Chemistry: A Volatile History

S01E02 The Order of the Elements

Professor Al-Khalili explores the challenges faced by 19th-century chemists as they sought to impose structure on the chaotic realm of elements. Their journey involved determining the number of elements and understanding the unique connections between them, marked by numerous setbacks and fierce disagreements. Despite these struggles, their relentless pursuit of uncovering the elements' hidden order culminated in one of the most elegant achievements in chemistry: the Periodic Table.