We all had to memorize the periodic table in school (or at least I did). But did our ability to recite the elements really help us understand how each functions in our day-to-day lives?
No, not really. I mean, who knows what boron is used for?
Well, now there’s a chart for that.
Photo Credit: Keith Enevoldsen, CC BY-SA 4.0
This very cool and colorful graphic gives you a picture reference for each element that demonstrates how you might see it in your day-to-day surroundings. The atomic numbers of the elements and their material states are also noted.
Boeing software engineer Keith Enevoldsen is the genius behind The Periodic Table of Elements, in Pictures and Words. It’s meant to help students visualize the elements, which can assist with the tedious task of memorizing the chart.
But adults are sure to find this information fascinating too.
Photo Credit: Keith Enevoldsen, CC BY-SA 4.0
So boron is in sports equipment. Who knew?
Imagine being able to tell people at the bar that they’re being exposed to tantalum as they are checking their Snapchats on their cell phones. Most of us know what arsenic is, represented by a jar of poison. But what about finding gallium in LEDs? Or, krypton in flashlights?
Who knows that besides science people?
If you like it, the chart is available to buy as a poster, so you can grab one for yourself. And if you know a student or have an element-loving person in your life, a poster or the corresponding flashcards would make a great gift.
Or, at least a helpful gift.
