top three periodic elements

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this is in reverse order (e.g. 3, 2, 1)

3. indium
you can chew on it safely and easily, ok now i want this

2. osmium
very dense, very shiny, and also kills humans when in powdered form. classic

1. astatine
it only ever appears when another rare element dies and only for a few seconds. now this is some real shift.

I've always like Fermium

It is just fun to say.

Appearance
A radioactive metal obtained only in microgram quantities.
Uses
Fermium has no uses outside research.
Biological role
Fermium has no known biological role. It is toxic due to its radioactivity.
Natural abundance
Fermium can be obtained, in microgram quantities, from the neutron bombardment of plutonium in a nuclear reactor.

hydrogen
carbon
oxygen

I like to live.

1. Hydrogen -- Without it, there would be no other elements.

2. Oxygen -- Without it, there would be no water, the "Universal Solvent".

3. Carbon -- Without it, life as we understand it would not exist.

Runners-Up:

4. Nitrogen -- Another essential building-block of life.

5. Phosphorous -- Another essential building-block of life.

6. Sulfur -- Another essential building-block of life.

7. Silicon -- Rocky planets are made mostly of this.

8. Iron and other metals -- Essential for human civilization and technology.

Slightly Off-Topic

Ten most common elements in the Milky Way Galaxy.

Hydrogen: 73.9%
Helium: 24.0%
Oxygen: 10,4%
Carbon: 4.60%
Neon: 1.34%
Iron: 1.09%
Nitrogen: 0.96%
Silicon: 0.65%
Magnesium: 0.58%
Sulfur: 0.44%
TOTAL: 99.906%

So many to choose from.
There is element number two:


https://youtu.be/4dhgwUdHlpw

Today element number three is valuable. But that was predicted in the original Star Trek way back in the Sixties. But what exactly ARE "dilithium chrystals"?


https://youtu.be/muEFfAh2YGI

As we ponder it all lets recap:

https://youtu.be/AcS3NOQnsQM

And maybe also cry into our beers:

https://youtu.be/AxFdeZER8Eg

So...less than one part in one thousand of the matter of the galaxy is NOT made of one of the top ten most common elements?

Interesting.

Indeed.

The really interesting part is that the most abundant thing in the entire universe is . . . nothing.  Space is a vacuum.  While "Dark Matter" may exist (and if it does, it answers a few questions), most of space is still a vacuum.

The lack of...STUFF...is one astounding thing.

Even on the level of single atom...its mostly empty space.

But the lack of VARIETY of stuff (basic elements) is what I am talking about. There are 92 naturally occurring elements. And yet only ten are needed to make up 999 parts out of the thousand of the whole galaxy. Those being the elements baked in the ovens of the cores of the stares over the last few billion years. All of the remaining 82 elements were freaks of nature created by violent supernovas.

Top 3:

1. Hydrogen
2. Helium
3. Lithium

Or am I being too literal?

I wanted to share some cool facts about potassium, an element that's captured my fascination lately. Potassium, with its symbol K and atomic number 19, is more than just a basic element; it's packed with interesting properties.

First off, did you know that potassium is essential for life? It's a key player in nerve function, muscle control, and maintaining electrolyte balance in our bodies. Plus, it's involved in countless biochemical processes, making it crucial for our health.

But it's not just its biological importance that's intriguing. Potassium is also highly reactive. Drop a small piece of potassium into water, and you'll witness a lively reaction, with hydrogen gas bubbling out and the formation of an alkaline solution. It's like a mini chemistry show!

And let's not forget potassium's role in dating rocks and fossils. Thanks to its radioactive isotope potassium-40, scientists can determine the age of geological samples through radiometric dating methods.

Lastly, there's potassium's aesthetic appeal. Ever seen the beautiful lilac flame color it produces when burned? It's mesmerizing!

So whether you're into biology, chemistry, geology, or just appreciate the wonders of the periodic table, potassium is definitely an element worth exploring.

Continuing OP’s List

6. Francium:
- Extremely rare and unstable, highly reactive.
- Contact with air causes explosive reaction.
- Only tiny amounts ever produced and observed.

5. Radium:
- Glows blue-green in the dark.
- Discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie.
- Health hazards include cancer and bone necrosis.

4. Promethium:
- No stable isotopes, exceedingly rare.
- Used in nuclear batteries and medical devices.
- Named after Prometheus, symbolizing radioactivity.