Hmm - apparently I still have credit to post here, even though I haven't crunched in the past three months. Go figure. I suppose however, after I finish 4 CPDN WU's, I'll crunch some more SETI, if there are units available.

I thought I'd just post here to say hi to my friends.

So, I have filled the last few month with general weirdness, such as geocaching... even brought a $400 GPS unit for it - rather neat actually.

I've always loved science, geology and chemistry instead (I suppose geochemistry is a good field for me?), and then I stumbled upon a very interesting and intricate website, about an entirely new hobby, that I had never heard of before. Something called 'Element Collecting' - it involves collecting samples of all elements ever to have existed (an impossible task).

The website in question is http://theodoregray.com/periodictable/ - run by Theodore Gray, the man that is part of the development of Wolfram Alpha and Mathematica products. He has also appeared on stage with Steve Jobs at prior WWDC's as well.
He designed a really nice table (see all the details at his page) and has accrued literally hundreds of samples of most elements - from 99.9999%+ pure samples, to spark plugs and 'Fiestaware'. Have a browse...
Why can't I do the same? I can. Just not his scale. So I launched a little thread over at the Sicituradastra team website called "The Periodic Briefcase" (Abbreviated TPB - Some of you may know it as a remarkable land of many delights where normally exceedingly expensive items can be acquired for free).

The basic design is a chest that has a lattice grid inside it, I cover over the 'cells' that don't house elements and, tada, you have the periodic table.

Here are excerpts from the page at the Sici forums...

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Basically, it a briefcase style chest that when open, has a lattice square arrangement on the inside, sort of like a spreadsheet, there are rows and columns and individual cells - inside each cell is a sample of that element, all arranged in the shape of the Periodic Table - hence the name Periodic Briefcase.

The briefcase dimensions are 928mm in width (nearly 1 meter, 92.8cm) and 578mm in length (over half a meter, 57.8cm). Seems like random numbers, but when you subtract 19mm x 2 (thickness of the wooden frame along each dimension), you are left with two much more elegant numbers... 890mm and 540mm. This is the dimensions of the space inside the briefcase.

Since the periodic table is 18 groups wide, and (essentially) 11 cells in length (the 7 periods, plus the lanthanides and actinides block (2), plus a space between them, and a space at the top = 11), the inner dimensions (900mm and 550mm respectively) have to divide nicely into these two numbers (18 and 11 respectively). The result of these equations *NEAR* 50mm. 40mm for the interior of each cell, and 10mm for a piece of lattice wood - what about the excess though? I said *NEAR* - the actual results of those equations are slightly less than 50mm - well, the last cell / column / row doesn't need a lattice, as the frame provides it.

Each cell will hold an individual element. And each cell (or cuboid) has dimensions of 40mm x 40mm x 56mm, which is 89.6 cubic centimeters in volume.
This is enough to accept a standard 5cm ampoule, which you commonly find element samples contained in, and many small rough samples of crystals and element pieces.
On top of each cell will be a cover of wood, individually removable, with the name and atomic number engraved or punched in.

Where will I source my elements?

I have found some great element stocking companies out there...

Metallium Inc. (Element Sales) - Offers probably the best deals on sample elements.
Element Displays (Element Collection) - Based in the U.K. they also offer a wide variety of elements, and they sell Uranium, which is harder to come buy.
Emovendo - Also seem to sell a few elements.
Smart Elements - Offers a wide range and selection.

Now the large corporate chemical suppliers...

Sigma Aldrich - A chemical manufacturing company that does ship orders to individuals.
Alfa Aesar - Like Sigma, they will also ship directly to people.
American Elements - A great company that takes a refreshing approach to small orders.

eBay also has listings for elements occasionally.

What sort of grade do you want to purchase?

I want both technical grade, laboratory grade, and field grade. For example, I might source a glass ampuole of magnesium sealed under argon, but I also might source a block of magnesium metal, and also obtain a splint as a sample!


What elements will I purchase?

Good question. I'll start out small. Probably some of the lighter metals like aluminum or magnesium.

Before I even begin, there is no point in ever hoping to aqcuire the radioactives. A nice goal is obtain all elements from 1-92. There are a few exceptions, like Americium, which can be obtained in small quantities from smoke alarms.
But within that 1-92 range, a few are many powers more unobtainable. Good luck trying to find yourself some Technetium, or trying to display Fluorine!

All the alkali metals down the left hand side, while readily available, are very expensive because of the HAZMAT shipping fees.
Start small. I'll keep this thread updated. I leave you with a picture and a question...



Which element should I buy first???

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Since this, A very kind person has already offered me Gold Sandstone for free!

I suppose, if this thread is liked, I'll keep it up to date.

Cheers... :)

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- Luke.

Let's see.

Plutonium, radium, cesium, and uranium?

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BOINC WIKI

Let's see.

Plutonium, radium, cesium, and uranium?

Two of them are possible within reason...
I actually know a really nice source of uranium.

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- Luke.

Mate!!!

So nice to see you here once again!!

And it's quite humourous......

I just made a post (now in limbo) about the elements......

I actually thought you might have quoted it. But you didn't, so I shall.

Tom Lehrer, the musical satirist, did a song about The Elemental Song......

Hope you and little kitty are well.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

Let's see.

Plutonium, radium, cesium, and uranium?

Two of them are possible within reason...
I actually know a really nice source of uranium.

Well I do have some pure U238.

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Fire, water, air, earth, spirit. yep! got my elements packed up!!

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Janice

Hey Luke! Great to hear from you on here again!

Sounds like an interesting, if expensive project.

I only deal in 3 elements at the moment, and they are cryogenically frozen, specifically, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Argon. They are in liquid form, much more compressed in that state, but very, very cold! Must be easier to get them locally than me trying to ship anything from the UK!

As you will know, some of them have to be kept under oil and suchlike to stop them reacting.

And some of the rarer ones have only had a few unstable atoms of it, so they will be impossible to get.

Good luck!

Giz.

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A proud GPU User Server Donor!