What If? | Randall Munroe | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Randall Munroe discusses the dangers and challenges of building a periodic table using bricks made from corresponding elements, while also sharing intriguing insights into the world of chemistry and physics.

Transcript

MALE SPEAKER: Let's give it up for Randall, all right. RANDALL MUNROE: Hi. All right, so I wrote a book. It's full of my answers to questions that people submitted through my website. And so one of the questions that was submitted that I would like to talk about today is the question that someone asked-- what if you built a periodic table using bri... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏛️ Building a periodic table using bricks made from corresponding elements can be dangerous due to the toxicity, radioactivity, and reactivity of certain elements.
• ❓ Collecting rare elements often requires creativity and specialized resources, and some elements are harder to obtain than others.
• 🥅 The idea of collecting elements is comparable to collecting Pokemon, with the goal being to collect as many as possible. However, the risks and limitations prevent most collectors from acquiring all 118 elements.
• ↘️ The lower rows of the periodic table pose the most challenges, with elements becoming increasingly dangerous and difficult to handle.
• 🖐️ Radioactive elements play a significant role in the periodic table due to their decay and the energy they release.
• 🥺 The synthesis of new elements in the periodic table leads to exciting discoveries and challenges for scientists.
• 🌍 The study of chemistry and physics offers fascinating and often unexpected insights into the world around us.

Questions & Answers

Q: Can you explain why building the periodic table using bricks made from the corresponding elements can be dangerous?

Building a periodic table using bricks made from elements can be dangerous due to the toxicity, radioactivity, and reactivity of certain elements. Working with elements like mercury and beryllium, or exposing oneself to radioactive sources like americium, can have severe health implications.

Q: Are there any elements that are hard to obtain or illegal to collect?

Yes, some elements are difficult to obtain due to their rarity or the need for specialized equipment. Additionally, certain elements, like plutonium, have legal restrictions due to their potential use in nuclear weapons.

Q: How do radioactive elements affect the building process of the periodic table?

Radioactive elements can pose a challenge in the construction process due to their short half-lives and the potential health risks associated with prolonged exposure. Handling elements with short half-lives, like technetium, requires caution to prevent radiation-related health issues.

Q: Is there a limit to how many elements can be collected and added to the periodic table?

Collecting all the elements can be challenging due to the dangers involved in obtaining and handling certain elements, as well as legal and safety restrictions. Most collectors top out at around 80 to 90 elements, depending on various factors such as personal safety concerns and financial resources.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Munroe explores the idea of building a periodic table using bricks made from the corresponding elements, highlighting the challenges and dangers that come with collecting rare and dangerous elements.

• He explains how some elements are easy to obtain (e.g., oxygen, nitrogen) while others require more creativity and safety precautions to acquire.

• Munroe relates this concept to his love of collecting elements, comparing it to collecting Pokemon and discussing the limits and risks involved in collecting all the elements.