• Question: What is your favourite element?

    Asked by djkaye to Andrew, Lizzie, Nick, Sonia on 19 Jun 2015. This question was also asked by Tom.
    • Photo: Elizabeth Kapasa

      Elizabeth Kapasa answered on 19 Jun 2015:

      Potassium. I always loved the lilac flame test it produces!

    • Photo: Andrew Phillips

      Andrew Phillips answered on 19 Jun 2015:

      Tricky one, I like mercury, because it’s a metal and a liquid, but I’d probably have to go for titanium as it’s strong and light weight, which means it’s ideal for a lot of applications in orthopaedics. When it’s used in an alloy with other materials you can tune the properties of the alloys which I find really interesting.

      If you’re interested in materials I really recommend reading Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stuff-Matters-Marvellous-Materials-Man-made/dp/0241955181] It gives a great introduction to all the materials around us.

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