Alchemy, focused on the desire to produce gold, was reasonable, given the understanding of the times. It led to a greatly improved understanding of the behavior of matter.

The more modern version of alchemy is the transformation of radioactive elements. An important potential application of this is discussed on the Los Alamos National Laboratory site, http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/pa/science21/ATW.html. What is the importance of Accelerator Transmutation of Waste? What is the process? Please describe some special advantages of the process.

The late 18th and early 19th centuries were a time of fundamental experimentation that led to great leaps in scientists' understanding of the nature of the atom and of how elements combine. The Law of Definite Proportions, the Law of Multiple Proportions, and Dalton's Atomic Theory were developed in this time frame.

Professor Carmen Giunta from Le Moyne College in New York State, has compiled an impressive list of articles written by scientists such as Dalton, Berzelius, Proust and others, that discuss their experiments and thinking in developing their view of atoms and their interactions. Go to the site at http://webserver.lemoyne.edu/faculty/giunta/dalton.html. Dalton's paper is a "tough read" because it was written using language of the times. You will note within the symbols for the elements that are the same as in our text Figure 2.7. Your goal is to find the discussion about water. Dalton presents facts we know to be correct. He also presents a fact that we know to be incorrect. What is that water-related fact, and why is it incorrect?

The periodic table lists the elements in order of atomic number. Its structure is based on periodic relationships between the chemical properties of different elements.

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory discusses the formation and detection of "transfermium" elements - those of higher atomic number than fermium, number 100. The placement of these elements (as in Figure 2.13 in the text) is based on the atomic number and also the properties we predict these elements have. Read the article at the site http://www.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/chapters/08/0.html. Why can't we be certain about the properties of transfermium elements? What makes them difficult to study?

The special beauty of the periodic table is that the electronic structure of the elements follows in tandem with the chemical properties of the elements. The electronic structure of the elements allows us to more clearly understand why they are placed where they are on the periodic table.

The Case-in-Point, "Quantum Leap: Niels Bohr and the Bohr atom", discusses the importance of the hydrogen spectrum. This spectrum is not only seen from a gas discharge tube (as in the figure), but is also seen as part of the light coming from the Sun, the "solar spectrum". Every element has a spectrum like hydrogen's when it emits energy. But the wavelengths of light are unique to that element. Helium, for example, was known to be part of the Sun because of its distinctive pattern of lines in the solar spectrum. NASA has a nifty Web site where you can study the parts of a simplified solar spectrum to see some of the elements emitted from the Sun. Please go to http://orpheus.nascom.nasa.gov/serts/learning_spectra.htm#solar. Read the sections, and then do the "Try It Yourself" exercise, Section 5. Name 5 elements shown in the solar spectrum. Based on our discussion of chapter 1, please write a few sentences discussing the possible origin of each these elements.

The Groups of the periodic table contain elements of similar electron structure and chemical properties. Some elements are especially important to life, to industry and to the environment.

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory discusses the formation and detection of "transfermium" elements - those of higher atomic number than fermium, number 100. The placement of these elements (as in Figure 2.13 in the text) is based on the atomic number and also the properties we predict these elements have. Read the article at the site http://www.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/chapters/08/0.html. Why can't we be certain about the properties of transfermium elements? What makes them difficult to study?

Extra This is a complete listing of all know nuclides. For those that are energetically unstable, their half-life is given. http://www.ndc.tokai.jaeri.go.jp/CN01/index.html