An Idiosyncratic View of the Periodic Table

In Fig. 1.3, we presented a tmncated version of the Periodic Table in which elements have been colour-coded into nine families — respectively the alkali metals (often known as the alkali earth metals), the alkaline earth metals, the transition metals, the other metals, the metalloids, the nonmetals, the halogens, the noble gases, and finally, with just lanthanum as its sole example, the rare earths. Now in Fig. 1.4, we present an idiosyncratic view of the Periodic Table, highlighting a few characteristic facets of a selected number of elements, and in what follows, we have tried to illustrate some of these. Those elements that have been dealt with above, or will be dealt with specifically in later chapters, and will not be discussed in any detail here. The presentation follows their order by group and by row in the periodic table. An equally idiosyncratic view of the Periodic Table can be found in the wonderful and memorable book by Primo Levi (Levi, 1985). 

Gradients of H+, membranes are used for ATP synthesis Lighter than air, good for filling balloons and making people s pitched 

3 Lithium Li 4 Berylium Be Toxic 5 Boron B Essential 6 Carbon C Essential 7 Nitrogen N Essential Oxygen 0 Essential Fluorine F Essential 10 Neon Ne 

11 Sodium Na Essential 12 Magnesium Mg Essential 13 Aluminium Al Toxio 14 Silicon Si Essential 15 Phosphorous P Essential 16 Sulphur S Essential 17 Chlorine Cl Essential 18 Argon Ar 

Sodium channels Chlorophylls Aoid rain Plants especially grasses and Diatoms Cellular energy currency, ATP Coenzyme A, Fe S clusters Chloride channels in cystic fibrosis Heavier than air-good in glove boxes 

---