• Question: What is the most rare element?

    Asked by 10moothob to Daniela, Hannah, Ian, Jono, Mark on 25 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Ian Wilson

      Ian Wilson answered on 25 Jun 2013:

      Hi 10moothob,

      The rarest element is called astanine. There’s less than 25 grams of it on Earth and it’s radioactive!

      Cheers,

      Ian

    • Photo: Mark Hodson

      Mark Hodson answered on 25 Jun 2013:

      Hi 10moothob,

      Ian’s right (of course) but interesting it’s not the rarest elements that we are most short of. There is growing concern that we will soon run out of elements we need to make mobile phone parts and solar panels – the so called Rare earth elements. It also looks like phosphorus mines (phosphorus is used in fertiliser) could be used up in the next 50 years or so. The problem is that although phosphorus (and rare earth elements) aren’t that rare they are spread about so the concentrations are low, making them too expensive to mine.

    • Photo: Hannah Brotherton

      Hannah Brotherton answered on 25 Jun 2013:

      Hi 10moothob,
      The rarest element is Astatine – there is only an once in the world – but if we can make it (which we are trying to do), it will be used as a treatment for cancer. We already use chemotherapy for cancer, but it has a lot of side effects. Scientists think this new element could be better than what we use now.

      But look at this site to see the top 10 most amazing elements. Even the most common elements are the most interesting 😀

      http://listverse.com/2007/11/21/top-10-most-amazing-elements/

    • Photo: Jono Bone

      Jono Bone answered on 27 Jun 2013:

      Hi 10moothob,
      As the guys said it’s Astatine.. Its pretty rare but it’s not my favourite element!
      Jono

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