View allAll Photos Tagged Periodictable
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Copernicium is extremely radioactive but, depending on which isotope it is, it only has a half-life of between 29 seconds and 8.9 minutes.
I wanted to dye the wool for my part in this project. To choose a colour, I thought the chartreuse-like shade could refer to its radioactivity and the paleness to its fleeting half-life.
It didn't come out quite as pale as I wanted but not too bad. Was quite happy with that part. I was not so prepared for just how fiddly the lettering would be. Remind me of this if I ever have the idea to join in something like this again! Never again! Especially when I had so many other unexpected deadlines to meet at the same time.
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Laboratory at Tamburlaine vineyard and winery, Pokolbin, Hunter Valley.
We went on a guided tour of the vineyard and winery, and the guide took us in to see this lab. There were a couple of women in here working on distilling sulphites out of wine samples to test the sulphite levels. When I expressed an interest in the science, they explained the whole process. Interesting!
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Grace wrote up her periodic table flashcards, learned them all, then formed them into a table. Self-directed exercise that was excellent for learning this vital part of her science education.
Nuclear binding energy Nuclear binding energy
Lowest atomic number (hydrogen) in foreground
Example deuterium = 2.224 MeV
"... atomic binding energy is simply the amount of energy (and mass) released, when a collection of free nucleons are joined together to form a nucleus. All nuclei which last long enough to be weighed, are measurably lighter than a corresponding collection of free protons and neutrons."
Model from George Gamow
This is a great way to view nuclear binding energy, very creative exhibit.
i061706 114
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Copyright © 2014 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe
based on the best selling book by Theodore Gray
copyright 2011 Theodore W Gray
1000 pieces, used and complete
34x16in
Slightly larger pieces made this an easy 'make', despite the loose fitting nature of the puzzle. Pieces were thin too, but it didn't present a problem. There were a lot of '4 holes' and '4 tabs' to contend with, so fewer usual-shaped pieces, but again this wasn't a problem. Complete.
2021 piece count: 29249
Puzzle 34
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
7DOS Periodic Table Focus Friday
79. Au Gold
Gold Inlaid Canopic Coffinette of Tutankhamun dedicated to Imseti and Isis. The King's viscera were protected by the four sons of Horus, each paired with a canopic goddess. Imseti and Isis guarded the liver.
For six word story.
Just another tone. The most popular by download rate.
The rest is the same as in the second version.
New to flickr?
Link to full size: www.flickr.com/photos/glashenka/5960401308/sizes/o/in/pho...
From now on(31.01.2012) all these wallpapers I placed here: periodictablewallpaper.com/
Printed by Hannah of piebirdpress.etsy.com
Lead is known for its weight, its malleability, and its toxicity. A soft, blue-grey metal, it has been used to make bullets, paint and glass, among other things. I chose lead because of its significance in the printing world. Gutenberg was the first to make type out of lead 600 years ago, and it has been linked to the printed word ever since. As a letterpress printed, I have a great love for lead type and the history that it represents.
I decided to use an image of the type itself, which I created digitally and had made into photopolymer plates to print from. I printed 4 colors on my antique letterpress, and then added the elemental symbol for lead (Pb) and its number (82), which I typeset in antique lead. The font is Cooper Black, designed in 1921 by Oswald Bruce Cooper. It is a classic typeface, and I thought it would lend itself well to this piece.
I studdied fine art printmaking in college and spent three years apprenticing at a letterpress shop before starting my own business, The history of printing is what first attracted me to the trade. I enjoy being able to draw upon my training through the use of antique equipment and lead type, in combination with original elements such as hand-carved linoleum cuts, or digitally created plates such as the ones I used for this print.
1 proton and 1 electron (usually) with a mass of about 1.008 amu the most simple element on the periodic table. Elusive, rare, light, buoyant, critically important to scientific discovery, destructive but important to healing, the true elixer of life with the possibility of being the philosopher's stone of energy.
Discovery of hydrogen as an element attributed to Henry Cavendish 1766.
Antione Lavoisier & Pierre-Simone Lapalce isolated hydrogen in mass conservation reactions by oxidizing iron with steam.
Fe + H2O → FeO + H2
2 Fe + 3 H2O → Fe2O3 + 3 H2
3 Fe + 4 H2O → Fe3O4 + 4 H2
They named it the element Hydrogen from Hydros (water) and Genes (creator) since it was created from the reduction of water (H2O).
Lighter than air, pure hydrogen provides an upward buoyant force against air and provided lift to balloons and dirigibles. But alas it use as a lifting gas was limited by its other chemical property - high reactivity - "Oh the humanity!"
Although it is the most abundant element in the universe it is rare on earth. That buoyant property causes it to float to the top of the atmosphere and drift off into space. Most of the hydrogen on earth is in the form of water - and it is this stable form that hydrogen seeks when it oxidizes explosively from H2 to H2O back.
Separating hydrogen from water is an incredibly energy intensive process done either by electrolysis or by extreme heat. Most hydrogen is produced via the slightly less energy intensive process of high temperature splitting of hydrocarbons.
Nature with its extreme time scales to tinker has come up with nifty and complicated enzyme catalyzed biological reactions in which hydrogen is produced during the anaerobic digestion of organic material. Mostly it is recaptured and turned into methane.
Hydrogen should also also be included in the great company of the great quantum physicists of the 20th century. Its simple atomic structure facilitated discovering the bewildering and unintuitive statistical machinations under which the subatomic universe operates. The hydrogen ion is the only atom for which there is an exact solution to Schrodinger's equation and the proof of the theory is in the prediction of hydrogen's spectral lines.
Like all elements hydrogen has several isotopes which are named deuterium (1 proton and 1 neutron, 0.0015% abundance) and tritium (1 proton and 2 neutrons, <0.0015%).
Deuterium isotope water (heavy water) is a critical component of nuclear reactors because of it's moderating properties - it slows neutrons - which are then easily captured by unstable, large nuclear cross-section atoms such as Uranium 238.
Deuterium has an integer spin (no magnetic moment) and as such is not detectable in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and is useful for elucidating molecular structure of organic compounds containing normal hydrogen or enriched in carbon 14.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging detects the spin of hydrogen in the water in our bodies. It interacts with the molecules of the tissues of our bodies and produces at signal at slightly different magnetic field strengths allowing us to "see" individual tissues.
Hydrogen's far less abundant isotope tritium is an important aspect of nuclear weapons (H-bombs). A conventional fusion atomic bomb is detonated and the radiation pressure initiates the fission reaction driving the less stable tritium to fuse with itself and form helium - in the process releasing huge amounts of energy according to Enstein's E=mc2 from a small amount of tritium. There is no theoretical limit to the size of the H-bomb that can be produced - the largest monster being the 50 megaton "Tzar Bomba" detonated by the USSR in 196. It had a total destruction radius of approximately 21 miles. It was scaled down from 100 megatons to reduce fallout.
Turning skyward it is this same process, driven by a battle between gravity and radiative pressure, rather than an initiating fission blast that powers the sun - and all stars for that fact. All energy on our planet from the warmth on your skin to the oil we burn to the trees we grow and the weather we experience come directly from the fission furnace of our sun - which produces about 10e10 megatons per second! the products of this reaction are all the other elements in the table!. These don't just happen except when produced in the core of stars. So to reference Crosby Stills and Nash: we truly are star dust!
Perhaps one day we will mimic this process to peacefully harness this energy and end our need for other energy sources. At the least we may be driving hydrogen powered cars which utilizes another of hydrogen's properties, the ability to form metal hydrides.
Which leads me to the other end of the temperature scale. Liquifaction of hydrogen occurs at temperatures near to absolute zero (-273 degrees C). This was a important component of nuclear physics for it was the cloud or bubble chambers that showed the paths and products of particle collisions.
Liquid hydrogen also helped bring out the superconducting properties of metals for which many of our electronics and medical devices now rely - although thankfully with higher temperature superconductors.
Back to the hydrogen cars for a moment . High pressure Tanks of liquid hydrogen are clearly not a desirable component of cars. Metal hydrides absorb hydrogen like a sponge - no pressure no ultra-cold temperature and may be the fuel of the future provided an economical and environmentally friendly manner can be found to produce it.
Ah, lovely hydrogen and Art Deco!
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Liz and I scrubbed lots yesterday, now the bathroom is shiny and happy.
(not to say it was ickky before, but you know ;-) )
Okay, so I'm a big dork. I went to the observatory recently and they have this giant periodic table filled with their elements when possible (Like calcium here), some were empty, say like Plutonium...hmmmm. Anyway, I think that it is the coolest thing. There are buttons you can push and certain elements light up. For instance there is a button that lights up all the elements in the human body, or in stars. Very cool.
AND I graduated last friday, more importantly, I found out that I passed my exit exams! What a relief....
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Neon is the 10th element on the periodic table,
It is a noble gas. noble gasses are stable gasses, although neon(Ne) is rare here on earth its actually quite common in the universe. When you put neon gas into a vacuum tube and throw some electicity at it glows bright red. Other Noble gasses also do this, but different colours, these gasses are Helium (He), Argon(Ar), Krypton(Kr), Xenon (Xe), Radon(Rn) is also a noble gas, I have no idea what that does.
ODC Neon (no neon lights around here, only Argon ones)
Periodic table of the elements. The rare earth elements comprise 15 elements, which range in atomic number from 57 to 71, including lanthanum (La) to lutetium (Lu). The elements are also commonly referred to as “lanthanides.” Yttrium (Y, atomic number 39) is also typically included with the rare earth elements group because it shares chemical, physical, and application properties with the lanthanides.
From the USGS report: The Principal Rare Earth Elements Deposits of the United States—A Summary of Domestic Deposits and a Global Perspective
26 proton2, 56 neutrons (most commonly) and 26 electrons with a mass of about 56 amu. Born of death and hardship, abundant, available, ancient, malleable to rigid, high strength to brittle, utilitarian or/and fantastically artistic, impermanent but reincarnate, destroyer and healer, life sustainer, mother and nurturer.
Isolation is older than recorded history. Named "ferrum" by Romans later "Iron" in Anglo-Saxon. Originally worked by Sumerians, Egyptians, and Hittites it was referred to as "god metal" by later cultures.
Pure iron was used throughout antiquity and small blast furnaces, using charcoal and hand manned bellows to maintain airflow and high temperatures were used to separate iron from the ores. Everything from hinges to wagon wheels were made of iron. It's malleable nature and thermal expansivity were ideal for working.
It was also quickly recognized to be a superior metal to bronze, tin and copper for weaponry and armor and the great wars and conquests from antiquity to today are based on iron based weaponry from firing pins to battleships.
Samurai swords in particular demonstrate some of the highest engineering skills derived from careful observation of processes. Samurai swords are deadly but remarkably beautiful creations. Maybe there is a a bright spot in that they are now valued for their artistic traits and their symbolic power rather than their actual ability to maim and kill. These swords are laboriously worked so that the more flexible low carbon steel in the backbone supports the deadly sharp, glass-brittle, high-carbon steel blade keeping it from breaking.
Staying in Asia a bit the Chinese apparently developed methods for creating cast iron around 500 BC. Stoves to safely contain fires and beautiful wrought iron rail-work - sometimes coexistent, are just a few of the fruits of this process. Imagine New Orleans without the scroll-laden rails of the chateaus.
Adding more carbon and traces of other metals produces one of our most useful products; steel. Strong, easy to form, magnetic or not, stainless, heat resistant, modern society could not exist without it. We can debate the true merits of modern society but there is no doubt that bridges, roads, skyscrapers sewers, engines, power plants, power transmission pylons, etc... would not exist without steel. On the smaller scale scalpels, needles, probes, electricity, and electronics we utilize owe their existence to steel.
Again there is our dichotomous relationship with steel as it is the stuff of most weaponry. But in its best synthesis of engineering and art it comes together in the beautiful arches of bridges and domes of municipal buildings and so on.
Like all elements Iron comes from the stars. It is the product of hot massive stars in the final days of their existence. Gravity pulls hard on them but their hydrogen and helium are nearly gone and they are forced to fuse heavier elements like carbon and oxygen with helium to produce energy to counter the gravity and keep it from collapsing. After along chain of such reactions unstable nickel-56 forms. Any further fusion reactions cannot produce energy and instead consume energy - literally the star's life energy. Unstable nickle-56 decays decays to cobalt-56 which decays to iron-56 and accumulates in the star's core. When the star explodes in a supernova it spews all these elements out into the universe.
Coming back to earth, iron is a keystone of human and most life as we know it. Iron's propensity to be oxidized by oxygen (rust) gives both Mars and blood it's red color. It is this "fer" in Nosferatu referring to the red color of blood. Blood flows red because at the core of every red blood cell there is a complicated hemoglobin protein with a marvelous metalloprotein "heme" that carefully controls how iron binds to oxygen and allows are body to gently carry oxygen and oxidize the food we eat in a beautifully controlled manner. Cytochromes and other regulatory proteins extract energy in this manner so that we do not burst into flames as a log does when it is oxidized in a fire.
Our plants similarly use similar systems to harvest light in a controlled fashion to break water and create carbohydrates. Only through the action of iron and proteins do we live somewhat harmoniously - plants making oxygen and we making carbon dioxide.
Many many biological mechanisms require iron to catalyze their reactions. It's abundant and nature utilizes the same templates over and over again.
Beautiful iron and beautiful ironwork.
Nesta tabela periódica as massas (pesos) atômicas estão representadas de forma simples (sem intervalos de variação) e tem uma aplicação voltada para fins educacionais.
É a mesma tabela que está disponível no nosso site
www.tabelaperiodica.org/tabela-periodica-atualizada-2016-...
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Copyright © 2013 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Copyright © 2014 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
Iron spells death, and death deliverance. The iron core grows like a cancer in the heart of the star, damping nuclear reactions in all that it touches, until the star becomes fatally imbalanced and falls victim to a general collapse. If the mass of the core is a tenth to two or three times that of the sun — here we draw on research by Gamow, Baade, Robert Oppenheimer, Fritz Zwicky, and others — the core rapidly crystallizes into a steely sphere, a "neutron star." Smooth as a ball bearing and smaller than a city but as massive as the sun, a neutron star spins rapidly on its axis and emits pulses of radio energy as it spins, creating a beacon of the sort that betrayed the locations of Tycho's and Kepler's supernovae. It resembles nothing so much as a giant atomic nucleus — as if the real business of the star, the conjuring of nuclei, was now at last monumentalized as a colossal nuclear tombstone.
—Timothy Ferris, Chapter 14, "The Evolution of Atoms and Stars" from Coming of Age in the Milky Way
Copyright © 2014 by Ian J MacDonald. Permission required for any use. All rights reserved
The entire set: www.flickr.com/photos/ianmacdonald/sets/72157636356726526/
These illustrations are meant to represent the elements of the periodic table. The drawings are influenced by the Art Deco friezes seen on buildings of the 1920s and 30s - deities were used to represent the essence of the ideas being represented; such as industries, scientific ideas, civic ideals etc...
While the Art Deco style is an influence I did not want to directly copy what has been already been done or hang slavishly onto examples of Art Deco. I am endeavoring to work in the style, imagining creating something new in that moment when Art Deco was current.
Each element is represented by a goddess embedded in a representational background. The deities are purposely done in a sketchy manner - opposite to the solid background - to represent the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and particles. In quantum mechanics particles have no meaning as solid defined units of matter but are statistical entities described by complex (literally and mathematically) wave functions that provide us with the probable positions and energies of particles and systems of particles - an unsettling prospect for many people.
I represent the essence of the elements by goddesses for several reasons. One, they are more interesting, complex, beautiful to draw than males. Secondly it is more challenging to represent the essence of the elements in a feminine rather than a male manner. Unfortunately, science and chemistry has been male dominated and as such so has the naming and descriptions of the elements. These are meant to somewhat challenge the viewer by juxtaposing the female essence with male dominance in science. It would be too simple and cliche to represent iron, for example, as a Mars-like God. Some of the elements are quite dangerous to living creatures and it is far more challenging to express that in a feminine manner.
I was asked if people would get past the nudity. The answer is "No". But that is OK. I want the beauty and vulnerability to attract attention. Science is after all quite beautiful if one takes the time to stop fighting the math and difficulties in understanding, and immerse themselves in it to appreciate just how weird and strange nature really is be - far beyond anything humans could come up with. The nudity somewhat represents the primal, elemental nature of the different atoms. Clothing, such as suit of armor for iron, is a distraction and again too simple and cliche.
But all in all the representation is not direct. Some influence comes from the elements' names - often from properties of the elements, literary references, where they were isolated, political rivalries, honors for discoverers etc... Some influence comes from the bulk properties of the elements such as harness, conductivity, toxicity, density, etc.... Some of the pieces are inspired by the major uses for the element - in industrial processes, in natural biological processes, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, in everyday objects, and so on.
This is a work in progress and my second go at it. I have been tinkering at this for some time and I think these are closer to the vision in my head than what I have done earlier. Enjoy.
From back of photo: "The Chemistry lecture room is one of the ampitheaters on the campus for mass lectures and demonstrations."
Repository: Duke University Archives. Durham, North Carolina, USA. library.duke.edu/uarchives
Trying to locate this photo at the Duke University Archives? You’ll find it in the University Archives Photograph Collection, box 87 (UAPC-087-018-004).
Small world or what, eh? I had an enquiry for a cake - the customer had found my details on Google. She wanted a cake for her husband's 30th birthday... and as he is a science teacher, she wanted it themed to reflect that. So we discussed various options etc... then I had a thought... and asked her "Does your husband teach at 'X' school?" And she confirmed her does. HE'S MY SON'S BIOLOGY TEACHER!!! LOL! I do love a nice coincidence!! Big thumbs up to my son for keeping it secret - my boys are well trained and have previously kept cake secrets from friends and family, so no need to worry on that count! So happy birthdy 'Sir'. Edible bunsen burner, beaker, test tube and a couple of text books, with a periodic table-inspired inscription (and for those scientifically-inclined, yes, artistic licence was used for the J!)
Periodic Table wall mosaic at University of Jaén, Andalucia, Spain. Adapted from photo taken by Wikimedia Commons user Kordas, released under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
I did not take the original photo. I have taken Kordas's photo and applied some image distortion corrections and histogram adjustments. Please see the Wikimedia Commons page for original photo details.