Celebrating 150 Years of the Periodic Table
Did you know the periodic table of chemical elements turned 150 years old in 2019? Published in 1869 by the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev, the periodic table revealed patterns that foretold the existence of new, undiscovered elements. To celebrate the chart's 150th anniversary, the College of Letters and Science asked our experts to share their favorite element. Click the links below to watch each video.
Carbon (C)
The Department of Chemistry’s Bryan Enderle, voted Best Professor in The California Aggie’s 2018 Best of Davis, chose carbon.
Chromium (Cr)
Valentin Taufour, a physicist who designs, grows and studies new materials, said chromium’s interesting magnetic properties make it his favorite element.
Halogens (Br, I)
Susie Owens, production manager for the Department of Theatre and Dance, explains how halogen light bulbs, introduced in 1960s, transformed lighting for stage productions.
Iron (Fe)
Arctic archeologist Christyann Darwent shares the fascinating story of the Cape York meteorite, mined for iron by Inuit people in Greenland.
Tin (Sn)
A classical archaeologist and museum curator, Alexandra Sofroniew picked tin because it is essential to understanding trade during the Bronze Age.
Vanadium (V)
Jesús Velázquez, assistant professor of chemistry, shares why vanadium is his No. 1 pick.
Xenon (Xe)
Professor Sujoy Mukhopadhyay, a geochemist, explains how xenon can reveal clues to the kind of rocks buried deep inside the Earth.
— Becky Oskin, content strategist in the College of Letters and Science