Elemental

by RNZ

To celebrate 150 years of the periodic table, get to know the back story of every element with our intrepid scientific hosts.

Zirconium - shape-shifting time capsule
Dec 22, 2019 – 00:12:34
Zinc - more useful than you realise
Dec 19, 2019 – 00:12:31
Yttrium - here's that village Ytterby again
Dec 15, 2019 – 00:08:28
Ytterbium - yet another element named after Ytterby
Dec 12, 2019 – 00:08:12
Xenon - a stranger in search of strange particles
Dec 10, 2019 – 00:09:55
Vanadium - Model T Fords, big batteries & sea squirts
Dec 8, 2019 – 00:09:33
Uranium - first radioactive element to be discovered
Dec 5, 2019 – 00:08:28
Tungsten - highest melting point of any metal
Dec 1, 2019 – 00:08:46
Titanium - light, strong & quite pretty
Nov 28, 2019 – 00:08:34
Tin - from whistles to organ pipes & anti-fouling paint
Nov 26, 2019 – 00:10:54
Thulium - the most laborious of the lanthanoids
Nov 24, 2019 – 00:09:45
Thorium - potential source of cleaner nuclear energy
Nov 21, 2019 – 00:09:09
Thallium - the poisoner's poison
Nov 17, 2019 – 00:08:27
Terbium - turns up in old TVs & new Euro notes
Nov 14, 2019 – 00:08:54
Tellurium - usually associated with gold
Nov 10, 2019 – 00:09:21
Technetium - the first synthetic element
Nov 7, 2019 – 00:08:45
Tantalum - a tantalising chemical element
Nov 3, 2019 – 00:07:23
Sulfur - king of bad smells
Oct 31, 2019 – 00:14:25
Strontium - from sensitive teeth toothpaste to nuclear fission
Oct 27, 2019 – 00:09:12
Sodium - a salt of the earth spectator
Oct 24, 2019 – 00:11:19
Silver - a popular noble metal
Oct 22, 2019 – 00:11:15
Silicon - a ubiquitous part of modern life
Oct 20, 2019 – 00:10:20
Selenium - good reason to eat seafood & Brazil nuts
Oct 17, 2019 – 00:08:17
Scandium - the scandal of the scandium cricket bat
Oct 15, 2019 – 00:08:23
Samarium - magnets for making & listening to music
Oct 13, 2019 – 00:06:47
Ruthenium - a 'sort of' precious metal
Oct 10, 2019 – 00:08:12
Rubidium - expensive and not very useful
Oct 6, 2019 – 00:09:11
Rhodium - used in cars, drugs... and aftershave
Oct 3, 2019 – 00:07:48
Rhenium - has a number of claims to chemical fame
Oct 1, 2019 – 00:07:14
Radon - radioactive basement risk
Sep 29, 2019 – 00:09:34
Radium - famous but not very useful
Sep 26, 2019 – 00:10:06
Protactinium - a very dull chemical element
Sep 22, 2019 – 00:06:59
Promethium - rare and unremarkable
Sep 19, 2019 – 00:11:46
Praseodymium - a long name but not many uses
Sep 15, 2019 – 00:06:21
Potassium - a matter of life and death
Sep 12, 2019 – 00:11:19
Polonium - few redeeming features
Sep 8, 2019 – 00:10:17
Plutonium - nuclear bombs & nuclear power
Sep 5, 2019 – 00:09:02
Platinum - another pricey precious metal
Sep 1, 2019 – 00:08:58
Phosphorus - P was discovered in pee
Aug 29, 2019 – 00:14:28
Palladium - cleaning up your car's exhaust
Aug 25, 2019 – 00:12:30
Oxygen - the friendly element
Aug 22, 2019 – 00:14:47
Osmium - heavyweight champion of the elements
Aug 18, 2019 – 00:08:59
Nitrogen - a vital powerhouse
Aug 15, 2019 – 00:13:08
Niobium - useful at high & low temperatures
Aug 11, 2019 – 00:09:54
Nickel - more than just a 5 cent coin
Aug 8, 2019 – 00:09:58
Neon - the red of neon lights
Aug 4, 2019 – 00:10:53
Neodymium - the secret behind supermagnets
Aug 1, 2019 – 00:09:07
The most boring chemical element
Jul 31, 2019 – 00:07:51
Molybdenum - a catalyst at bacterial to industrial scales
Jul 28, 2019 – 00:10:19
Mercury - mesmerising quicksilver
Jul 25, 2019 – 00:11:34

Recent Reviews

Aurika C.

Fantastisch!

Wonderful job you two! I enjoyed listening about the many elements I have never heard of 😅 So much work put into this project - I want to say looking forward to more of your work… but… I guess we’ll see!
ALittleChaotic

Wonderful “chemistry” between the hosts!

I listened to this in 2019 , it was wonderful! Then with much of life shut down in 2020 I’ve revisited it and love the rapport between the hosts. I know how that helps the young and the old folks also enjoy it, I’ve recommended this podcast far and wide.
YGlen

Wonderful Exploration of the Periodical Table

My 11-year old grandson and I have learned so much from this podcast! The delightful chemistry between hosts Allan & Alison makes exploring the periodic table an enjoyable experience like never before. Our heartfelt thanks to RNZ for producing this podcast!
sharon024

Fun and informative!

I am really enjoying the fun facts and chatting about the elements!
Lippoldtskivich

Thanks for the great science lessons

If chemistry had been taught like this when I was in secondary school, I might have retained more of the lessons as a kid! Lively, engaging, clear, friendly.