Why does everything decay into lead?
2,250,055 Views
13 Questions Answered
Best of Web
Let’s Begin…
If you look at a copy of the periodic table, you might notice that basically every element after lead is labelled as radioactive. And the vast majority of those elements wind up decaying into some version of lead eventually. But why is lead so special? SciShow digs into the chemical properties of lead.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
How did the periodic table of elements revolutionize our understanding of the world? What scientists contributed to the table we have today? Eric Rosado discusses the key people and discoveries that have molded our understanding of chemistry today.
The team at PeriodicVideos created a TED-Ed Lesson for every element of the periodic table. This one is about element number 82. Special submarines and heavy-duty glass — learn all about lead in this lesson.
Neutrons don’t change into protons. Except, sometimes, they do. Radioactivity is the process under which the nucleus can change spontaneously from one element to another. Steve Weatherell suggests that we acknowledge both the usefulness and danger inherent in harvesting radioactivity.
Lead used to be a very common ingredient in many products, and unfortunately it still lingers in some buildings today. So, how does lead damage our brains— and what can we do to stop it? Gross Science explains.
The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that you can never simultaneously know the exact position and the exact speed of an object. Why not? Because everything in the universe behaves like both a particle and a wave at the same time. Chad Orzel navigates this complex concept of quantum physics.
How do we know what matter is made of? The quest for the atom has been a long one, beginning 2,400 years ago with the work of a Greek philosopher and later continued by a Quaker and a few Nobel Prize-winning scientists. Theresa Doud details the history of atomic theory.
The team at PeriodicVideos created a TED-Ed Lesson for every element of the periodic table. This one is about element number 82. Special submarines and heavy-duty glass — learn all about lead in this lesson.
Neutrons don’t change into protons. Except, sometimes, they do. Radioactivity is the process under which the nucleus can change spontaneously from one element to another. Steve Weatherell suggests that we acknowledge both the usefulness and danger inherent in harvesting radioactivity.
Lead used to be a very common ingredient in many products, and unfortunately it still lingers in some buildings today. So, how does lead damage our brains— and what can we do to stop it? Gross Science explains.
The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that you can never simultaneously know the exact position and the exact speed of an object. Why not? Because everything in the universe behaves like both a particle and a wave at the same time. Chad Orzel navigates this complex concept of quantum physics.
How do we know what matter is made of? The quest for the atom has been a long one, beginning 2,400 years ago with the work of a Greek philosopher and later continued by a Quaker and a few Nobel Prize-winning scientists. Theresa Doud details the history of atomic theory.
About TED-Ed Best of Web
TED-Ed Best of Web are exceptional, user-created lessons that are carefully selected by volunteer teachers and TED-Ed staff.
Meet The Creators
- Video created by SciShow
- Lesson Plan created by Lauren McAlpine
