The_Analytical_Scientist_-_February_2019 (1)

http://www.theanalyticalscientist.com

Upfront^9

Join us in wishing the periodic table a
happy 150th anniversary!
It seems that the years have taken
their toll, however. On a new version
published by the European Chemical
Society, each of the 118 elements has
been color-coded to show how vulnerable

they are to dissipation – in short, the

more we use them, the harder they will

be to recover.

Elements such as silver (Ag), helium

(He) and strontium (Sr) are the

most under threat – and many of the

elements “in the red” play an important

part in our technology, from MRIs to

smartphone screens to deep sea diving

equipment. The chart also shows (in

black) elements that could be more

ethically sourced, known as “conflict

minerals” because wars are fought and

lives lost over their ownership.

This version of the periodic table

provides a striking reminder that we

need to apply the five Rs – Refuse,

Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle –

at a fundamental level. However, you’ll

be glad to see that oxygen – for now, at

least – is still in plentiful supply.

Reference

1. A Radini et al., “Medieval women’s early
   involvement in manuscript production
   suggested by lapis lazuli identification in
   dental calculus”, Sci Adv, [Epub before print]
   (2019). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau

Red Alert!

A new version of the periodic
table shows the elements
under threat

Image credit: European Chemical Society