The Wildest Elements in the Periodic Table

The periodic table is composed of approximately 118 chemical elements that range from solids, liquids and gasses. Some of them are pretty abundant and well known to us such as nitrogen and oxygen, which form 78 and 21 percent of our atmosphere, respectively. But certain chemical elements stick out more than others due to their unusual properties, making them the perfect candidates for this list of the wildest elements in the periodic table.\r \r 1. Curium\r \r Named after Marie Curie, the Polish scientist and chemist whose research was crucial in the study of radiation, Curium is one of the most radioactive elements out there, so much so that it glows purple. It’s especially dangerous to have around due to the fact that it produces alpha, beta and gamma radiation. And any attempts at immersing it will just result in the water boiling instead. Because of the above listed reasons, curium is hardly ever created on purpose, and when it is, it’s done under strict lab conditions.\r \r 2. Bismuth\r \r Bismuth, a gem and mineral, is quite the show stopper, given its dazzling metallic appearance. It’s even the main ingredient in Pepto Bismol, which is what the “bis” part actually stands for. But that is not what makes it weird—that would have to be its reaction to magnets. Bismuth is actually diamagnetic in nature, meaning that it repels magnets by creating an opposing magnetic field instead of attracting it like iron or no reaction at all like copper. And for an even more trippy effect, putting a magnet between two pieces of bismuth will cause it to levitate, for real!\r \r 3. Iridium\r \r Not only is iridium among one of the most rare elements in the world, it’s also the most corrosion resistant, much more than gold and platinum which are known for retaining their luster for a really long time. This is due to its incredible density which, next to osmium, makes it the second densest element in the world. Because of this, there is almost nothing that can dissolve iridium and things that would otherwise reduce other metals to mere goo would just wash over it like water. And according to studies, it’s possible that the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs was laced with this tough mineral.\r \r 4. Fluorine\r \r Fluoride is one of the most widespread elements out there, the 13th most common in the world. On its own, fluoride is pretty harmless and even beneficial for our overall health. But when combined with hydrogen you get hydrofluoric acid, a chemical that is incredibly difficult to store due to its highly corrosive nature. It can eat through anything, including glass and even cause significant damage to diamonds. Fluoride can’t be stored in its pure state because it’s highly reactive to other elements and therefore must be refined from other compounds.\r \r 5. Gallium\r \r And now to finish off this list of wild elements is the wildest of them all, gallium, a silvery metal with a really peculiar reaction to heat. You see, gallium has a melting point of just below 30 degrees Celsius, which is just 7 degrees below the average human body temperature. So it can pretty much melt in the palm of your hands if you hold it long enough. But it will take a lot more heat for gallium to boil, or an incredible 2,229 degrees Celsius. And what is even stranger is that plants, animals and humans don’t really need it, though it appears to be a good option for fighting off certain types of cancer.