Understanding the Periodic Table couples a comprehensive overview of the periodic table with in-depth lessons on each of its 118 elements. With Ron Davis Jr. of Georgetown University as your expert guide, you will be able to refine your portrait of one of science’s most iconic images and crucial organizational tools in 24 lessons that combine instructions with experiments and animated lab demonstrations. Spend the first half of the course exploring the history and fundamentals of the periodic table. In part two, move from the top to bottom row to explore the discoveries, subatomic structures, behaviors, and everyday uses of the table’s elements in striking detail.
Understanding the Periodic Table
Explore the periodic table from arsenic to zinc and everything in between.
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Sigo from
Very disjointed
The instructor was fine but his method of presentation very disjointed. You are going happily along when he interrupts everything to introduce another nobody in the history of Chemistry...because I care and exactly why does it matter? This isn't a liberal arts great faces of Chemistry course but a Chem course. I guess this was to put faces on ideas but it takes away from the idea which should have been better explained and puts in someone no chemist I know knew. Their contributions were so minor why even mention them?
Well, several minutes are spent on this nobody and then he returns to the main subject -- the periodic table. I found this aggravating and ditched the course. I'll get one a book instead. This wasn't worth my time or patience.
Date published: 2024-08-14
Rated 5 out of
5
by
MJB76MJB from
the discovery of elements and the creation of new ones is fundamental to chemistry and physics. This course is a historical perspective, and provides insite into the use of rare elements.
Date published: 2024-07-23
Rated 5 out of
5
by
edfactor6 from
Wonderful history and some good chemistry
A great class taught by a master. Using the table to talk about the history of chemistry around elements was genius. I listened to the early lectures in audio form, but had to switch to video as the chemistry got more complicated and it was necessary to see the electron shells, etc.
One more thing: I would say half of this course is wonderful history, and half is a lot of basic chemistry. The chemistry (especially in the second half) is a lot more "work" than listening to great stories. Perhaps not everyone will want all of it. But it isn't overwhelming. Though you need to have some interest in how the elements actually come together (or do not) to make the things in our lives.
Date published: 2024-04-29
Rated 5 out of
5
by
chbfromTX from
Loved this course!
I have enjoyed this course so much that I hated for it to end! I stand amazed at Dr. Davis’s breadth of knowledge about the elements – many of which I had never heard of. I loved learning the etymologies of the names (esp. the one originally named something like “glucose,” because its discoverer tasted it ☹ and it was sweet!), the history, the chemists from the past and their pictures and lifespans, the “wars” over the last few elements discovered (and the nail-biting story of element 117 – who knew?!), and present-day uses of the elements. And the account of the Danish chemist who hid his gold medals from the marauding Nazis by dissolving them in solution, and then later reconstituting them . . . fascinating!
I have a Periodic Table published in 1994 that, for element 107, has Neilsbohrium, symbol Ns. The chart is literally falling apart, and I really need to throw it out, but I’m wondering if I should keep that one little rectangle with the “107” at the top and the “Ns” as a collector’s item.
I was particularly interested in the story of Lise Meitner, for whom element 109 is named. I had never heard of her, but what initially piqued my interest was Dr. Davis’s mention of a woman physicist who had to flee Germany in 1938. It was my guess that she was Jewish, and researching her story confirmed that. Further, her groundbreaking work was minimized by her research partner and by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The partner alone received the 1944 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Meitner was nominated for a Nobel Prize in either Chemistry or Physics an astonishing 49 times but was never awarded the coveted prize. Some called her treatment “unjust.” I’m so glad that she was honored on the Periodic Table! –But alas! That honor came nearly 30 years after her death.
All that to say that for some time I have been interested in the fact that the Jewish people make up 0.2% of the world’s population but have won about one-third of the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, and Physiology/Medicine – a far greater proportion than their population in the world. They have also won a disproportionate number of prizes in mathematics. Their research, discoveries, and advances in medicine have benefited the world greatly, and we all would be much the poorer (and sicker!) without their work. So – I am wondering if The Great Courses would consider putting together a course on how Jewish scientists and physicians have benefited the world.
For starters, if you’re interested, I have a long list of important discoveries and advancements in medicine by Jewish scientists, as well as a list of Jewish Nobel Prize winners up through about 2010. I am happy to send this information to anyone. (And FYI, I am not Jewish.)
Back to this course: Next spring I am planning to teach a short course on the Periodic Table to a group of homeschoolers, as an introduction to Chemistry, and this course has helped me greatly as I prepare. Thank you, Dr. Davis!
Date published: 2023-12-28
Rated 5 out of
5
by
martimedes2 from
Stunning
Having a scientific background and university education, I was a bit skeptical before ordering this Course as I thought it might be a bit dry. How wrong can you be ! RD gives an illuminating presentation into the facets of the Periodic Table, and his discussion is continually supported by first rate graphics.
Moreover, he regularly relates his observations to real-world examples of how the elements are being used in today’s environment.
His continued reference to electron orbital shells and other atomic particles could be daunting to non-scientifcly trained individuals, but these comments can be ignored with no loss to the overall theme.
All in all, a stunningly good Course.
Date published: 2023-12-14
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Matyee from
Correction of aufbau order
I love the course. I came back after a few years to go through once more and have a deeper understanding.
I was puzzled by the aufbau order displayed in lecture 3 at and around 25:00. I could not get my head around the axtra rows of the periodic table. According to the displayed aufbau order the extra rows are not at theit correct place. I could not understand it.
Then I realised that the displayed aufbau order is wrong in the course. It shows the following from 6s: 6s 5d 4f 6p. The correct order should be 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p.
This caused me a good amount of headache to understand why I can't understand. Still, a very good course, but this is kind of a big oversight concerning a very fondumental concept of the material.
Date published: 2023-11-17
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Canadian from
Science Plus Art
Just two days before I finished studying professor Ron B. Davis’s course on the Periodic Table of the Elements, a philosophical friend of mine e-mailed to ask me if science and art can co-exist. Dr. Davis has presented the Periodic Table in such an attractive manner that I felt inspired to suggest to my friend that here was the sort of crossover example he might be seeking. The Periodic Table is at least iconic and, after studying it through this Great Course, I’ll never again see it on a classroom wall without appreciating its elegance and inherent craft, beyond mere utility.
Here are some of the strengths of the present course:
* Dr. Davis is a gifted teacher who explains matters enthusiastically and very clearly.
* Scientific history and interesting biographical information about those who isolated, refined, or synthesized the known elements are not neglected.
* The professor shares what he calls the Periodic Table’s “complex, layered storybook, filled with tales of triumph, strife, competition, and collaboration.” I believe it is possible for a person to enjoy this course even if they aren’t primarily interested in chemistry and physics.
* Some of the lecture presentations have the appeal of engaging detective work.
* Gaps are filled in for me in my other studies of both sciences and general history.
* Unexpected (at least by me) practical uses for particular elements (e.g., how traces of Americium function in smoke detectors) feel like welcome bonuses to my learning.
* The course guidebook is comprehensive.
Though they do not change my overall rating of the course as excellent, here are a few shortcomings that I consider it responsible to point out:
* The videography is somewhat boring. I’d like to have seen Dr. Davis moving comfortably in a classroom or studio setting, not presented like “a talking head” in front of a Zoom-meeting background.
* A small number of the accompanying visuals don’t match what Dr. Davis is saying while they are on screen. Here’s one example: as Dr. Davis is describing one type of chemical bonding for Carbon, an illustration appears showing Chlorine, Hydrogen, and Sodium involved in bonding—with no Carbon present at all.
* The closed captioning is flawed. The silliest example that I’ll identify is that, when the professor describes one element as “lithophilic,” the closed captioning records that as “little Philip!”
I don’t like to find any fault with a course I truly enjoyed, but I do believe this excellent teacher (who seems to revere all the elements the way Ramanujan revered all numbers!) really deserved the support of better production values.
Date published: 2023-11-02
Rated 5 out of
5
by
london2000 from
Excellent course with a lot of historical detail
I'm a professional chemist but I learnt a lot from this course, particularly in terms of the history of the discovery of the elements, as well as some of the quirky facts concerning some of them. Ron Davis is a very competent and knowledgeable lecturer who covers an enormous amount of ground in 24 lectures. I think everyone, from beginners to professionals, would gain something from taking this course.
Date published: 2023-10-13
Overview
About
Dr. Ron B. Davis, Jr. is an Associate Teaching Professor of Chemistry at Georgetown University, where he has been teaching introductory organic chemistry laboratories since 2008. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from The Pennsylvania State University. Prior to teaching chemistry at the undergraduate level, Professor Davis spent several years as a pharmaceutical research and development chemist. Professor Davis's research focuses on the fundamental forces governing the interactions of proteins with small organic molecules. His research has been published in such scholarly journals as Proteins and Biochemistry and has been presented at the Annual Symposium of The Protein Society. He also maintains an educational YouTube channel and provides interviews and content to various media outlets, including The Discovery Channel. At The Pennsylvania State University, Professor Davis received a Dalalian Fellowship and the Dan Waugh Teaching Award. He is also a member of the Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society.
Trailer
01: The Periodic Table: Our Menu of Matter
Human beings have interacted with elements since prehistoric times. Yet large-scale efforts to organize these elements did not come about until the 19th century. In this lesson, become ac-quainted with the periodic table. Learn about its basic organizing principles and allow Ron to take you on a quick tour of its evolution through time.
31 min
02: From Triads to Tables and the Role of Protons
The periodic table was a collaborative effort that spanned centuries. In this lesson, dig deeper into its early history. Learn about debates surrounding the classification and categorization of elements, and explore how the discovery of subatomic particles, specifically protons, propelled a specific version of the periodic table to the forefront.
29 min
03: How Electrons Shape the Table
What gives the modern periodic table its distinctive shape? The answer: electrons. Understand the relationship between an atom’s nucleus and its electrons, then discover how these peculiar subatomic particles—that do not always behave like particles—determine the number and type of bonds an element can make.
31 min
04: Periodic Trends in Element Properties
What constitutes a “group” of elements? Are neighboring groups similar in some way? And be-yond proton counts and electron valences, what other chemical and physical characteristics govern the structure of the periodic table? Better understand how the periodic table brings to-gether elements with similar properties from the size of their atomic radius to their electro-negativity.
29 min
05: The Origin and Distribution of the Elements
Here, grasp how just three elements—hydrogen, helium, and lithium—combined to create new, heavier elements like uranium or sulfur through the complicated process of nuclear fu-sion. Also discover how natural and cosmic events like supernovas can lead to the creation of new elements through time.
30 min
06: Elements Break Down: Radiation and Fission
A cosmic event is not the only way an element can transform. The processes of transmutation, radiation, and nuclear fission are equally capable of radically altering elements and their be-haviors. Familiarize yourself with the ever-important process of transmutation and learn how elements with unstable nuclei break down to produce more stable products through radiation and nuclear fission.
30 min
07: First-Row Opposites: Hydrogen and Helium
Shifting gears, spend some time on the first and smallest row of the periodic table. Consider some important questions: What do two of the oldest, lightest elements—hydrogen and heli-um—have in common? How do they differ? And would they make sense somewhere else on the periodic table, given their particular characteristics and behaviors?
32 min
08: Sodium, Potassium, and the Alkali Metals
Despite the abundance of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium in the environ-ment, researchers did not isolate alkali metals until the 1800s. Here, focus on the elusive ele-ments that make up the first column and major group of the periodic table and understand what led to their discovery and why they are so quick to combine with other elements.
33 min
09: Magnesium, Calcium, and the Alkaline Earths
After the alkali metals come the alkaline metals, a slightly less reactive group of elements. In this lesson, explore the characteristics of group two metals like calcium, strontium, and barium, and figure out why they oxidize slower and melt at higher temperatures than the alkali metals.
32 min
10: Enormous Variety on the Table’s Right Side
What exactly stitches the p-block of the periodic table together? In this lesson, get acquainted with the metals, metalloids, and nonmetals of the p-block, a collection of diverse elements that stretches from row two to seven of the periodic table. Take a detailed walk through the chemi-cal and physical characteristics, distinguishing behaviors, and common uses of p-block ele-ments.
33 min
11: Noble Gases: The “Lazy” Unreactive Elements
Discovered in the 19th century, noble gasses stupefied chemists; these elements react poorly with themselves and other chemicals and, for that reason, remain remarkably stable in their environments. Explore the history behind noble gasses starting with Argon, understand the con-ditions and methods that led to their discovery, and become familiar with the basic properties and behaviors of these unique gaseous elements.
30 min
12: Halogens: The Most Reactive Nonmetals
Group 17 contains some of the most reactive elements on the periodic table. As you explore this group, become familiar with the halogens, a group of elements quick to combine with met-als to form salts. Learn about each element in the group from most reactive to least and ex-plore the unique set of properties that define each halogen on the table.
30 min
13: Why Oxygen and Nitrogen Are Irreplaceable
Among a sea of 118 elements, many of them novel and poorly understood, oxygen and nitrogen stand out because they are familiar to us. But what do we really know about their discovery, behaviors, and subatomic structures? And what can the periodic table reveal about their abun-dance in Earth’s atmosphere? Answer these questions and more.
34 min
14: Complexity of Carbon, Sulfur, and Phosphorus
In the final set of nonmetal elements on the periodic table, diversity abounds. These elements do not behave like most nonmetals in that some can conduct electricity, form solids under standard conditions, and can exhibit a range of allotropes. Spend this lesson exploring the suba-tomic peculiarities and behaviors of carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, and selenium.
33 min
15: Silicon and the Metalloid Diagonal
Between the metal and nonmetal groups, you will find a third and more peculiar group: the metalloids. What specific properties—subatomic and beyond—do they share with metals, and how do they behave like nonmetals? Unearth the history behind the discovery of metalloids and learn why they are so useful when they combine with other elements.
31 min
16: Aluminum, Tin, Lead, and Other Weak Metals
p-Block metals are faced with an identity crisis as they behave like metals and nonmetals at the same time. But why is this the case? Get to know the “weak” metals and why they behave the way they do. Understand how the electron configurations of elements like gallium and lead af-fect their behavior, discover what sets p-block elements apart from the metals of the d-block, and more.
31 min
17: The Table’s Great Divide: Transition Metals
The valley at the middle of the periodic table features one-third of naturally occurring ele-ments—all of which are metals. What do they have in common and what sets them apart? Take an introductory tour of the d-block metals from the poisonous to the ultra-dense before spend-ing the next few lessons exploring three groups of transition metals in detail.
31 min
18: Colorful and Durable Early Transition Metals
What makes precious gemstones so colorful? The answer: a group of metals from the d-block of the periodic table. Begin with a focus on the early transition metals of the d-block. From vana-dium to rhenium, consider the distinct geometries of their subshells, walk through their every-day uses, and understand the complexities of their oxidation states.
30 min
19: Magnets and Catalysts of the Middle Transition
Iron is Earth’s most abundant element while platinum and other noble metals are among its most stable. Learn about the history, fundamentals, and uses of the periodic table’s precious metals. Move from the iron triad to the platinum group of elements and discover how this set of d-block “noble” metals changed the way we fuel the world’s automobiles.
29 min
20: From Coins to Toxins: Copper to Mercury
Coinage metals look like other group VIII elements, but they also possess some properties rem-iniscent of alkali and alkaline metals. In this lesson, complete the d-block by delving into cop-per, silver, gold, zinc, cadmium and mercury. Explore the special subatomic qualities that made these metals so hard to categorize and discover what they are typically used for.
29 min
21: Rare-Earth Elements: Surprisingly Abundant
It may be surprising that rare-earth elements are not all that uncommon compared to other elements on the periodic table. Instead, their most distinctive feature is a common geochemis-try. Here, focus on how rare-earth elements and the so-called “lanthanide contraction” trend spurred substantial technological advancements in lighting, electronics, headphones, and more.
31 min
22: Nuclear Fuel: Thorium, Uranium, and Plutonium
At the very bottom of the periodic table, you will find some of its most radioactive and unstable elements. Now, turn to the seventh row and spend some time with the most abundant pair of “light” actinoids—uranium and thorium—and learn how instability and radioactive decay have come to define this group of elements.
30 min
23: Creating the Transplutonic Elements
The discovery of the neutron in 1932 was a germinal event in the history of science. Soon after, scientists discovered how the combination of neutrons and naturally occurring elements can create new elements that cannot and do not exist in nature. Continue your exploration of the bottom of the table by focusing on the finding, features, and functions of the transplutonic ele-ments.
30 min
24: Superheavy Atoms and the Transfermium Wars
In this lesson, turn to the very end of the periodic table and delve into the so-called “superheavy” elements. Learn about the contentious Cold War history behind row seven of the periodic table and how the quest to complete the table moved from politically fraught to inter-nationally collaborative.
34 min
