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No. 783: Periodic Table: 61 Promethium

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Periodic Table: 61 Promethium

First | Previous | 2018-12-17 | Next | Latest

Permanent URL: https://mezzacotta.net/dinosaur/?comic=783

Strip by: David Morgan-Mar

T-Rex: T-Rex presents The Periodic Table:
T-Rex: 61 PROMETHIUM
T-Rex: An element with no stable isotopes, it exists only as an intermediate decay chain product. The short half life of 18 years[1] means the total supply in Earth's crust is only about 500 grams.
Dromiceiomimus: Wow!
T-Rex: Named after Prometheus, the Titan who stole fire from the Greek gods.
T-Rex: To symbolise "the daring and possible misuse of mankind's intellect."
Utahraptor: Wow. They built a hubris warning right into the element's name.
T-Rex: Yeah. The discoverer wanted to name it Frankensteinium, but it wasn't "classical" enough.

The author writes:

[1] That's actually the half life of the longest lived isotope. Two other main isotopes have half lives of just a few years, and other isotopes are even shorter lived.