98 episodes
Elemental RNZ Originals
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- Science
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4.8 • 4 Ratings
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A journey through the periodic table of elements with chemistry professor Allan Blackman, from AUT, and Alison Ballance
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Zirconium - shape-shifting time capsule
Zirconium is a shape-shifting tough cookie, that is a tale of gemstones, medical implants and nuclear reactors, says Allan Blackman from AUT in ep 96 of Elemental.
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Zinc - more useful than you realise
Zinc is a very useful metal that turns up in everything from sunscreen to paint, & galvanised metals to cereals, as well as brass instruments, says Prof Allan Blackman in ep 95 of Elemental.
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Yttrium - here's that village Ytterby again
Yttrium is yet another element named after the village of Ytterby and is important in the development of high temperature superconductors, says Allan Blackman from AUT in ep 94 of Elemental.
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Ytterbium - yet another element named after Ytterby
Ytterbium is yet another lanthanoid named after the Swedish village of Ytterby, says Prof Allan Blackman in ep 93 of Elemental.
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Xenon - a stranger in search of strange particles
Xenon is a noble gas that turns up in various lights, gets used in xenon ion propulsion systems for spacecraft & plays a key role in the search for dark matter, says Prof Allan Blackman from AUT in ep 92 of Elemental.
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Vanadium - Model T Fords, big batteries & sea squirts
Vanadium makes steel stronger & lighter, is being used in what will be the world's largest battery, and sea squirts are full of it, says Prof Allan Blackman from AUT in ep 91 of Elemental.
Customer Reviews
A fantastic introduction to the elements.
I am not a chemist, but this is a fascinating and entertaining introduction to all the elements. How they were discovered and named, where they come from and their uses, plus interesting obscure facts. By doing it alphabetically, they are constantly jumping around the periodic table so it is never repetitive.
Update: I wrote the above a few dozen episodes into the podcast. After finishing all 96, I wish I could give it even more stars. I am not a chemist, but I found it fascinating. The episodes are short, so give it a try!