Daisy, Daisy

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”

All is safely gathered in

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”