this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2024
1166 points (99.2% liked)

Science Memes

11161 readers
2260 users here now

Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!

A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.



Rules

  1. Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
  2. Keep it rooted (on topic).
  3. No spam.
  4. Infographics welcome, get schooled.

This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.



Research Committee

Other Mander Communities

Science and Research

Biology and Life Sciences

Physical Sciences

Humanities and Social Sciences

Practical and Applied Sciences

Memes

Miscellaneous

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] wise_pancake@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Do you guys have to memorize fluorine too?

It's been a decade since I took chemistry, and I did not get very good marks in it, but it seems like the elements at the bottom of the table (with exception to Uranium and Plutonium) are just hanging out while the top elements do all the work.

[–] ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Fluorine is extremely rare in biological systems. (I was going to say "never" but I looked it up and apparently there are a couple of exotic compounds that have it.) However, fluorine is a component of many man-made drugs and poisons. Halogens are generally not incorporated directly into bio-molecules (with exceptions, the chief one being iodine in thyroid hormones) but chlorine plays an essential role in all living things as a free, negatively charged ion.

Some heavier, metallic elements in the form of ions are necessary for the function of many enzymes, but biological systems can't work with chemically bound metals the way that human technology can. I looked up what the heaviest element with a biological role is and the answer is apparently tungsten (although I've never come across an enzyme incorporating tungsten during the course of my work) but even heavier metals can act as poisons by taking the place of lighter, catalytically active metals in enzymes.

It can be fun to look at the Wikipedia article of some weird element that never seems to be mentioned and see what strange uses humans have actually found for it.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

If it’s too big to be created in self sustaining fusion it’s too big to give a shit about.

[–] ornery_chemist@mander.xyz 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

But... but... muh thulium....

jk all lanthanides are the same don't @ me physicists

also Ce(IV) catalyst stans

also also total synthesis tryhards who think SmI2 is ever the right call