Blacker Than Black

In this video adapted from NASA, two members of a NASA research team working to produce carbon nanotubes share some background behind this new technology, show examples of how it will be useful, and explain the various tests being performed to ensure readiness for spaceflight.

Chemical Bonds

This interactive activity developed for Teachers' Domain demonstrates how attractive forces between atoms create chemical bonds, resulting in the formation of molecules and compounds.

Developing the Periodic Table

This video excerpt from NOVA: "Hunting the Elements" looks at how early chemists developed the periodic table of elements.

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The Elements: Forged in Stars

The story of how elements from lithium to uranium are created by stars is illustrated through animation and a hands-on periodic table in this video segment adapted from NOVA.

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A Fission Chain Reaction

This video excerpt from NOVA: "Hunting the Elements” uses ping-pong balls and mousetraps to demonstrate nuclear fission.

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Graphing the Periodic Table

This interactive activity from the American Chemical Society presents the properties and electron configurations for all the elements in the periodic table. Discover patterns by plotting the elements' properties according to their place in the table.

Group Metals

Metals are grouped according to their characteristics. This video segment uses the periodic table for an in-depth discussion.

Island of Stability

In this video segment adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, follow scientists in their quest to understand how stable elements are made and how to create the elusive element 114.

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NOVA Elements

Explore the periodic table, and build atoms and molecules in this web edition of the NOVA Elements iPad App.

The Origin of the Elements

This video segment adapted from NOVA explains the origin of the elements and how scientists use unique element profiles to identify supernova types.

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Periodic Table of the Elements

This interactive periodic table developed for Teachers' Domain provides detailed information about the chemical properties of elements and illustrates the electron configurations that determine those characteristics.

Periodic Table of the Elements Chart

This downloadable periodic table of elements, produced for Teachers' Domain, provides easy, transportable access to a wealth of chemical information, including the oxidation state number of each element.

Periodic Table of the Elements essay

This essay, written for Teachers' Domain, describes the foresight and pattern recognition that Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleyev used to develop the modern periodic table of elements.

Quantum Mechanical Atom

This illustrated essay, written for Teachers' Domain, describes the orderly arrangement of electrons around the nucleus of an atom and explains how to determine each element's configuration based on the number of electrons it has.

Quantum Mechanics

Are electrons particles or waves? This video segment adapted from A Science Odyssey looks at the intense debate surrounding the understanding of electron configuration.

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Rare Earth Elements

This video excerpt from NOVA: "Hunting the Elements" explores the ubiquity of rare earth elements.

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What Makes an Element Reactive?

This video excerpt from NOVA: "Hunting the Elements" explains why some groups of elements are more reactive than others.

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