Article by: Camilla Fezzi, on 03 August 2023, at 01:02 am PDT

The story of chemical elements is a fascinating one that spans billions of years of cosmic history. From the Big Bang to the present day, the elements have been forged in stars, scattered across the universe, and gathered together to form the building blocks of everything we see around us. In this article, we will explore the story of the chemical elements and how they came to be. The story begins with the Big Bang, the event that created the universe as we know it. In the first few moments after the Big Bang, the universe was filled with a hot, dense, and uniform plasma of subatomic particles, including protons, neutrons, and electrons. As the universe expanded and cooled, these particles began to combine to form the first atomic nuclei, primarily hydrogen and helium.

Over time, the first stars began to form from clouds of gas and dust that were enriched with these primordial elements. Inside these stars, the intense heat and pressure allowed for nuclear fusion to occur, where lighter elements were fused together to form heavier ones. This process continued throughout the lifetimes of the stars, with each generation of stars synthesizing more and more complex elements. When these stars eventually ran out of fuel, they exploded in spectacular supernova events, scattering their enriched material into space. This material would go on to form new stars and planets, including our own solar system. The Earth and all life on it are made up of elements that were forged in the hearts of ancient stars.

The periodic Table 

The chemical elements are organized in the periodic table, a chart that arranges the elements by their atomic structure and chemical properties. The periodic table is a testament to the diversity of the elements and the incredible range of properties they exhibit. From the noble gases that are inert and unreactive, to the highly reactive alkali metals, each element has its own unique personality.

The discovery of new elements has been a long and ongoing process that has been driven by advances in technology and our understanding of atomic structure. The first elements were discovered through basic chemical reactions and observations, but as our understanding of the atom grew, we developed more sophisticated techniques for identifying and isolating new elements. Today, we have identified and named over 118 elements, with many more awaiting discovery. The study of the chemical elements has led to countless technological advances and has greatly expanded our understanding of the universe and our place in it.

How was it created? 

In the early 1800s, scientists began to notice patterns in the properties of elements and began arranging them based on their atomic weights. In 1869, Dmitri Mendeleev and Lothar Meyer independently created some of the first periodic tables by arranging the elements by atomic weight. They left gaps for elements that were unknown at the time.  

Mendeleev's table organized elements with similar properties into vertical columns called groups. It arranged them horizontally in order of increasing atomic weight. His table predicted the properties of some of the unknown elements. Henry Moseley later improved the table by organizing it based on increasing atomic number rather than atomic weight. The modern periodic table is arranged this way. As new elements were discovered, they were added into the appropriate places in the table, confirming the predictions of Mendeleev and Moseley.

The periodic table has evolved over time into the current standard table we use today that organizes 118 known elements into groups and periods based on their atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring properties. The discovery of the periodic relationship between the elements was one of the most significant achievements in chemistry and was key to understanding their properties based on atomic structure. The periodic table continues to be a cornerstone of chemistry.

In conclusion, the story of the chemical elements is one of cosmic history, stellar evolution, and human ingenuity. The elements are the building blocks of everything we see and touch, and their study continues to be a fascinating and important field of science. As we continue to push the boundaries of our understanding, who knows what new elements and discoveries we will uncover in the future.