It happens all over the periodic table. The chemical symbol for lead is Pb. For mercury, Hg. For antimony, Sb. My chemistry teacher in high school cracked up every time she referred to the symbol for ...

What comes to mind when you think about isotopes? Radioactivity, perhaps? That’s only the tip of the iceberg. A new interactive periodic table of the elements and isotopes, launched last month by the ...

At one point, while drowning in research for The Disappearing Spoon, I could pretty much name every element on the periodic table, in order. I was more than happy to let this "talent" lapse, ...