create the gas lamp. The same oxides he used back then in his lighters and lamps are still used today in cigarette lighters. This chapter was also about Cerium. It is the most abundant of the rare earth elements. It improved metals and was used as an anti septic. Today it is also used on Hollywood movie sets in lighting. It was discovered by Jons Jacob Berzelius. He also discovered Thorium, Selenium, and Silicon. 

Picture Work Cited: Cerium, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerium, Wikipedia, 2/16/14

That is the end of EARTH(part one)!

Beauty

Well, here it is BEAUTY(part three)!

The Crimson Light of Neon:

The next chapter I read was called "The Crimson Light of Neon" and it was about the noble gases. William Ramsay discovered the first five noble gases in the 1890's. Many people found them boring and useless. Now a days however we exploit these gases for use in lighting throughout the world. In 1894 he discovered Argon by burning Magnesium shavings. In May 1898 he discovered Krypton in the air. He then found neon or novum, a name his son suggested. By using liquid neon he then found xenon. For all his discoveries he was awarded the Noble Prize for Chemistry. In 1902 Georges Claude experimented with electrical discharges and tubes of neon. He was able to create the first Neon lamp. In glowed crimson red through the city smoke and even on sunny days. Neon quickly became the sign of new. However it was replaced with other elemental lamps. Argon shone pale blue, Mercury was white, and a mixture of noble gases created a rainbow of colors! Neon soon lit up the night in a new and exciting way!

Picture Work Cited: Neon Rainbow, Terry, http://monorex.com/follow-the-rainbow/, Monorex, 2011

Jezebel's Eyes:

This Chapter was called "Jezebel's Eyes" and it is about antimony. In the Bible antimony was used in cosmetics as black eye shadow. However, this was not good because antimony was an eye irritant. Antimony is a hazardous element that somehow makes us more beautiful. Many cosmetics companies use various elements in their products supposedly making us look better. Antimony metal also solidifies into a large metallic mass and gleams like a precious stone. 

Picture Work Cited: Antimony, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimony, Wikipedia, 4/22/14

That's the end of BEAUTY! Stay tuned for the final section EARTH!

Beauty

Here is BEAUTY(part two)!!!

Inheritance Powder:

This chapter is called "Inheritance Powder" and it is about arsenic. Arsenic is abundant and is essential to humans in many ways. It has been used as medicine, pigments, dyes, glass, and fireworks. It is also a deadly poison. It is an emerald green color and has a blue grey undertone. It is responsible for the death of many people and many rats as well. Access to this element is very restricted now but it was not back then. This however does not stop it from being used to treat leukemia. 

Picture Work Cited: Arsenic, http://www.galleries.com/Arsenic, Component Surfaces Inc., 2014

Rainbows in the Blood:

The next chapter I read was called "Rainbows in the Blood", it is about Vanadium. Vanadium was found to play a large part in the immune system of animals. Vanadium is tougher than steel and was used in the Atomic Bomb project. It was discovered twice and named as a result of its colorful chemistry. It is strong yet brittle and represents immortality. The various vanadium salts created all have different colors which have been preserved up until this very day.

Picture Work Cited: Vanadium, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanadium, Wikipedia, 4/17/14

Crushing Emeralds:

This Chapter was called "Crushing Emeralds" and it was about Beryllium. Vauquelin discovered Beryllium after discovering Chromium. It was a sweet tasting metal that glowed with an emerald color. It represented purity and became very popular for its beauty. It looked as if it were a precious stone and many people loved this about it.

Picture Work Cited: Beryllium, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryllium, Wikipedia, 4/16/14

That is the end of BEAUTY(part two). Coming up next is BEAUTY(part three)!

 

Beauty

This is the start of BEAUTY(part one). It is sure to be a beautiful section.

Chromatic Revolution:

This Chapter was called "Chromatic Revolution" and it is about Cadmium. Cadmium was discovered in 1817 by Friedrich Stromeyer. It was a yellowish orange color and it mixed well with blues. However this new element was very rare. The pigments created by this elements were especially favored by painters and were soon used in paint. But if these pigments were not disposed of carefully high risks would form. This caused many to put restrictions on these paints and soon they were indeed found to be poisonous. Not many pigments could compare with such rich color however. This element has also been used in attacks on different parts of the world. Although banned many of these pigments are still favorable to artists.

Picture Work Cited: Cadmium, http://www.chemistryland.com/CHM130FieldLab/Lab6/Lab6.html, Sapling Learning, 4/20/14

"Lonely-Chrome America":

This chapter was titled "Lonely-Chrome America" and is about Chromium. The first automobiles were made with chromium. It has a blue-white glow and a shiny surface. It represented glamour and excitement paving the way for the booming consumer society. Automobiles and chromium became the emblems of this time period and were flaunted around as a way to pick America up after the Great Depression. It displays a sense of speed and style unobtainable by any other element. It excited our craving for dangerous things and our love of powerful machines such as automobiles. Slowly however, Chromium lost the public interest and floated into the past. Chromium became a flashy material that was left in the dust.

Picture Work Cited: Chromium, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromium, Wikipedia, 4/13/14

Abbe Suger's Sheet Sapphire:

The next chapter I read was called "Abbe Suger's Sheet Sapphire" it was about Cobalt. Cobalt was able to retain one of the hardest colors to display in nature, blue. It was discovered around 1735 by Georg Brandt and the world exploded with a need to obtain this beautiful element. Everyone who was anyone had to have blue glass. It was used to make all sorts of objects like chandeliers, windows, and glassware. Many of these objects were sought out and desired for many purposes. But one thing was for sure cobalt remained a popular element for years to come.

Picture Work Cited: Cobalt, http://americanfireglass.com/1-2-cobalt-blue-reflective.html, American Fireglass, 4/20/14

This concludes BEAUTY(part one). Next is BEAUTY(part two)!

Craft

Here's CRAFT(part three) everybody! :)

"Turn'd to Barnacles":

This chapter was titled "Turn'd to barnacles" and is about calcium. The White House was made of lime and glue. Lime is an oxide of calcium. Calcium and its important and abundant compounds are entirely white. Calcio is Italian for calcium and soccer because of its Latin root Calx which means to reach a goal. It was often used in Italian art and in important tombs and gravestones. Calcium is good for us and is eaten to maintain strong bones and teeth. It is said that Cleopatra ate the largest calcium supplement in history when she drank a large pearl dissolved in vinegar. This was a potent drink but did not kill her. No, she killed herself using the venom of an Asp after learning of the suicide of her husband Marcus Antonius.

Picture Work Cited: Calcium, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium, Wikipedia, 3/12/14

The Guild of Aerospace Welders:

The next chapter was called "The Guild of Aerospace Welders" and is about Titanium. Titanium can be cut and hammered. It can also be welded but only by a master welder. Although it has a futuristic air about it is very rare and many people have not been exposed to it's qualities. It is strong, lightweight, and non-corrosive. It has been used in transportation, engineering, and prostheses. It has a polished surface and a warm reflection. Titanium is very much unlike steel.

Picture Work Cited: Titanium, http://www.tirings.com/titanium-facts/, Titanium Rings Studios, 2014

The March of the Elements:

This chapter was called "The March of the Elements" it encompasses all of the elements we find to be precious or exotic such as niobium and tantalum. All of the elements in this  chapter are used in some form of craft and have unique qualities that make them perfect for different types of craft. Such as density and malleability. 

Picture Work Cited: Niobium, http://riograndeblog.com/2013/05/titanium-and-niobium-jewelry-brilliant-metal-colors-at-your-fingertips/, Viqui Sanchez, Rio Grande, 5/31/13

This is the end of all of the parts of CRAFT. In the next blog we will start part four BEAUTY.

Craft

It's time for CRAFT(part two)!

The Worldwide Web:

This chapter was called "The Worldwide Web" and it was about copper. It has symbolic, visual, and structural benefits unlike any other. It is the only red metal. It is also very malleable and abundant. Copper conducts heat and electricity. It is also extremely ductile. It was the key component in the creation of the first worldwide web. By this meaning telegraphing around the globe with copper wires. The first attempts at creating this web around the world failed completely but, in 1901 the web was complete and copper rung out with electricity and messages flowing through it. Copper then became the symbol of civilization.

Picture Work Cited: Copper Web, Tom Dixon, http://www.tomdixon.net/news/etch-light-web, 3/20/12

Au Zinc:

The next chapter is called "Au Zinc" and it is about zinc. It was the first useful metallic element to be discovered since iron, lead, and tin. Since its discovery it has been used in a variety of architectural feats such as, The Jewish Museum in Germany. Zinc is also connected to burials and preservation of bodies. Zinc represents harmony and progressing towards a goal. It is a cheap and safe alternative to lead that was often used with cedar to serve as coffins. It is very hygienic and is used to transport bodies across borders. Zinc was also used in Paris on buildings.

Picture Work Cited: Zinc, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc, Wikipedia, 4/13/14

Banalization:

This chapter was called "Banalization" and was about aluminum. It was very rare and costly when it was first discovered. Many thought it might be placed along side silver and gold. It was shiny, white and lightweight. Soon however, it became very abundant and less costly. It doesn't tarnish in air and was chosen to be used in the air force for this very reason. After this aluminum moved into everyday homes and became a favorite of designers and housewives. In World War II the popularity of aluminum grew even greater and it was soon being considered to construct whole buildings. However these aluminum houses never caught on.

Picture Work Cited: Aluminum, http://www.co.saint-croix.wi.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BE3C296A5-7173-406B-9693-5D43A54DC530%7D, St. Croix County,  4/20/14

That's the end of CRAFT(part two). Coming Soon: CRAFT(part three).

Craft

Today I started CRAFT(part one). Just like the other sections I have done there will be three parts. So get ready for part one!

To the Cassiterides:

This chapter is called "To the Cassiterides" and it is about tin. The Phoenicians were from Syria and Lebanon. They started their search for tin in Crete and Turkey. They traveled around the world in search for tin and came upon the islands of the Cassiterides. This is where they found most of the tin that they obtained throughout their journey. Tin was also found in Cornwall. It was first discovered there in 2000 B.C.E. in riverbeds and fires. Cornish tin was especially pure. Primo Levi calls tin a "friendly metal" and can be combined with copper to make bronze. It is shiny, strong, and bright yet it can also be soft. Tin soon became the commonplace metal. The Tin man in The Wizard of OZ has tin prostheses after his bewitched axe chops of all his limbs. Tin was named after the ringing sound it made. It rings out "happy imperfections".

Picture Work Cited: Tin man, http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/09/confessions-of-a-tin-man/, Mid Walsh, Elephant Journal, 8/14/11

Dull Lead's Grey Truth:

The next chapter was called "Dull Lead's Grey Truth" and it is about Lead. In the 1800's Auguste Rodin created The Thinker. It sits on an extreme angle and has been found to contain lead inside it. This is what allows it to defy gravity so well. Lead has been forever associated with death. It does not corrode and preserves it's contents, it has been used in tombs for this very reason. Germany uses lead to predict the future by performing a lead-pouring ceremony on New Year's Eve. But Lead has not only been used for fortunes, it is also used for weapons, architecture, art, and aircraft. However some uses must be put to rest because of hazardous health effects.

Picture Work Cited: The Thinker, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Auguste_Rodin-The_Thinker-Legion_of_Honor-Lincoln_Park-San_Francisco.jpg, Wikimedia Commons, 6/4/12

Our Perfect Reflection:

This Chapter was called "Our Perfect Reflection", it is about silver. In the book The Great Gatsby silver has much worth during the Jazz Age. It is reflected everywhere during this time. It is even used to describe Daisy as a "Silver Idol" in the eyes of a poor Jay Gatsby. Silver is often associated with feminism and the moon, the very opposite of the sun. It represents purity, innocence, hope, and virtue. "Silver was the brightest and whitest of the elements". Silver was incomplete however because it corrodes over time. It is not readily oxidized and has a tendency to tarnish and blacken. If polished correctly it so clearly reflects light that if you look into it you can see your reflection. 

Picture Work Cited: Silver, http://www.nygoldcashers.com/buy-sell/silver/, Generation Jewelers, 2012

Thus ends CRAFT(part one)! Stay tuned for part two.

Fire

Finally, here is the last installment of FIRE.

 Nightglow of Dystopia:

This chapter was called "Nightglow of Dystopia" it is about sodium. In the nineteenth century street lights and houses were lit up using sodium.  Sodium shines at a wavelength of 589 nm. The first sodium lights were installed in Berlin and the Netherlands. Sodium was first discovered in 1801 by Sir Humphry Davy by decomposing Platinum. Sodium is the most abundant alkali metal in the salt of the earth. Sodium was also used to make fireworks. It was dull at first because it could only glow yellow but, fireworks specialists were able to add sodium and other elements to make different colors. Fireworks were very popular back then but, the colors were difficult to create using elements that weren't harmful.

Picture Work Cited: Sodium, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium, Wikipedia, April 7, 2014, 

Cocktails at the Pale Horse:

The next chapter was called "Cocktails at the Pale Horse" and it is about the element Thallium. This element is highly toxic. It was first introduced in 1862 at the International Exhibition held at South Kensington. He obtained a particular element from the Harz Mountains and performed experiments on it hoping to find Tellurium. However, when he examined it's wavelength he found that it was unlike anything that was ever seen before. He called it Thallium. This element was used in Agatha Christie's book "The Pale Horse" to murder many people at an inn. The rise of this book however, lead to the salvation of many real people like a nineteen month old baby girl and seventy photographic workers.

Picture work Cited: Thallium, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thallium, Wikipedia, April 4, 2014

The Light of the Sun:

This chapter is called "The Light of the Sun" and is about the elements found in space. Helium was first found when astronomers looked up at the sun through the mass spectrometer. Norman Lockyer named it helium after the Greek word Helios for sun. Up until 1895 he was mocked for his work with helium, but then it was proved that he was correct. Occultum was also found in space by Annie Besant and Charles Leadbeater. They were able to sketch what they thought its atoms look like and prove that it was real.

Picture Work  Cited: Helium, Leslie Eastman, http://legalinsurrection.com/2013/09/helium-shortage-shows-big-government-solutions-are-full-of-hot-air/, Legal Insurrection, September 21, 2013

Well that's the end of FIRE(part three)! Next up is section 3: CRAFT.

Fire

It's time for FIRE (part two)!

"Humanitarian Nonsense":

This chapter is called "Humanitarian Nonsense" and it is about fluorine, bromide, and iodine. Fluorine is the first and most reactive halogen. Fluoridation  began in World War II. It was put into water and used to aid in dental practice. Bromide was used in sedatives. In was used as a anticonvulsant for Queen Victoria which helped curb her epilepsy. Both fluorine and bromide were found to be too dangerous for further regulated use. Iodine however is less dangerous than the other two and was found to be beneficent rather than harmful. It is used as an antiseptic and is characteristically brown liquid in a brown bottle. It was a great accidental discovery in 1805 by Bernard Courtois when he added sulphuric acid to alkaline soda. It was soon found in seawater and other minerals. Each of these chemicals were used at some time for ailments, but only iodine has stuck around.

Picture Work Cited: Bromine, http://images-of-elements.com/bromine.php, Creative Commons, January 30, 2010

Slow Fire:

The next chapter is called "Slow Fire" it is about oxygen and water. Water is composed of two hydrogen and an oxygen. In the 18th century neither hydrogen or oxygen was known, water was thought to be one of the four elements. In 1767 Joesph Priestly discovered "fixed air" or Carbon dioxide. It extinguished fires, choked animals, and made plants thrive. In 1777 Lavoisier performed further experiments that created oxygen, which means generator of acid. He then used oxygen and hydrogen to create an explosion that left only pure water behind. Phlogiston described this combustion of air but no one had any real understanding of this. His work placed oxygen at the center of combustion. Even though he made a scientific breakthrough he was still guillotined for his work as a tax collector on May 5, 1794. Oxygen Therapy began to spread in the 19th century. It was used to support life and cure ills. Many skeptics tried to prove this method of quackery, but failed when John Scott Haldane proved  the benefits of oxygen therapy on World War I soldiers that inhaled poisons. Recently however, oxygen has been found to be a destroyer of life. This excess amount of oxygen may have killed Michael Jackson. 

Picture Work Cited: Oxygen Tank, http://www.ozoneservices.com/products/OLO/tank.htm, OzoneLab, April 6, 2014

Our Lady of Radium:

This chapter was called "Our Lady of Radium", it is about radium. Radium is explosively reactive and radioactive. Marie Curie discovered Radium through her work with radiology. In 1902 a tenth of a gram of radium was made. She was awarded a Noble Prize for this discovery. Although radium was harming to the skin it was also found to cure cancer. Everyone adored it for its therapeutic qualities. Other products began to emerge like radium butter, radium beer, radium toothpaste, and radium chocolate. It wasn't clear until the 30's that radium was found to be a danger to health. In New Jersey 15 workers died after suffering anemia and jaw decay from making luminescent watches and using their mouths to put a fine point on the brushes they used. Radium is now only used in radiological clinics. 

Picture Work Cited: Radium, http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/nobelprize_info/curie-edu.html, Mausweisel, Creative Commons, November 2011

This ends FIRE (part two).