The Periodic Table of the Elements

We and the world around us are made out of stuff. Little, tiny particles called atoms. They come in all different varieties, and if you arrange these different kinds in a certain way, they create an image that is familiar to a lot of us from school, work, or our free time: The Periodic Table (of the Elements)!

 

I created this model because I think there is a lot of fun to be had with chemistry. It is seen as the least favorite school subject, the most annoying university course, or the science that nobody understands often enough, so it's time to paint it in a less evil light.

 

This Idea aims to capture the basis of chemistry in a colorful, brick-built format, showcasing the 118 currently recognized chemical elements with 118 printed 4×4 tiles, colored to sort them into alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, post-transition metals, metalloids, nonmetals, halogens, noble gases, lanthanides, actinides, and a few that have unknown properties.

Here is a little close up look at one of the tiles, I used Hydrogen as an example

The tiles include the name and symbol of the element, as well as its atomic number, atomic mass, electronegativity, and density, making them not only a beautiful display piece but also a good source of information.

 

 

The build is reminiscent of the World Map Set, with a sturdy white frame, robust back wall, and four hangers, which allow it to be mounted onto a wall for display. The individual colored elements are elevated above the black background, making them stand out and creating a more exciting surface than just a flat plane. Other printed tiles allow for the description of the depicted numbers and symbols as well as the title of the set on a big 8×16 tile.

With the included information, it creates a teaching opportunity for schoolchildren, an eye-catcher for your empty home wall, and an interesting build for Lego and science lovers alike.