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Fictional Element

Can a made-up element featured in the movie Black Panther help explain how the periodic table is organized?

January 14, 2019
By Jacob Batchelor

MATT KENNEDY/©MARVEL STUDIOS 2018

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How are elements arranged on the periodic table?

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

The hero of the hit blockbuster Black Panther has more than superhuman strength. He also has a high-tech suit powered by a fictional element called vibranium. Just a thin layer of the rare metal in Black Panther’s suit can stop bullets. It can even absorb the force of blows and explosions and then reemit that energy to knock out villains. The element also looks cool: In its pure form, it glows a mysterious purple.

Vibranium may be fictional, but many of its chemical and physical properties mimic those of real-life elements. Like many metals, it is hard, shiny, and able to conduct electricity. And like some radioactive elements, it can emit energy and glow in the dark.

The hero of the hit movie Black Panther has superhuman strength. But that’s not all. His high-tech suit is powered by a made-up element. The rare metal is called vibranium. Just a thin layer in Black Panther’s suit can stop bullets. It can even absorb the force of blows and explosions. Then it releases that energy to knock out villains. The element also looks cool. In its pure form, it glows a mysterious purple.

Vibranium isn’t real, but many of its chemical and physical properties imitate those of real-life elements. It’s hard and shiny, and able to conduct electricity. So are many metals. It can release energy and glow in the dark. So can some radioactive elements.

The similarities between vibranium and actual elements recently got Sibrina Collins thinking. She’s the executive director of the Marburger STEM Center at Lawrence Technological University in Michigan. “What if vibranium were real?” she wondered. “Where would it fit in on the periodic table?”

Collins asked a chemistry professor at the university to pose the question to her students for bonus points on an exam. “There was no right or wrong answer,” says Collins. “It was just to get them thinking about why the periodic table is arranged the way it is.” The students had a wide range of responses. But we won’t tell you what they thought. Instead, use the information in the article and diagram below to come up with your own answer.

Vibranium and real elements have several things in common. That got Sibrina Collins thinking. She’s the executive director of the Marburger STEM Center at Lawrence Technological University in Michigan. “What if vibranium were real?” she wondered. “Where would it fit in on the periodic table?”

Collins asked a chemistry professor at the university to help. The professor gave her students the question for bonus points on an exam. “There was no right or wrong answer,” says Collins. “It was just to get them thinking about why the periodic table is arranged the way it is.” The students had many different answers. But we won’t tell you what they thought. Instead, look at the information in the article and the diagram below. Then come up with your own answer.

HOW THE PERIODIC TABLE IS ORGANIZED

The periodic table contains all known elements—118 of them! They’re arranged so their properties typically change in a predictable way.

The periodic table contains all known elements—118 of them! They’re arranged so their properties typically change in a predictable way.

ATOMIC NUMBER: Elements appear on the table in order of their atomic number—the number of positively charged protons in an atom’s nucleus. In general, elements become heavier as the atomic number increases. Hydrogen (H) appears first and is also the lightest.

ATOMIC NUMBER: Elements appear on the table in order of their atomic number—the number of positively charged protons in an atom’s nucleus. In general, elements become heavier as the atomic number increases. Hydrogen (H) appears first and is also the lightest.

GROUPS: Elements are also arranged based on their electrons. These negatively charged particles orbit an atom’s nucleus in shells, or energy levels. Elements in each group, or column, have the same number of electrons in their outer shells. That gives them similar properties. For example, the noble gases in Group 18 are inert—they don’t react with other elements.

GROUPS: Elements are also arranged based on their electrons. These negatively charged particles orbit an atom’s nucleus in shells, or energy levels. Elements in each group, or column, have the same number of electrons in their outer shells. That gives them similar properties. For example, the noble gases in Group 18 are inert—they don’t react with other elements.

METALS AND NONMETALS: Most elements are metals. Metals lose electrons easily, making them good conductors of heat and electricity. They’re usually solid and malleable, or easy to shape. Most other elements are nonmetals, which gain electrons easily. They exist as solids, liquids, or gases.

METALS AND NONMETALS: Most elements are metals. Metals lose electrons easily, making them good conductors of heat and electricity. They’re usually solid and malleable, or easy to shape. Most other elements are nonmetals, which gain electrons easily. They exist as solids, liquids, or gases.

PERIODS: In general, elements on the left side of a period, or row, more easily give up electrons when bonding with other elements. Elements on the right (excluding the noble gases) tend to more easily accept electrons. That means these elements are more reactive, or able to undergo a chemical reaction.

PERIODS: In general, elements on the left side of a period, or row, more easily give up electrons when bonding with other elements. Elements on the right (excluding the noble gases) tend to more easily accept electrons. That means these elements are more reactive, or able to undergo a chemical reaction.

INNER TRANSITION METALS: These two rows of elements belong in Group 3. Because they don’t fit neatly on the table, they’re placed underneath. Those in the top row are soft, silvery white metals. Those in the bottom row are radioactive.

INNER TRANSITION METALS: These two rows of elements belong in Group 3. Because they don’t fit neatly on the table, they’re placed underneath. Those in the top row are soft, silvery white metals. Those in the bottom row are radioactive.

SYNTHETIC ELEMENTS: Some elements are unstable and don’t exist in nature. Scientists make them in a lab. Science World’s periodic table depicts them using orange symbols.

SYNTHETIC ELEMENTS: Some elements are unstable and don’t exist in nature. Scientists make them in a lab. Science World’s periodic table depicts them using orange symbols.

HOW THE PERIODIC TABLE IS ORGANIZED

The periodic table contains all known elements—118 of them! They’re arranged so their properties typically change in a predictable way.

The periodic table contains all known elements—118 of them! They’re arranged so their properties typically change in a predictable way.

ATOMIC NUMBER: Elements appear on the table in order of their atomic number—the number of positively charged protons in an atom’s nucleus. In general, elements become heavier as the atomic number increases. Hydrogen (H) appears first and is also the lightest.

ATOMIC NUMBER: Elements appear on the table in order of their atomic number—the number of positively charged protons in an atom’s nucleus. In general, elements become heavier as the atomic number increases. Hydrogen (H) appears first and is also the lightest.

GROUPS: Elements are also arranged based on their electrons. These negatively charged particles orbit an atom’s nucleus in shells, or energy levels. Elements in each group, or column, have the same number of electrons in their outer shells. That gives them similar properties. For example, the noble gases in Group 18 are inert—they don’t react with other elements.

GROUPS: Elements are also arranged based on their electrons. These negatively charged particles orbit an atom’s nucleus in shells, or energy levels. Elements in each group, or column, have the same number of electrons in their outer shells. That gives them similar properties. For example, the noble gases in Group 18 are inert—they don’t react with other elements.

METALS AND NONMETALS: Most elements are metals. Metals lose electrons easily, making them good conductors of heat and electricity. They’re usually solid and malleable, or easy to shape. Most other elements are nonmetals, which gain electrons easily. They exist as solids, liquids, or gases.

METALS AND NONMETALS: Most elements are metals. Metals lose electrons easily, making them good conductors of heat and electricity. They’re usually solid and malleable, or easy to shape. Most other elements are nonmetals, which gain electrons easily. They exist as solids, liquids, or gases.

PERIODS: In general, elements on the left side of a period, or row, more easily give up electrons when bonding with other elements. Elements on the right (excluding the noble gases) tend to more easily accept electrons. That means these elements are more reactive, or able to undergo a chemical reaction.

PERIODS: In general, elements on the left side of a period, or row, more easily give up electrons when bonding with other elements. Elements on the right (excluding the noble gases) tend to more easily accept electrons. That means these elements are more reactive, or able to undergo a chemical reaction.

INNER TRANSITION METALS: These two rows of elements belong in Group 3. Because they don’t fit neatly on the table, they’re placed underneath. Those in the top row are soft, silvery white metals. Those in the bottom row are radioactive.

INNER TRANSITION METALS: These two rows of elements belong in Group 3. Because they don’t fit neatly on the table, they’re placed underneath. Those in the top row are soft, silvery white metals. Those in the bottom row are radioactive.

SYNTHETIC ELEMENTS: Some elements are unstable and don’t exist in nature. Scientists make them in a lab. Science World’s periodic table depicts them using orange symbols.

SYNTHETIC ELEMENTS: Some elements are unstable and don’t exist in nature. Scientists make them in a lab. Science World’s periodic table depicts them using orange symbols.

Continue the Learning Journey

  • Think about how vibranium was important to the superhero Black Panther and his powers. Now, create your own superhero! Imagine you're a comic book artist working on designing a new character. What would your character's name be? What kind of superpowers would he or she have? How would those superpowers work? How could they be used to fight villains? Draw your character on a sheet of paper and write a short paragraph describing your new superhero.
  • Go on an element scavenger hunt! First, watch the video "Finding the Periodic Table's Elements." Whenever an element is mentioned on screen, pause the video, and locate the element on the periodic table in the article. Can you spot them all? Which one do you think would fit best with a superhero story? Write a short pitch for a movie company about one of these elements that could be used in a superhero story.

Continue the Learning Journey

  • Think about how vibranium was important to the superhero Black Panther and his powers. Now, create your own superhero! Imagine you're a comic book artist working on designing a new character. What would your character's name be? What kind of superpowers would he or she have? How would those superpowers work? How could they be used to fight villains? Draw your character on a sheet of paper and write a short paragraph describing your new superhero.
  • Go on an element scavenger hunt! First, watch the video "Finding the Periodic Table's Elements." Whenever an element is mentioned on screen, pause the video, and locate the element on the periodic table in the article. Can you spot them all? Which one do you think would fit best with a superhero story? Write a short pitch for a movie company about one of these elements that could be used in a superhero story.
Chemistry
Elements & the Periodic Table

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