Author Archives: clareewilkes

Two elements represented by flags, each with a distinctive cross. The Saltire, or St Andrew’s Cross, is the flag of Scotland and represents the only element to be discovered in Scotland. The small village of Strontian in the Highlands grew up in the 18th century around its lead mine and it was in the mineralsContinue reading “Flying the flag”

My last alchemical symbol, used for calx (lime) or calx vive (quicklime) from which calcium takes its name. An example is this table of alchemical symbols by Andrew Bell 1726 – 1809, where it is used for quicklime and is the tenth one down on the left hand side.

We first saw John Dalton’s circular element symbols back in the p-block where I used them for nitrogen, oxygen and silicon. Of course these symbols only exist for those elements known in Dalton’s time, and so they haven’t afforded many possibilities as I’ve worked my way along the f-block. But here are two more, berylliumContinue reading “A return to Dalton’s symbols”

Francium and hafnium, two seemingly unrelated elements but linked in my choice of designs by a flower, the simple white and yellow daisy, or marguerite. Hafnium, element 72, was discovered in Copenhagen (Latin name Hafnia), capital of Denmark. The daisy is Denmark’s national flower and favourite of Queen Margrethe. Francium, as you might have guessed,Continue reading “Daisy, Daisy”

Protactinium – element 91 but my 100th element stitched! Not all have been posted so far, but this milestone means that I have just lanthanum and actinium left in the f-block before moving on up the s-block to top it off with hydrogen. Then it’s decision time on Group 3 – where to place scandiumContinue reading “Discovery by decay”

…and useful in the infrared. Many of erbium’s uses mostly rely on the characteristic delicate pink colour of its compounds. When added to glass, it gives a pink tinge – useful for sunglasses, imitation gems and photographic filters. Erbium oxide is used as a ceramic glaze. Aside from the aesthetic, erbium is useful in medicineContinue reading “Pretty in pink…”

I’m feeling rather guilty about my choice of design for nobelium as we all know that Alfred Nobel wanted to be remembered for his prizes rather than for the invention of dynamite. Nevertheless, a round medal doesn’t lend itself to an interesting or recognisable pattern and try as I might, all I could come upContinue reading “A Nobel reward”

Following on from cerium, four more elements named for planets and represented by the classical deities these planets are named for. Uranium was the first to be named, in 1789 by Martin Klaproth and eight years after the discovery by William Herschel of the planet Uranus. Uranus was the Greek god of the sky, whichContinue reading “Heavenly bodies”

The naming of cerium helped establish a trend that started in the late 18th century of naming elements after a recently discovered planet. Uranium was first, discovered and named in 1789 by Martin Klaproth just a few years after William Herschel discovered Uranus. And then in quick succession at the start of the 19th centuryContinue reading “All is safely gathered in”