He Collected 118 Chemical Elements: A Hobby Worth Millions of Dollars

He Collected 118 Chemical Elements: A Hobby Worth Millions of Dollars. Imagine having a personal collection that contains every element in the periodic table — from invisible helium gas to radioactive uranium. That's what a few chemical element collectors around the world have done. This 'crazy' hobby not only requires in-depth knowledge of chemistry but also a large capital and extraordinary courage. Explore the world of element collecting, which is becoming increasingly popular, and meet those who are willing to spend thousands of dollars to own a piece of rare metal.. What is Element Collecting and Who Does It? Element collecting, or in Malay 'pengumpulan unsur kimia', is a hobby of collecting physical samples of chemical elements as found in the periodic table. Imagine having a small bottle of oxygen gas, a piece of pure aluminum, and a small piece of gold — that's the basis of an element collection. But for avid collectors, their collection includes all 118 known elements, including synthetic elements that only exist in laboratories. Who is willing to spend time and money on this strange hobby? The answer: amateur scientists, chemistry lecturers, students obsessed with science, and even investors who see rare earth elements as valuable assets. Notable names include Theodore Gray, a science writer and the most prolific element collector in the world, and Oliver Sacks, a renowned neurologist who also enjoys collecting rare elements. 'It's more than just a discipline versus a hobby,' said Sagar Jamane, an element collector from India. 'It's a reminder of the great effort of all the brilliant minds behind the periodic table and the discovery of elements. It's thrilling to see the elements that make up the universe up close.' Why Do People Spend Thousands of Dollars on a Piece of Metal? One of the most common questions asked of element collectors is: why? The answer is varied. Some do it for intellectual curiosity — to see and touch elements they only know from textbooks. Others are drawn to the physical beauty of these elements: the colorful crystals of bismuth, the shine of silver on rhodium, or the faint green of uranium. Some also make element collecting an investment. Rare earth elements like scandium, yttrium, and lanthanum, as well as precious metals like platinum and gold, can increase in value over time. In fact, some collectors are willing to pay thousands of dollars to get high-quality samples of extremely rare elements like astatine or francium. But the main reason is the 'wow' factor — when friends visit and see a complete element collection on display, it's sure to impress. 'I love seeing people's reactions when they realize I have all 118 elements, including radioactive ones like plutonium,' said a collector in the United States. How to Collect Elements Without Going Bankrupt or Poisoning Yourself? Collecting elements is not a hobby that can be done casually. It requires knowledge of safety, genuine sources, and a bit of creativity. The first step is to understand the periodic table and identify the hard-to-obtain elements. Elements like hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon are easy to get — you can get hydrogen from water electrolysis, oxygen from compressed air, and carbon from a graphite pencil. But for rare elements like promethium a radioactive element or technetium the first synthetic element , collectors need to get samples through scientific networks or buy from other collectors. The price for a small sample can reach thousands of dollars. 'I once bought a gram of lutetium for RM1,200. It's a silver-colored metal that's rare and very expensive,' shared a local collector. Safety is also important. Radioactive elements like uranium and thorium require proper storage, while toxic elements like arsenic and mercury need to be stored in airtight containers. Experienced collectors will use lead boxes to store radioactive samples and special gloves when handling toxic elements. Never try to collect elements without basic chemistry knowledge — it can be deadly. What Are the Most Difficult and Most Expensive Elements to Collect? Among the elements that are most challenging to obtain are: - Astatine At — A highly radioactive element; estimated only 25 grams exist on the entire Earth's crust at any given time. No physical samples can be purchased. - Francium Fr — The most unstable element; half-life of only 22 minutes. Almost impossible to collect. - Seaborgium Sg — A synthetic element produced only in nuclear laboratories; no commercial samples. - Oganesson Og — The heaviest synthetic element; only a few atoms have ever been produced. For elements that can be collected commercially, the most expensive are: - Rhodium Rh — Price around RM1,200 per gram. - Platinum Pt — Over RM200 per gram. - Gold Au — Around RM250 per gram. - Berkelium Bk — A synthetic element with a price reaching RM1,000 per microgram! Is This Hobby Becoming More Popular or Is It Just for Crazy Scientists? Element collecting has been gaining attention over the past decade, especially after Theodore Gray published the book 'The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe' and an interactive application showcasing his personal collection. The media has started covering this hobby, and online communities like Reddit r/elementcollection and specialized forums have become places for collectors to share tips and sell elements. In Malaysia, element collecting is still in its early stages. However, with the increasing interest in science and STEM education, many young people are starting to collect elements as a science project or personal hobby. 'I started collecting elements since I was in high school. Now I have 40 elements, including several rare metals. This hobby has taught me more about chemistry than textbooks,' said a local university student. How Can You Start Element Collecting with a Small Budget? If you're interested in starting element collecting, don't worry about the high cost. You can start with simple steps: 1. Start with common elements — Collect aluminum from drink cans , iron from nails , carbon from charcoal , copper from wires , and zinc from batteries . 2. Buy a starter kit — Many websites like Amazon or eBay sell 'element collection starter kits' with prices as low as RM50-100 that contain 10-20 elements in small bottles. 3. Use everyday sources — Elements like neon can be found in neon lights, while helium is in balloons. Calcium can be taken from chalk. 4. Join a community — Reddit, Facebook, and local science forums often have collectors selling elements at affordable prices. 5. Be patient — Rare elements like scandium or gallium may take years to obtain. Remember, element collecting is not a race. Enjoy the learning process and the excitement of seeing your collection grow. As Sagar Jamane said, 'It's a reminder of the beauty of the universe contained in every atom.' --- Reference: Element collecting — Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Element collecting