150 Years of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements
![[Translate to English:] Copyright: IYPT2019](/fileadmin/_processed_/d/4/csm_IYPT2019_9c43bbc06f.jpg)
The UNESCO declared the year 2019 the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements. 150 years ago the Russian chemist Dimitry Mendeleev published a system for the chemical elements which has been kept until today: the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements. According to IUPAC the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements is one of the most significant achievements in science, capturing the essence not only of chemistry but also of physics and biology. It is a unique tool, enabling scientists to predict the appearance and properties of matter on Earth and in the rest of the Universe.
The International Year of the Periodioc Table of Chemical Elements st GSI and FAIR
As an institute of element discoverers GSI and FAIR celebrate the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements with several activities.
Darmstadtium Photopoint
25 years ago, on 9 November 1994 at 4.39 p.m., the chemical element darmstadtium was discovered. On the occasion of this anniversary, GSI and the Congress Center "darmstadtium" set up a photopoint in the foyer of the "darmstadtium". It is open to the public during the opening hours of darmstadtium. Anyone can take a picture of themselves with the darmstadtium element cube and publish the photos under the hashtag #UniverseInTheLab. Press release on the opening ceremony
How was the periodic table created and do we know all the elements that exist in the universe? An animated film by GSI and FAIR summarizes the history of the discovery of the elements. From the Ancient World to Mendeleev's periodic table, which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019, to the creation of new elements at particle accelerator facilities such as GSI and FAIR.
Historical gathering: International meeting of the discoverers of chemical elements
As part of the International Year of the Periodic Table 2019, the Conference on the Chemistry and Physics of Heavy Elements (TAN) taking place in Wilhelmshaven, Germany from the 25th to the 30th of August, brought together the discoverers of new chemical elements in a unique historical gathering. Researchers from Germany, Russia and Japan, who have added new elements to the periodic table in recent years, met at the international congress. The GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt (GSI), the Johannes Gutenberg University and the Helmholtz Institute Mainz are the organizers of this year's TAN conference.
Periodic table for schools
GSI and the Wissenschafts- und Kongresszentrum darmstadtium together have produces a periodic table (German) for chemistry lessons ins chool and offer it for free for teachers to order (as long as stock lasts).
Unfortunately all or our periodic tables have been sent out. Ordering is no longer possible.
Anniversary program of the public lecture series "Wissenschaft für Alle"
In 2019, the periodic table of the elements has its 150th birthday. Hence, our anniversary program of the public lectures series "Wissenschaft für Alle" in the year 2019 focuses on the periodic table and the six elements discovered at GSI with a talk for each one of them. A contribution on the hitherto achieved scientific highlights of GSI is also an integral part. Further information can be found on the website of "Wissenschaft für Alle" (German only).
Sigurd Hofmann is an element discoverer. He was there live when the element Darmstadtium was discovered at GSI. Whether the production of the heaviest chemical element was possible at all was still unclear when the research team started its work. Sigurd Hofmann talks about challenges and errors, of bets placed, a treasure and emptied red wine bottles on the way to the discovery of Element 110: a contemporary witness report.
