# What's the most useless chemical element? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 6, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677 "2011-03-06T13:39:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/41 "2011-03-11T04:42:36Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > What about scandium? I don’t know of any uses for that. They make some hella strong aluminum(?) based alloys by adding scandium. These are the latest rage in very light weight handguns. ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/42 "2011-03-11T04:49:39Z")
Tantalum? Hafnium? ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/43 "2011-03-11T05:03:53Z")
Hafnium is vital in nuclear power industries. While it is possible to make reactors that are[not controlled with hafnium control rods](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S7G_reactor)\*, hafnium is nearly unsurpassed in it’s utility because it has something like six or seven consecutive, high cross-section for absorbtion (of neutrons) isotopes. Which means that effectively a control rod made of hafnium will not become useless in damping neutron no matter how long it’s been being used. As compared to boron and other less ideal potential control poisons, which will absorb a single neutron, or maybe two, before becoming useless as a poison. \*“Reactor flush!” ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/44 "2011-03-11T05:08:00Z")
> [@Heyoka13](#): > > Thallium is toxic too. > > Doesn’t seem to garner much public notice either . . . It’s the active ingredient in one of the most common [heart diagnosis radiopharmaceuticals.](http://www.rxlist.com/thallous_chloride-drug.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/45 "2011-03-11T05:15:30Z")
> [@TravisFromOR](#): > > Tantalum? Hafnium? Tantalum used to be used in capacitors. They may have discontinued that due to its toxicity, though. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/46 "2011-03-11T05:44:54Z")
> [@TravisFromOR](#): > > Tantalum? Hafnium? Hafnium is used in semiconductors as a gate insulator; one of the solid-state geeks can dig in further, but I believe it has a higher dielectric constant than SiO, which allows for smaller transistors. And, of course, the 1920’s wonder weapon of the future: [The Hafnium bomb](http://defensetech.org/2006/06/13/superbomb-or-crapshoot/). (Why use a Wholnium bomb, when you can use half?) Tantalum is still used in capacitors, and more importantly used in body implants and coatings. I’m not aware of any toxicity. I only know of one paper that speaks of possible sarcomas, but that’s not enough to worry me (i. e., one point on a Cartesian chart does not make a line). ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/47 "2011-03-11T06:05:06Z")
Another big shout out for beryllium Useful in Am-241 Be mixtures as sources of fast neutrons. Useful for various neutron measurements. Beryllium sheets are also good at absorbing various capture X-Rays, helpful in gamma ray spectroscopy. Also good for beryllium copper alloys, a great non galling non magnetic material. good tensile properties without being too hard and reasonably immune to corrosion. Don’t tell the guys at Brush Wellman that beryllium is useless. Not too healthy for you though, I seam to remember a short Sc-fi novel where crew of an exploratory ship became sick, and the odd kid on board went nuts and kidnapped everybody to fly them off the planet. Apparently he made some connection between beryllium being used in old florescent lamps and the symptoms being shown by the crew. Buggered if I can remember the title though. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/48 "2011-03-11T06:07:51Z")
Thallium - very useful as a doping agent in Gallium based gamma ray spectroscopes. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/49 "2011-03-11T06:10:56Z")
> [@user\_hostile](#): > > Tantalum is still used in capacitors, and more importantly used in body implants and coatings. I’m not aware of any toxicity. Upon Googling around, I see that you’re correct about the toxicity. Maybe I misremembered. Or perhaps I just didn’t understand the concerns properly, since I heard them as a little kid growing up in the TV shop–maybe there were tantalum caps at the time that had something else nasty in them. Long-held bit of ignorance fought–thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/50 "2011-03-11T06:20:00Z")
Sorry - Thallium is used in sodium iodide based GR spectroscopy Lithium is used in germanium based detectors. Thalllium, gallium Schmallium ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/51 "2011-03-11T06:23:45Z")
How about beryllium. What the fuck is that good for? ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/52 "2011-03-11T06:30:24Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > How about beryllium. What the fuck is that good for? > [@scr4](#): > > True, but beryllium is invaluable for certain specialized applications. Because of the low atomic weight, it’s pretty much transparent to X-rays, so it’s widely used as exit windows for X-ray generator tubes. Some types of X-ray detectors use them as well. > > It’s also used in some aerospace applications where the light weight and thermal properties (low thermal expansion, high melting point, etc) justify the handling difficulties. The [mirrors for the James Webb Space Telescope](http://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/features/webb-beryllium.html), for example. > [@Heyoka13](#): > > I note beryllium is used in tweeters (of all things), it being a matter of pride for some audio aficionados to have them in their home theater systems. Beryllium is useful, no doubt about it, but it can also be a deadly poison too. IIRC, early florescent lights used it, and there were some medical tragedies as a result. > [@user\_hostile](#): > > It is used for high powered semiconductors. Manufacturing, wise you need to be especially careful. But once it’s fired like a ceramic and one doesn’t take a hammer to it and snort it up like blow, it’s safe to handle. AFAIK, you can toss it in trash without a permit. > [@jz78817](#): > > beryllium is also used in model boat propellers, alloyed with copper. > [@OtakuLoki](#): > > Beryllium is also alloyed with various transuranic elements to create neutron emitter sources. ([PuBe sources](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_source#Small-sized_devices) are just too silly a name to forget.) > [@Precambrianmollusc](#): > > Another big shout out for beryllium > Useful in Am-241 Be mixtures as sources of fast neutrons. Useful for various neutron measurements. Beryllium sheets are also good at absorbing various capture X-Rays, helpful in gamma ray spectroscopy. > Also good for beryllium copper alloys, a great non galling non magnetic material. good tensile properties without being too hard and reasonably immune to corrosion. Don’t tell the guys at Brush Wellman that beryllium is useless. It’s a shame your reading comprehension has fallen into the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/53 "2011-03-11T06:49:36Z")
I posted without reading the thread. I have been busted. How about californium? Fuck californium up the ass. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/54 "2011-03-11T06:57:41Z")
To me, it’s gold. (I even asked question on this awhile back). The only reason it’s valuable is because society deems it so. It doesn’t really DO anything other than look pretty. It’s not as if it’s the only substance that can fill a certain need in manufacturing or the computer age, or what have you. For me, the fact that it’s been given this weird “false” value makes it even more useless than other elements that really truly don’t have a use. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/55 "2011-03-11T07:02:21Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Upon Googling around, I see that you’re correct about the toxicity. Maybe I misremembered. Or perhaps I just didn’t understand the concerns properly, since I heard them as a little kid growing up in the TV shop–maybe there were tantalum caps at the time that had something else nasty in them. > > Long-held bit of ignorance fought–thanks. Your welcome. But now the ancient stacks of my brain seem to remember something toxic about caps. I think the older oil-filled ones used PCBs. I know they were phasing those out in the 60’s. PCB’s were used everywhere. During college days, we had all of the fluorescent ballasts replaced in our Electrical Engineering building because of the hazards (this was in the early 80’s). What prompted this was leaky ballast during class started dripping and some of the people started getting sick. Things happened _really_ fast after that. They replaced all of them that weekend AFAIR. \*\*DtC: \*\* [Beryllium bicycle frame](http://mombat.org/1992AmericanBe1.jpg), which, unlike the Hafnium bomb, actually existed at one point (I heard it was stolen), but given the raw material costs, the hazards of manufacturing, and a cost of 25 G’s…it would be cheaper and healthier to loose a couple of pounds on a diet compared to what you save on frame weight. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/56 "2011-03-11T07:12:13Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I posted without reading the thread. I have been busted. How about californium? Fuck californium up the ass. I just Googled it. Never occurred to me you needed to kick start a nuclear reactor, but by golly, that’s one of Californium’s applications. I can see someone calling AAA, "Hey, my reactor won’t start–can you give me a jump with some californium? ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/57 "2011-03-11T09:45:12Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > To me, it’s gold. (I even asked question on this awhile back). The only reason it’s valuable is because society deems it so. It doesn’t really DO anything other than look pretty. It’s not as if it’s the only substance that can fill a certain need in manufacturing or the computer age, or what have you. > > For me, the fact that it’s been given this weird “false” value makes it even more useless than other elements that really truly don’t have a use. Gold is very useful in electronics because of it’s corrosion resistance and ductility. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/58 "2011-03-11T18:02:06Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > Gold is very useful in electronics because of it’s corrosion resistance and ductility. Here’s one example of gold’s [toxicity](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_djnRWmTkPW8/S6zv8N6kKlI/AAAAAAAADow/dYQEDwyyPxw/s1600/james-bond-goldfinger.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/59 "2011-03-11T18:32:17Z")
> [@user\_hostile](#): > > I just Googled it. Never occurred to me you needed to kick start a nuclear reactor, but by golly, that’s one of Californium’s applications. I can see someone calling AAA, "Hey, my reactor won’t start–can you give me a jump with some californium? Also: > [@Wikipedia](#): > > Neutron penetration into materials makes it useful in detection instruments such as fuel rod scanners;[4] neutron radiography of aircraft and weapons components to detect corrosion, bad welds, cracks and trapped moisture;[48] and in portable metal detectors.[49] Neutron moisture gauges use californium-252 to find water and petroleum layers in oil wells, as a portable neutron source for gold and silver prospecting for on-the-spot analysis,[7] and to detect ground water movement. Now Minnesotium, there’s a useless element. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677/60 "2011-03-11T18:45:49Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Now Minnesotium, there’s a useless element. You have to admit that it’s above average in terms of uselessness. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-useless-chemical-element/573677.md?page=4)