About Periodic Table
The periodic table, also known as the periodic table of elements, is a tabular display of the chemical elements, which are arranged by atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties. The structure of the table shows periodic trends.
Can the UK's race to space take off?
... " So if you take the whole Periodic Table, and start putting things together - like lead, aluminium, rubidium, einsteinium - there are billions of new alloys that you can now make that you couldn t make on Earth...
Australia challenges China in mining for essential elements
... " Rare earths are a collection of more than a dozen elements on the Periodic Table...
Pentaquarks: scientists find new " exotic" configurations of quarks
... Perhaps even more importantly, though, the latest finds mean that there are now enough of these particles to begin grouping them together, like the chemical elements in the Periodic Table...
Coronavirus: The impossibility of home-schooling a nation
... Not everyone has access to a Periodic Table jigsaw, full of books and craft materials, she says...
Millions of old gadgets 'stockpiled in drawers'
... Elements in smart phones that could run out within the next 100 years 2019 is the international year of the Periodic Table So what should I do with my old tech? In short - recycle it; you can Take it to your local tip, advised Stuart Price from Electrical Waste Recycling in Huddersfield...
150 years of the periodic table: Test your knowledge
... This year, the Periodic Table of chemical elements celebrates its 150th birthday...
... All the chemical elements in the Periodic Table heavier than these three had to be forged in stars...
Millions of old gadgets 'stockpiled in drawers'
Louise and her family's hoard of old technology is typical of a UK household
"Ten phones, two laptops, digital cameras. . All just sitting here. We're not dealing with it. " Louise Lewis is surveying A Collection of old gadgets That have piled up in her home.
Her technological stash, experts say, is typical. But it could jeopardise our ability to manufacture new devices.
A study has estimated That as many as 40 million unused gadgets are languishing in UK homes.
Each device contains multiple valuable and increasingly endangered elements.
The growing, unseen shortage of "Rare Earth elements" was the impetus for the survey of just how much unused technology we are All stockpiling.
The organisation carried out an online survey - completed by More Than 2,000 People - which revealed That half of UK households had at least one unused electronic device and 45% of homes had between two and five. Most People admitted they had no plans to recycle their collection.
What elements could we run out of?"There are about 30 different elements just in a smartphone," said Elisabeth Ratcliffe from the Royal Society of Chemistry, "and many of them are very rare. "
The metal indium, she explained, is used in a unique compound called indium tin oxide, which is vital for touch screens, because it conducts electricity and is transparent. "It's also used in solar panels, so we're going to need a lot of it in The Future .
"There's not a lot of it in the Earth and you need a kilo of ore to extract just a few milligrams of indium. "
Most of us will not have heard of tantalum, but it's a highly corrosion-resistant metal That is "perfect for small Electronic Devices like our phones", explained Ms Ratcliffe. "But it's also perfect for hearing aids and pace-makers," she told Bbc News .
Scientists estimate That indium and tantalum mines, Among Others , could run out within a century. Meanwhile, our demand for new technology continues to increase.
"Even The Copper in All That wire is not endlessly abundant," added Ms Ratcliffe. "On top of That , most of these devices are coated in plastic, which could be recycled. "
Elements in smart phones That could run out within the next 100 years 2019 is The International year of the Periodic Table So What should I do with my old tech?In Short - recycle it; you can
"Take it to your local tip," advised Stuart Price from Electrical Waste Recycling in Huddersfield. "Or a retailer - distributors actually have an obligation to take back material when you buy a new product from them. "
"We need this material to go to reprocessing facilities, so it can be processed properly. "
At electrical waste reprocessing plants, devices - even wires- can be broken down into their component parts for recyclingMany People who hoard old tech are concerned about protecting their personal data, but a "factory reset" should protect That - and council tips and responsible retailers keep electronics secure before they are recycled.
According to the Electrical Waste Recycling Group, about 500,000 tonnes of electronic waste is recycled in the UK every year. But That is only a fraction of the "E-waste" That is piling up in landfill and in People 's homes.
Much of the responsibility for That will lie with tech manufacturers, according to Prof Lenny Koh, director of the Centre for Energy, Environment and Sustainability at the University of Sheffield.
"The current approach is not sustainable," she told Bbc News . "With increasing demand and reliance on smaller devices and more sophisticated technology, there'll only be more waste to be recycled.
"Manufacturers need to think about the entire life-cycle of a device at the design stage - so devices are built to be fully recyclable. "
Ms Ratcliffe added That we can All help by delaying a phone upgrade for a while longer. "," She Said . "So it's a great time to be thinking about All The Amazing elements Out There . And just by holding onto your current phone for Another Year , you can really make a difference in environmental terms. "
Follow Victoria
environment, recycling
Source of news: bbc.com
Periodic table Photos
