FAQ

How many elements are there?

There are 118 confirmed elements in the periodic table. Elements 1 through 94 occur naturally on Earth, though some are extremely rare. Elements 95 through 118 have been synthesized in laboratories. The search for element 119 and beyond continues at major research facilities worldwide.

What is the heaviest naturally occurring element?

Uranium with atomic number 92 is the heaviest element found in significant quantities in nature. Plutonium (94) and neptunium (93) exist in trace amounts from neutron capture. Technetium (43) and promethium (61) are lighter but have no stable isotopes and barely exist in nature.

What is the rarest element?

Astatine (element 85) is considered the rarest naturally occurring element. Only about 25 grams exist in Earths crust at any moment, produced by the decay of uranium and thorium. It is so rare that it has never been seen by the naked eye. All its isotopes are radioactive with short half-lives.