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An element collection housed in a homemade periodic table container.

Element collecting is the hobby collecting of chemical elements. Many element collectors simply enjoy finding peculiar uses of chemical elements. Others enjoy studying the properties of the elements, possible engaging in amateur chemistry. Many amateur chemists also amassed large collection of elements, Oliver Sacks, for example.^[1] In recent years the hobby has seen in increase in popularity with the media attention brought by element collectors like Theodore Gray.

Acquiring elements

Different collectors have different philosophies in collecting elements. Some collectors attempt to collect very high purity samples of each element. Others prefer to find the element in every day use. Some are averse to collecting the element as a compound or alloy, while other find this acceptable. Some synthesize elements in their own homes. Hydrogen, for example, is easily synthesized via electrolysis.^[2]

Some commercial retailers now cater to the element collecting community, even selling complete sets, since purchasing elements from large chemical companies like Sigma-Aldrich is frequently prohibited or uneconomical for individuals. Element collecting presents many challenges: some elements, such as mercury, are toxic. Others are extremely rare in commercial use, like scandium. Still others are radioactive and have half lives too short for practical collection.

Example samples

Hydrogen produced via electrolysis
Radium might be represented with a radium dial
Uranium might be represented with uranium glass
Lead is commonly found in fishing sinkers
Tin is sold as solder

Reference

^ Sacks, Oliver (2001), Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood, Vintage Books, ISBN 0-375-40448-1
^ Gray, Theodore. "The Wooden Periodic Table Table [sic]". Retrieved 20 November 2010. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

External links

Element collections

Retailers catering to element collectors

[uncle_tungsten-1] Sacks, Oliver (2001), Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood, Vintage Books, ISBN 0-375-40448-1

[2] Gray, Theodore. "The Wooden Periodic Table Table [sic]". Retrieved 20 November 2010. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

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 ==Acquiring elements==
 Different collectors have different philosophies in collecting elements. Some collectors attempt to collect very high purity samples of each element. Others prefer to find the element in every day use. Some are averse to collecting the element as a compound or alloy, while other find this acceptable. Some synthesize elements in their own homes. [[Hydrogen]], for example, is easily synthesized via [[electrolysis]].<ref>{{Cite web | last = Gray
-  | first = Theodore | authorlink = Theodore Gray | coauthors =  | title = The Wooden Periodic Table Table [sic] | work =  | publisher =  | date =  | url = http://www.theodoregray.com/PeriodicTable/ | format =  | doi =  | accessdate = 20 November 2010}}</ref>
+  | first = Theodore | authorlink = Theodore Gray | coauthors =  | title = The Wooden Periodic Table Table <nowiki>[sic]</nowiki> | work =  | publisher =  | date =  | url = http://www.theodoregray.com/PeriodicTable/  | accessdate = 20 November 2010}}</ref>
-Some commercial retailers now cater to the element collecting community, even selling complete sets, since purchasing elements from large chemical companies like [[Sigma-Aldrich]] is frequently prohibited or uneconomical for individuals. Element collecting presents many challenges: some elements, such as [[Mercury (element)|mercury]], toxic. Others are extremely rare in commercial use, like [[scandium]]. Still others are [[radioactive]] and have [[half-life|half lives]] too short for practical collection.
+Some commercial retailers now cater to the element collecting community, even selling complete sets, since purchasing elements from large chemical companies like [[Sigma-Aldrich]] is frequently prohibited or uneconomical for individuals. Element collecting presents many challenges: some elements, such as [[Mercury (element)|mercury]], are toxic. Others are extremely rare in commercial use, like [[scandium]]. Still others are [[radioactive]] and have [[half-life|half lives]] too short for practical collection.
 ===Example samples===