The Periodic Table (Chemical Elements)

[Boneasse]

Since, from what I have observed and concluded in my forum browsing on The Escapist thus far, has made me convinced that this site is filled with... 75% intellectual people (maybe that's a bit exaggerated, but that was totally not a random number), I want to ask you a question.

What's your favourite chemical element, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_element]and why?

The thread is fairly unusual, I admit, and you have probably never, ever, thought about this until now. So give your brain a spin and find out. Have fun.

Oh, and just to get the party started; C (Carbon), number 6 in the periodic table, is mine. Why, I hear you ask? Well I won't go into detail (I'd never stop rambling), but I'll write some keywords for you to google if you feel like it:
1) Organic chemistry
2) Foundation of life (you might have to rephrase this to get a suitable search-result, I just thought it sounded cool)
3) Allotropes

 

[Neonbob]

My favorite element is...a tie.
A rather obvious tie, too, between Uranium and Neon. Those two elements are awesome in their own ways. One gets awesome explosions of doom, and the other is just cool because it glows when excited, and it will not blow up in your face. The contrast between the two reactions is also nice.

 

[TheRundownRabbit]

Hahahahaha, we are intimolectuals, take that SG.

I like Magnesium,
Mg the home-dog in charge

 

[Ryuo]

Hg.
Mercury.
Poisonous yes, but if I were to have a blob, I could be entertained for hours. (and possibly suffer mercury poisoning, but worth it right?)
also being a liquid metal at room temp is fascinating enough.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Oxygen is my top favorite because without i don't live and run my business. After that i'd have to say Nitrogen.

 

[Armored Prayer]

Neon. Just because it makes such awesome glowing colors.

 

[photog212]

Na.
Sodium.
I love salty foods, and its in most of the chemicals I use on a weekly basis.

 

[The Shade]

I like Xenon. Mostly because of the name. Also, Ununquadium, for being so badass. (?)

And Gold. Everyone loves Goooooold!

*crazy prospector dance*

 

[titankore]

I think Francium or one of the other alkaline metals because they can cause massive explosions when dropped in water. I think that Bigitonium is funny, it's an artificially created element that has is so big it can be seen with something less powerful then an electron microscope. When the scientists were asked why they made it they said it was because they just felt like it.

 

[GundamSentinel]

I always loved tungsten (wolfram). High melting point, high density. The heaviest element to be used by living organisms. Nice.

 

[Quaxar]

Tc, Technetium
Why? Because it's a metal (transition metal, still "metal" in the name) but has no stable isotopes. Also, it's the first artificially produced element.

 

[azncutthroat]

Carbon. It's pretty much the universe's PlayDough.

Of course, I may be a little biased, since humans are carbon-based life-forms.

 

[Boneasse]

Carbon. It's pretty much the universe's PlayDough.

Of course, I may be a little biased, since humans are carbon-based life-forms.

Yes, we are selfish bastards, aren't we?

 

[PurpleSky]

I will start this reply by laughing at your statistics.Did you hire Calumon to do those for you?

Now on topic: No I can't do this I have nothing.I hate chemistry and everything it stands for.....wait.

 

[xdgt]

K potassium #19, it explodes when it comes in touch with air or water, that is the element they showed in chemistry class to get us excited about chemistry. Big booms element just gets me.

 

[Boneasse]

I will start this reply by laughing at your statistics.Did you hire Calumon to do those for you?

Now on topic: No I can't do this I have nothing.I hate chemistry and everything it stands for.....wait.

How'd you guess? Nah, but seriously I just threw out a random number to make people feel good (or bad) about themselves so they'd reply in the thread, BWAHAHAHAH!. Awesome tactics right? RIGHT?!

 

[muckinscavitch]

Top 3, in no particular order:

Oxygen: Easily one of the most dangerous atoms in the universe, and yet is essential for aerobic life.

Carbon: Basis of life on our planet, and organic chemistry.

Silicon: Since it sports similar properties to carbon, is bigger and has the ability to form even more bonds; I have decided that somewhere in the universe there will be silicon based life-forms which would be awesome, but fairly fragile...


Honourable mentions: Francium, Einsteinium, Europium, Californium, Neptunium, Uranium, Nobelium, etc. All the ones clearly named after people or places.

 

[Spitfire175]

Fe
Ferrum.
Iron.
IRON.