12 Elements Discovered Since Tom Lehrer Set the Periodic Table to Music in 1959
There's antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium, and hydrogen, and oxygen, and nitrogen, and rhenium...
Tom Lehrer is a genius. He released a number of albums in the 50’s and 60’s of satirical songs, but as far as we’re concerned his magnum opus is “The Elements.” The song put all the known elements at the time to music, but that was in 1959. We’ve discovered quite a few elements since then, and here they are. Mr. Lehrer, perhaps another verse is in order?
“The Elements” put the periodic table of elements to the tune of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Major-General’s Song” from Pirates of Penzance. It’s catchy, educational, and makes a surprisingly effective lullaby for geeky babies.
If you’re not familiar with the song, take a few minutes and enjoy this video of Lehrer performing live in Copenhagen. In it, Lehrer even mentions Lawrencium which was discovered after the song was written but before this particular performance. At the end Lehrer even performs his Aristotle version of the song.
And now, all the elements discovered since the song was written in 1959. We think there are more than enough to warrant tacking on another verse.
[geekovision id=297]
(via Wikipedia, image via Wikipedia)
- Element 115 has been confirmed, but is still waiting on recognition
- Flerovium and Livermorium only got officially added a few years ago
- They also both qualify as the new-new super heavy
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