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Elements Episodes

  1.

    Silver (Ag)

    The shiniest and showiest of metals has some surprisingly modern applications.

  2. Silicon (Si) - solar

    Could silicon be about to pull off an energy revolution?

  3. Silicon (Si) - chips

    We ask chip pioneers why silicon has supported a billion-fold increase in computing power.

  4. Rare Earth Elements (Ce, Nd, Dy, Er, etc)

    Should we worry about China's stranglehold over the supply of these 17 crucial elements?

  5. Radioactives (Po, Ra, Rn)

    Radium, polonium and radon sound frightening, but are they actually useful for anything?

  6. Potassium (K)

    India is completely dependent on imports of potash, a fertiliser essential for crops.

  7. Plutonium (Pu)

    Does plutonium have any practical application besides the atom bomb?

  8. Platinum group (Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir)

    Six rare metals that clean the air but are the focus of violent conflict in South Africa.

  9. Phosphorus (P)

    Phosphorus is essential for life. Should we worry that we may be frittering it away?

  10. Oxygen (O) - oxidation

    The 鈥渆lement of life鈥� also makes our atmosphere very dangerous and costly to operate in.

  11. Oxygen (O) - industrial uses

    Why is oxygen essential to steelmaking, and can you inhale too much of it?

  12. Obscure Elements

    In the final programme in the series we look at the rarest members of the periodic table.

  13. Noble Gases (Ar, Ne, Kr, Xe)

    Neon, argon, krypton & xenon: From blinding arc lights to the dying trade of sign-making.

  14. Nitrogen (N) - fertilisers

    Does nitrogen threaten Earth with an environmental disaster worse than climate change?

  15. Nitrogen (N) - explosives

    Nitrogen may seem a dull and inert gas, yet it is the key component in most explosives.

  16. Nickel & Rhenium (Ni, Re)

    The metal that made the jet age possible, as well as margarine and bicycle sprockets.

  17. Mercury (Hg)

    The Minamata international treaty aims to phase the use of Mercury out completely.

  18. Magnesium (Mg)

    The metal that overcame a fiery reputation to regain its role in making planes and cars.

  19. Iron & Manganese (Fe, Mn) - steel-making

    The two key ingredients that enabled the mass production of steel.

  20. Iron (Fe) - the Industrial Revolution

    Moments in history that transformed this metal element into modern life's key material.

  21. Iron (Fe) - industrialisation

    What the collapse in iron ore prices means for the economic progress of China & India.

  22. Iodine (I)

    Why does iodine deficiency still blight children in developing countries like India?

  23. Hydrogen (H) - water (part 2)

    As climate change plays havoc with the rain, could we draw water directly from the ocean?

  24. Hydrogen (H) - water (part 1)

    Northwest India is fast running out of groundwater. Is migration and conflict inevitable?

  25. Hydrogen (H) - fusion

    Could we finally be about to crack this source of potentially unlimited clean energy?

  26. Hydrogen (H) - energy

    Is the dream of a hydrogen-fuelled zero-carbon economy achievable?

  27. Hydrogen (H) - acids

    These powerful chemicals are essential for industry, but are dangerous to handle.

  28. Helium (He)

    Helium is rare on Earth so should it be used in something as frivolous as party balloons?

  29. Gold (Au)

    Why do we value this useless metal? And does it bring out the worst in human nature?

  30. Gold (Au)

    Heavy and chemically inert, why is gold so highly valued by mankind?

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