Sodium is the grist of the chemicals industry, producing soap and paper among other things. But it also plays a controversial role in human health - and murder. Show more

Sulphur is in abundant supply thanks to environmental regulations. But if the world faces a glut of this devilish yellow element, what uses can it be put to? Show more

Silicon chips already transformed the world once, but could the chief ingredient in sand be on the verge of a second technological revolution, in an entirely different industry? Show more

Chlorine is more than just a chemical used in swimming pools. This poisonous gas is used in creating your clothes, silicon chips, medicines and flooring. Show more

Lithium is the electro-chemical element - big in batteries and bipolar disorder. But will lithium-powered cars ever deliver, and if so, does Bolivia hold the keys? Show more

Tungsten is one of the hardest, heaviest and highest melting metals, critical for x-ray tubes and cutting tools. But is the world wrong to rely on China for most of its supply? Show more

Carbon-based energy sources sparked the industrial revolution and underpin the modern economy. But could a new revolution, based on carbon materials, wean us off fossil fuels? Show more

Lead is the sweetest of poisons, yet a lead-acid battery is still what gets your car going in the morning. Justin Rowlatt delves into the pros and cons of the heavyweight element. Show more

This ferocious yellow gas is the key building block for a string of other gases that pose a threat to mankind - from ozone-depleting CFCs to potent greenhouse gases. Show more

Boron is the mineral from the Wild West that stops glass from shattering and stops bullets in their tracks. Show more

LED lighting, solar power and lasers are just some of the electronics revolutionised by two obscure and surprisingly soft metallic elements - gallium and indium. Show more

Uranium is the fuel for nuclear power stations, which generate carbon-free electricity, but also highly radioactive waste, posing a major dilemma for environmentalists. Show more

A rare, toxic metal, beryllium is used to make X-ray tubes, aeroplane parts and nuclear weapons, but can do serious damage to your lungs. So how can we use it safely? Show more

The metal of modernity, spawning icons from the Chrysler Building to the Harley Davidson, chromium also has a dark side - as brought to light by Erin Brockovich. Show more

Nitrogen is the bringer of life and death to mankind on a massive scale, but it may also threaten us with a potential environmental disaster as frightening as climate change. Show more

Phosphorus and helium are two very different chemical elements with one big thing in common - one day the world could find them much more difficult to get hold of. Show more

The magic metal that made possible the mass production of plastics and paints, as well as buildings that clean both themselves and the air around them. Show more

The metal in magnets and phone batteries is synonymous with the colour blue. But what is a magnet, and where are they used? And is this key ingredient being mined by children? Show more

A rare, toxic metal, beryllium is used to make X-ray tubes, aeroplane parts and nuclear weapons, but can do serious damage to your lungs. So how can we use it safely? Show more