Tungsten (new) - Periodic Table of Videos

[@EnmaDarei]

I've always appreciated how much the professor recognizes Neil's skill and work and how much he tries to get everyone else to understand how important he is.

[@sparky6086]

Neil is to Professor Martyn, as Jim is to Marlin Perkins on "Wild Kingdom".

[@theodionne9370]

I really wish more professors were exactly like this. Dr. Poliakoff is one of a kind :))

[@SeanBZA]

Neil is as important as the prof, simply because he puts the thoughts into physical reality, and as he has been doing this for a few years the skill and thought is great, and equal in the education of any of the students, who after all have to have practical application of chemistry to grasp the concepts, and to see just how and why things act like they do, both in theory, and that theory and practise agree. Otherwise this is not Chemistry, but Philosophy, where there is no actual confirmation, other than belief, that the conjectures are correct.

[@EnmaDarei]

@@SeanBZA I agree, that's why I appreciate it. I think technicians don't usually get the credit they deserve.

[@Zz.animes]

​@@sparky60861

[@jeffarmstrong1308]

As a retired technician myself I always appreciated getting some acknowledgment of my skills but it happened far too little during my 30 years working life. So it is gratifying to have someone of Professor Poliakoff's standing acknowledge our work.

[@Aussiesnrg]

I wish to acknowledge your efforts and contribution to humanity over the 30 years (and likely more) of your working life. Hats off to you!

[@j.b.4090]

As someone who worked a few years in a lab as a student, I have massive respect for the technicians. Im my opinion you guys are the true heroes of science. Whenever I had any question or a problem I could not solve, the lab techs were the ones who found a solution

[@newportshapwick]

The unsung hero’s of the science/technology world!

[@Sprionk]

As an experimental physicist, it blows my mind how many people in the sciences don't realise just how integral a technician is to the successful running of a lab, and deserve far more respect than they often receive.

[@tomoshita9638]

Sir Professor Doctor

[@jackedrussell]

Wow, Professor Martyn hasn't aged at all in 15+ years.

[@Hasan3KED]

..yes

[@BEM684]

Because he did it all in the first 40 years of life lol

[@stasiekpiekarski]

Not too metion thank goodness he'll never mature😊

[@TheDriller-Killer]

Poliakofium is a very stable element, even when it's regularly seen in its excited state 😂😂😂

[@weedmanwestvancouverbc9266]

I thought I saw a portrait of Dorian Gray hanging in his office once years ago

[@BackYardScience2000]

I worked as a lab tech for years in the polymers industry and we were certainly looked over in terms of credit for the things that we had to do. Thank you, Neil. For all that you do for not just these videos, but for science and the university and everything else. We appreciate you.

[@Lolwutdesu9000]

In my time during research, I started to believe that technicians had a better understanding of chemistry than some of the doctors/professors. Difference between knowledge and experience, I guess!

[@Christopher.Marshall]

​@Lolwutdesu9000 many professors that are PIs stop doing experiments and bench chemistry once they start their own research group. They focus on other things like keeping up with the modern chemistry literature and grant writing. Their lab skills atrophy, but often they are very well read in the literature, which is necessary to be a great chemist.

[@JasonP6339]

I hope the young kids watching these videos understand just how incredibly lucky we are that the professor is still working and still healthy and that they can go back and watch a decade and a half worth of videos! That is a gift that will be timeless and given freely to the entire world!

[@Arcsecant]

Better living through chemistry 😃

[@NathanaelNewton]

22 minute video about tungsten!? That's a W

[@davidg3944]

Booooo!

[@dielaughing73]

WooooW

[@sarashaw3625]

I think they mean that is a Wrap!

[@huntersedlacek7495]

😮

[@NathanaelNewton]

@@sarashaw3625 no 🤣

[@kazoohero93]

Thank you from all the Technicians. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt more recognized than watching the end of this video

[@Bunnysinger]

Appreciation comment for Neil and all the technicians out there!

[@periodicvideos]

Good stuff

[@backwashjoe7864]

"Neil wanted something more spectacular." The opening sentence in every OSHA report at Nottingham. :)

[@AdamBechtol]

:p

[@TesterAnimal1]

Every HSE report. We’re not a US state.

[@Channel10334]

I thought the UK was part of the US.

[@thundersheild926]

​​@@Channel10334 you got it backwards, the US is part of the UK

[@huntersedlacek7495]

@@thundersheild926 And they are both part of Austria.🇦🇹🫡

[@flamencoprof]

Thanks for the shout-out to technicians. It made me realise that probably why I am watching this is because at school in the mid-sixties I was a lab monitor for a while, then my first job was as a Medical Laboratory Technologist, where we did the tests, and differentiated ourselves from the Technicians, who maintained the equipment, then later worked for decades as a Telephone Exchange Technician, which I enjoyed. Always Safety First.

[@SuiLagadema]

I don't know why but, even if I've never heard Neil speak, I picture him as a child in a candy store when he does experiments, like, on the outside, he looks completely professional and composed, but on the inside, there's this kid that's super jumping with joy every time he gets to do experiments.

[@clivematthews95]

Same 😄

[@Aussiesnrg]

I concur!

[@speelydan]

There's one video - just one - where you hear his voice unaltered. It's very old. I think it's the first Hydrogen video from like a decade and a half ago. Go find it. The man has A VOICE. I'm a straight guy and I still melt a little bit. We have been sorely deprived ever since.

[@jupa7166]

That's what science is about - to never cease to be amazed and then ask&think. Inner child is useful in science.

[@ThootenTootinTabootin]

Neil sounds like a bottle of Jack Daniels had a baby with a Pack of Camels

[@simonlb24]

Nice to see a call out for Neil for the work he did in helping make this video. All to often, lab techs are overlooked but the knowledge and experience they possess from years of working in the labs makes them an invaluable resource that should be appreciated much more. Great video too. 👍

[@davidpescod7573]

Many thanks Professor Martyn and Neil and Brady for a truly fascinating exploration of tungsten’s properties. The demonstrations were magnificent. I had to laugh out load when the professor commented that after a year the university’s suppliers were unable to supply powdered tungsten but when ordered on Amazon it arrived within a couple of days. Surely herein lies a tale!

[@cleanerben9636]

Same here. Three weeks for a filter for the wet and dry vac at work, Amazon pack of 5 came next day. Boggles my mind.

[@wikewawa]

Lots of Amazon stuff comes from China

[@jeffspaulding9834]

You guys have always done a good job of showing Neil as a critical member of your team. That's one of the things I like about this channel.

[@Rincypoopoo]

As an ex technician that made me feel very happy and warm inside. Nice one Mr P !

[@VincentGroenewold]

I worked as a technician and am always surprised how under recognized the profession is. That said, there is a huge variation in what technicians do and are able to do, I was basically a postdoc working as a technician. :) Just was never interested in the higher position as I wanted to work in science all my life (didn't happen in the end, but long enough). In space, technicians would be extremely valuable as well, there's a way larger pool to choose from then just university grads.

[@speelydan]

I was a Lab Technician in a... ahem.... "third-party-high-voltage-electrical-insulation-systems-and-electrical-insulation-materials-laboratory".... .......and you are still a few thousand percent correct. Plus-or-minus .001%.

[@yetanotherjohn]

"If you're ever swimming in mercury, use a molybdenum life jacket." xD

[@urishima]

The old pathfinder motto: Always be prepared.

[@dhimankalita14]

Don't need life jacket as you will float anyway😅

[@CatNolara]

But only if your body is made of tungsten

[@zyeborm]

I'll take a steel life jacket thanks. I'm a bit on the heavy side, I could do with the extra boyancy

[@richardwebb5317]

That mercury on a tripod triggers me.

[@flared9921]

The lab technicians for the lab I work in are the best, helped me get sorted when I developed a sensitivity to the nitrile gloves in our lab

[@paulyaron2410]

Professor Martyn and team - thank you for inviting me into your lectures in this format. I feel privileged every time.

[@AnonNopleb]

Neil is a real hero. I am very impressed how he did not give up those experiments. It sometimes takes quite a lot of experience and intuition to make an experiment work if it doesn't, which parameters to change and probably most importantly, when to decide to stop, a.k.a "that's as good as it gets."

[@rustymotor]

Lovely that Technicians finally get recognised for their work and expertise, always working hard in the background with little acknowledgment. They do play an important role in supporting industry and institutions such as medical facilities and educational establishments, looking forward to visiting the Science museum if I ever get to London!

[@jasonpfeilsticker5692]

When I worked at a tech I absolutely felt undervalued. Its nice to hear praise.

[@slowbro1337]

I'm so happy to see a new upload. It feels like it's been forever

[@benjaminvogt5544]

I love this Channel so much. I’m doing all my university studies within the environmental science realm, but your videos have always peaked my interest. You have always been there, even when youtube seemed like it had nothing to offer.

[@mikegouws8196]

Can you do a video on Triethylborane? As used in the SR71 and modern rockets.

[@aidanjohnson7571]

that might be more of a job for Explosions and Fire

[@speelydan]

@@aidanjohnson7571 Might be too big of a job for E&F, even - and I mean that with a billion percent respect, at least, I love that bloke.

[@TheFulcrum2000]

@@speelydan Indeeed, this seems more like a thing for ChemicalForce to test.

[@mduckernz]

I seem to recall having seen a video from this channel featuring triethylaluminium, at least; as you’re probably aware, it is used in conjunction with triethylborane (abbreviated to TEA-TEB) as a hypergolic starting fuel with LOX to get the turbopump going

[@miinyoo]

I have seen every one of these dozens of times. After watching one, KZbin feels the need to auto play them all and I really don't mind. They're all fun.

[@understrings1]

I have been working as a technician and I quite appreciated what you have mentioned at the end of the video about Neil and the technicians in general. Thank you. :)

[@brandonobaza8610]

Chemistry is the world's most valuable form of "screwing around."

[@jeffreysokal7264]

Another excellent video. Thanks to the Professor, Neil and Brady for a job well done.

[@TThomas-si7yn]

We all adore you, Professor !! ... and we do also love Neil. The dynamic duo of chemistry! Irreplaceable, both of you. Love, from America

[@network_king]

I saw this and decided had to watch it. My dad is a retired chemistry instructor, I have always been into electronics. I'm taking a TIG welding class this spring it's interesting how much chemistry and electronics are involved in welding. They use tungsten in TIG because high melting point and it conducts decently. It used to seem strange to me people talked about AC VS DC and different polarity for welding I didn't see as far as electrically why it mattered, but whatever is positive in DC has more heat put into it. Aluminum they use AC the negative tip cycle welds the aluminum and the positive cycle cleans the oxide off but also melts the tungsten. Stainless is also interesting as have to be careful with the heat or will burn out the chrome. Even the filler materials are different to add cleaning, help with welding overhead, etc. It would be cool see like a mini playlist of chemistry of welding.

[@maolcogi]

I love when I recognize a property of one of these elements when you show something like that thinned wire at 12:55. My brain just went "Yeah that's like how light bulbs get dark over time, because the tungsten evaporates as it heats up, then it applies a thin coating on the inside of the bulb." I'm not a scientist, and only did a few chemistry courses in college, but man do I love this stuff! :D

[@SwordOfApollo]

13:20 Under standard conditions, (room temp and sea-level atmospheric pressure), bromine is a liquid, not a gas. Though it does have a high vapor pressure.

[@kwgm8578]

Love it! A new Periodic Video is always a delight. Thank you very much Brady, Neil, Alex, and Sir Martyn. In my career I have worked as a technician, and as an engineer I've worked with technicians, who are essential to teams involved in science research and innovative product development. I have a great respect for Neil after watching him work in so many of these videos over the years. He's smart, experienced, dedicated, and I enjoy the sense of fun that he brings to the show. Neil is an essential member of the team that creates these great videos. Best regards to you all.😊

[@milos-ITMilosevicsimpathy1]

I love You Mr.Martyn Poliakoff,You are The Greatest lecturer of All time .❤

[@knurled1]

I love the professor, so engaging.

[@Botchedtoeknife]

If I would’ve had this man in my life at an early age I would’ve been a completely different person… the way he talks about chemistry makes it so easy to follow and understand

[@micahphilson]

Sir Martyn Poliakoff really is a gift to this world! And Neil is right there with him.

[@rileymerson8781]

Thank you so much professor, Neil and to all other parties involved in this video and all others. Your videos will bring interest to chemistry and physics for decades to come. My children eventually will be watching your videos as children. Thank you

[@renownedfear187]

Good to see this guy is still kicking & looking same as when I 1st found the channel. Like along time ago

[@WAMTAT]

All the chemicals have made him immortal

[@ZoonCrypticon]

Thank you Professor Poliakoff, thank you Neil and thanks to all the other technicians and employees for these great chemical presentations!

[@dennissato320]

Your channel deserves to be the most watched on all of KZbin! Long life to you!

[@karhukivi]

The principal ore of tungsten, (scheelite) is calcium tungstate and it is fluorescent blue-white under short-wave UV light, which is one of the methods of prospecting for it. Scheelite is dense and can be panned from stream gravels like gold, in many places where granites are present (e.g. Cornwall, UK) but it is white and looks like feldspar, so the UV lamp is essential.

[@gregorymalchuk272]

Edison's and Tesla's early attempts at fluorescent lamps used calcium tungstate phosphor.

[@karhukivi]

@@gregorymalchuk272 Not a bad idea! Zinc sulphide (sphalerite) was also used by early investigators for UV and alpha particle detection.

[@unistrut]

I have a similar cube from Midwest Tungsten! I actually went and got it to play around with while watching this video. It is fascinating to pick up, at first it feels like it's almost stuck to your desk.

[@jaredf6205]

I’ve been buying blocks of tungsten for 8 years. I’m obsessed lol. It really feels like something is wrong with gravity, especially with a large piece. I like buying the small half inch blocks to play around with.

[@JohnMichaelson]

I have one request if either you decide to end the PToV series, or if Neil retires, and it's that you do an interview or retrospective with him if he's willing. We all appreciate what he does and I'd love to hear his thoughts about his time doing the vids and at Nottingham. Thanks!

[@kieranfoster902]

Well done Neil, and well done Martyn for expressing all our gratitude for Neil and the amazing work he (and all technicians) do. I would be lost without my lab technicians school getting things ready so I can do experiments with the children.

[@plabcentral630]

This is probably the best channel on KZbin. My new number 1.

[@JonatanGronoset]

I keep forgetting this channel exists, so I get excited whenever I come across the videos again. Volatile reactions are fun to watch (in a safe enviroment). Glad to see the Professor and team are as excited about chemistry as ever! And Niel making stuff glow, fizzle or explode in the name of science! 👨‍🔬 The variac experiment made me think the Professor and Niel could enjoy Styropyros videos experimenting with high currents. Sometimes he uses it to create interesting chemical reactions with volatile results, such as superheating of metallic compounds in hardware!

[@-NGC-6302-]

The thinning of the tungsten wire is a trick I've seen before, when Ben at Applied Science (I think it was him) was making gecko tape. The intention was to sharpen a bundle of wires and repeatedly poke them into a wax mold for the silicone. I wasn't a great method if I remember right, but still a cool idea.

[@agentham]

It is indescribable how giddy I get any time I see a new Periodic Videos video in my notifications.

[@Juliosguitarstuffs]

I was watching you guys in college and I’m still watching you guys as a QC chemist! Keep it up guys!

[@javkhlanbaatarkhuu4271]

Thank you for coming back. I was waiting for you and no secret, I was little worried about you. Happy to see you, Professor

[@hovant6666]

I have been waiting for an updated video on Tungsten for years and it's finally here! Best metal

[@OvidiuHretcanu]

2:09 ... how can you not love our good professor?!

[@AuTo69420]

I'd love to see more of these, even including guides on identification through chemical and physical reaction

[@VarkaTheDragon]

Technicians make the scientific faculty worlds go round! Big up Neil, and all the under appreciated lab techs out there, young and old! They are truly the 'bridge techs' between hard science and hard engineering!

[@AsmodeusMictian]

Always awesome to see a new(er?) periodic video. It makes my heart smile to see the Professor, it's rare you see someone who so obviously loves his job. :)

[@simontyrrell8866]

Thank you for another great video on this ubiquitous but mostly unknown metal. Some years ago I commented on a video about the reaction of magnesium with water, pointing out that this was a regular school reaction and that the reaction of magnesium with steam was even more interesting. I am commenting now about the statement that things usually get smaller when you burn them. I frequently do an experiment with my 13 year old students when we burn iron wool and it gets heavier, so things don't get smaller when you burn them but get bigger! Chemistry is so fun, please keep up the good work

[@kabuti2839]

which 'experiment' resulted in your hair style? I want to try it, it's great! Every 'alchemical' process is not repeatable as far as I know.

[@Bhaadi]

Nice to hear some recognition for Neil, the little-sung hero of this channel :)

[@SteveChisnall]

Martyn has a great talent for making these videos so interesting. Wish I could chat with him over lunch someday and discuss entertaining chemistry-blogs.

[@leonardsolarz2740]

Thanks!

[@Adam-c6x4l]

I really like these videos. The professor is a pretty cool guy. I think he preserved himself with all the elemental materia.

[@joseywales6168]

12:00 That is SO COOL, my hypothesis for why the wire formed those wavy lines of oxide is: electricity is a wave of electrons [Watch electricity hit a fork in the road KZbin Video](whether flowing, or vibrating, depending on current type), and as the wave peaks and valleys with increasing amplitude through the wire it will heat/react differently or more with the air in places where the electricity peaks or valleys. A similar thing was probably happening when the voltage was increased slowly as well and i think that I could even see it on the video, but the waves were given time to spread out slowly instead of making extreme highs and lows right away. Wish i could do research like this instead of jobs, but i get to handle tungsten, molybdenum, and even cooler+rarer metals all the time so its pretty awesome

[@biergaz]

Best serie on youtube,thanks professor and thanks Neil!

[@Stjaernljus]

it being named tungsten(swedish for heavy stone), but swedish uses the german name for the element. is a bit silly.

[@GingerWildcat]

Well hey if they are gonna use their words, then they are gonna use their words back. -Theo Von

[@gnyrinn]

It would be confusing if the Norsemen would use 'tungsten'. "Sven: We figured out that those heavy stones had some heavystone ore, but did you calculate how much heavystone was in the heavy stones?"

[@Thoran666]

@@gnyrinn Sounds completely fine to me, just listen to any of the shorts from Ólafur Waage

[@lajoswinkler]

Nearly whole world says wolfram. It was a battle of the element names between USA and rest of the world (as usual).

[@aloe7794]

tungsten as for "tough stone", yeah also Poland uses Wolfram as well

[@dr.feelgood2358]

thank you Neil. brilliant work!

[@blankreg2002]

I was a lab tech for years, and Neil far outranks me as to his cleverness. Thanks Neil!

[@robertlapointe4093]

Great video as always. At 11:08 I noticed that the right hand terminal block was resting on a piece of L bracket attached to the left hand block and thought "oops, that's a dead short" and then the magic smoke was released.

[@khaitomretro]

Those blocks are ceramic with metal terminals inside. The bolt attaching the bracket doesn't contact the terminals.

[@chrisamaral899]

Thanks for keeping these up to date and fresh!!

[@SebastianA.W.]

good to see the good professor in my feed again. be blessed, science-man.

[@htc148]

I'm curious about the cleaning process after using mercury or other dangerous chemicals or elements

[@KadaverKarl]

Wow Professor, here you got me - couldn't resist to buy three cubes on Ebay, Tungsten, Copper, Aluminum - the difference in density is really amazing!

[@katelights]

I wonder if the spacing of the unduloids has anything to do with the AC frequency. Would be interesting to compare different frequencies and even DC.

[@bobvines00]

As a Mechanical Engineer, I can wholeheartedly say that good Technicians are worth their weight in gold!

[@thend4427]

Look who randomly decided to upload

[@for.you.tube.]

.

[@iplaylol25]

Is it random to do research and upload it?

[@DiagandFix]

You could say. He posts “periodically” *badum tss*

[@FotosbyFrankie]

Always enjoy your videos, Professor, Neil and Grady! Thank you all for the great demonstrations!

[@equolizer]

I'm really impressed by the professor's pronunciation of the German name of Wolfram. It was spot on, the 'r' which is normally a struggle for English speakers was perfect.

[@moyousif2009]

Remarkable job well done, always such a wonderful learning experience with the professor and Neil

[@GAIS414]

Very nice! Though I would have loved if you incorporated more of the mechanical properties of Tungsten. Because of it's hardness and toughness, it's one of the most important materials in modern industry especially for cutting and welding metals.

[@abberss]

I love these videos. Keep up the great work!

[@periodicvideos]

More to come soon - got some good ones on the chopping block.

[@pinocleen]

@@periodicvideos Yay!

[@iankr]

"As you know, Neil is obsessed by size." 🤣 Seriously, Neil (and all technicians) do a fantastic job. I still remember Mrs Johnson, the lab tech when I was doing A-level Chemistry in 1977/78. ❤

[@DemianX6x6x6X]

always a good day when there is a new periodic video

[@nattsurfaren]

20:04 Does the trioxide or the yellow react with water? Could produce ammonium?

[@allancopland1768]

Awesome to see an academic praise support staff. It happens so rarely but Neil is obviously worth his weight in Tungsten.

[@slintank]

aww professor Martyn , Neil, and Brady! This is nourishing ☺

[@eevvaann11]

These videos are the best! I am always so excited to see what you guys do and come up with.

[@davidedgar2818]

Thank you both, this was a very informative video. I didn't realize all of the possibilities of ( W ) Tungsten.

[@cryptearth]

I wish I had put as much effort into learning chemistry back in school as I enjoy watching these videos

[@simhthmss]

Please do more videos on Germanium. There is only one short video on it despite it's many technological uses.

[@Samstrainsofficially]

Was watching a film from the 50s here on youtube just the other day that went through all the steps in processing the tungsten from ore all the way through to that tungsten wire.

[@spaz_matic]

Some beautiful experiments as always! Thank you, Neil!

[@aupotter2584]

Darts' barrels which are now made of tungsten are much narrower than obsolete brass barrels so that we can see more and more 180's these days. 🎯

[@johnboyer144]

I have been waiting a long time for this video!

[@periodicvideos]

Hope you liked it

[@henkmagnetic3103]

What a team. Prof., Neal and Brady.

[@mandocool]

Thank you for the updated version! You look great !!

[@danm700]

Thank you so so much Professor Poliakoff, Neil and Brady for these videos. You rock.

[@devrim-oguz]

8:29 I was thinking that you should repeat the experiment in inert atmosphere because it looks very much like the sodium burning by itself and not reacting much with the powder

[@fredrikfarkas]

Great video! I really like the experimenting and untried stuff! When pros play it gets really interesting✨