Element Collection (page 51)

Tin granules
Granules of tin (Sn). Tin is a group IV metal which is easily extracted from cassiterite (or tinstone, SnO2) through reduction with carbon

Gold nuggets panned from a riverbed on the Pacific slopes of the Andes mountains near the Colombian border

Mercury droplets
Drops of mercury. Droplets of mercury of various sizes on a black surface. Mercury is used in electrical apparatus, catalysis, poisons and dental amalgams

One mole of carbon. Carbon powder being weighed out on a balance. 12 grams of carbon is 1 mole. A mole is a chemical unit of measurement that shows the number of molecules or atoms present

Copper, mercury & magnesium
Copper, mercury and magnesium metals. Copper (lower left) is a good conductor of heat and electricity. It is used mainly in water pipes and electrical cables

Potassium metal. Freshly cut shiny surface of potassium metal. Potassium (K) is an alkali metal. It is soft enough to be cut with a knife

Mining drill core sample with gold content
Gold ore. A mining drill sample with a high concentration of gold ore. This soft, heavy, acid- resistant metal is usually found in quartz veins, as a natural alloy with silver

Aluminium turnings. This pile of aluminium weighs 27 grams and represents one mole of the element. The atomic weight of aluminium is 27

Gold core sample
Drilled gold core sample. This drill sample shows a high concentration of gold ore

Nuggets, bars and coins made of gold
Gold. Nuggets, bars and coins made of gold. Gold is the 79th element of the periodic table, and has a relative atomic mass of 196.97

Silicon. Lump of silicon, a chemical element with the symbol Si. It is a semi-metallic element, and belongs to group 14 of the periodic table

Helium-Neon elements as laser on periodic table

Quartz and native gold
Crystals of native (naturally occuring) gold on a sample of quartz. Gold is a soft, yellow, malleable transition metal. It is often found in veins of quartz or as nuggets scattered through alluvial

Transition metals. In general, the transition metal elements are hard and inert, and have high melting points. Some are strongly magnetic, such as iron, cobalt, and nickel

Lithium metal. Freshly cut shiny surfaces of lithium metal. Lithium (Li) is the lightest of the soft alkali metals. It can be cut with a knife

Sodium. Pieces of the reactive metallic element sodium (Na) stored under oil in a jar. This soft alkali metal reacts rapidly with the water and oxygen in the air

Group 2 metals. From the left: beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium. Each element in this group has a tendency to lose two electrons. Therefore, these elements are chemically reactive

500g ingot of pure gold (99.99% purity), assayed by Credit Suisse

Period 3 elements. From left (in their periodic table order) they are: sodium (Na); magnesium (Mg); aluminium (Al); silicon (Si); phosphorus (P)

Natural nugget of copper metal

Gold in placer. Placer mining is a type of open cast mining in which minerals are extracted from alluvial, rather than from subterranean, deposits

Chlorine and oxygen. Gas jars filled with chlorine (Cl2, left) and oxygen (O2, right) gases. These gaseous chemical elements are made up of diatomic molecules

Mercury flowing through fingertips
Mercury flowing through the fingertips of a womans hand. Mercury is a silvery, liquid, metallic element belonging to the zinc group

Bismuth crystal. Bismuth is a heavy, brittle, crystalline metal. This rectangular crystal structure only forms when bismuth is slowly cooled in the laboratory, never in nature

Native gold. Formations of native gold in a rock. This sample is from the Sheba gold mine in Barberton, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Copper crystal structure
Copper crystal, computer model. This is a face centred cubic structure. Copper is a malleable metal element that is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity

Iron molecule over water
Iron molecule. Computer artwork of a cubic model of a molecule of alpha-iron floating over water. Iron (Fe) atoms are depicted as spheres

Copper, zinc and brass (from left to right). Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It can contain from 20-45 percent of zinc, depending on the type of brass

Lead oxide crystals on lead, SEM
Lead oxide crystals, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Lead is a heavy, soft, ductile metal that, under normal conditions, does not react with water

Fullerene molecules. Fullerenes are structural types (allotropes) of carbon. The three molecules at centre are buckminsterfullerenes (buckyballs)

Buckminsterfullerene molecules. This molecule is a type of fullerene, a structural type (allotrope) of carbon. It has 60 carbon atoms arranged in a spherical structure consisting of interlinking

Buckyball molecule, computer artwork
Buckyball molecule. Conceptual computer artwork that might represent research into, or hi-tech automated production of, buckyball molecules (white sphere)

Doping buckyball molecules, artwork
Doping buckyball molecules. Computer artwork showing a conveyor belt (top left to bottom right) of buckyball molecules being doped (combined) with other atoms (blue)

Fullerene molecules, computer artwork
Fullerene molecules. Computer artwork of nested, spherical fullerene molecules. Fullerenes are allotropes (different structural types) of carbon

Capped nanotube, computer artwork
Capped nanotube. Computer artwork of a capped carbon nanotube. It is called capped because the ends of the tubes have been rounded off to form an enclosed structure

Nuclear fission reaction, artwork
Nuclear fission reaction, computer artwork. At left is a neutron (blue) about to collide with an uranium-235 nucleus (grey). Upon collision the neutron combines with the nucleus to form uranium- 236

Nanotube technology, artwork
Nanotube technology. Conceptual computer artwork of cylindrical fullerene molecules (carbon nanotubes). The carbon atoms are arranged in a structure consisting of interlinking hexagonal rings

Fullerene molecule, artwork
Fullerene molecule. Computer artwork of the spherical fullerene molecule C180. Fullerenes are structurally distinct forms (allotropes) of carbon

USA, Pennsylvania. Yellow Gerbera Daisies, close up, purple background. Credit as: Nancy Rotenberg / Jaynes Gallery / Danita Delimont

The Element of Luck in Golf
A man playing golf with the help of a cow. Please note: Credit must appear as Courtesy of the Estate of Mrs J.C.Robinson/Pollinger Ltd/ILN/Mary Evans

Police breaking up a fight in Soho, London, 1911
Illustration showing the aftermath of a street brawl between immigrants in Soho, London. The original caption emphasised that although many of these foreigners were hard working handcraftsmen

Couple Boozing 1823
PERFECT FELICITY A couple of drinkers in their element with glasses of booze and bottles in either hand

Cinchona in Peru
European travellers in Peru are taught the medicinal effects of QUININE; French missionaries had learnt this in 1630, but the curative element was not identified

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"Unveiling the Building Blocks of Nature: Exploring Elements in Cornwall, England" Discovering the hidden treasures of Cornwall, England - a land rich in history and minerals. From the captivating Gold mines at Carnon Stream Works to the birthplace of renowned chemist Dmitry Mendeleev in Perranarworthal, this region holds secrets that shaped our understanding of elements. Step into the world of science with a whimsical caricature depicting Dmitry Mendeleev himself. His groundbreaking work on organizing elements led to the creation of the Standard Periodic Table as we know it today. Dive deeper into this digital illustration showcasing element types and their unique properties. Travel back in time to witness Humphry Davy's flame tests, where he discovered new elements through vibrant colors emitted by burning substances. Witness how Mendeleyev's early 20th-century Periodic Table revolutionized chemistry by arranging elements based on atomic weight and related chemical properties. Marvel at the intricate beauty captured under a light microscope - behold a mesmerizing Silicon crystal revealing its delicate structure. And let us not forget about gold - its allure shines through black sands found within a gold pan, reminding us of its timeless value. Join us on an extraordinary journey through time and space as we unravel nature's fundamental building blocks - exploring elements that shape our world.