Questions for The Professor - Periodic Table of Videos | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

A chemistry professor answers questions about element names, his personal collection of periodic tables, and his passion for science.

Key Insights

• 📛 "Aluminum" and "aluminium" are both valid names for the same element, with differences arising from historical agreements.
• 📛 Element names have diverse origins, including ancient tribal names and more recent inspirations from scientists and places.
• 🚰 The professor has an extensive collection of periodic tables and periodic table-themed items, demonstrating his passion for chemistry.
• 👶 The discoverers of new elements often name them to honor scientists who influenced them, celebrate scientific achievements, or pay tribute to specific concepts.
• 👨‍🏫 The professor's enthusiasm for science developed from reading books and performing experiments during supervised homework sessions at his boarding school.
• 👨‍🏫 Chemistry, with its fascinating reactions and vivid colors, captured the professor's interest during his teenage years and continues to inspire him.
• 😒 The professor carries a chain with him, which he began doing as a teenager and uses it as a fidget toy during lectures. He even employs it for demonstrations of physics principles.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How did the Americans and Europeans come to use different names for aluminum?

The terms "aluminum" and "aluminium" were originally used interchangeably, but an agreement led to Americans adopting "aluminum" while Europeans opted for "aluminium."

Q: Why are there different names for elements in different languages?

Elements like gold have ancient names unique to each tribe or nation. More recently discovered elements have names given by the person who discovered them, often inspired by place names or scientists' surnames.

Q: What do you think the names of the yet-to-be-discovered elements will be?

The professor is unsure but mentions that heavy elements are named by teams and are inspired by scientists who have impacted the discoverers. He still hopes for "capernum" as an element name.

Q: What is the hardest element name for you to pronounce?

The professor finds element 111, "ruthenium" difficult to pronounce in English. Some element names, overall, can be challenging to say correctly.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The professor explains that the term "aluminum" is used in America, while "aluminium" is preferred in Europe due to an agreement.

• He talks about his extensive collection of periodic tables, including cups, magnets, mouse mats, and ties, which he has given away to admirers.

• The origins of element names are diverse, ranging from ancient tribal names to recent inspirations from scientists and scientific concepts.