The 150th Anniversary of the Periodic Table of Elements

What’s served at the Periodic Table? A feast for the sciences

2019 is the 150^th anniversary of The Periodic Table. Introduced by Russian chemist Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev in 1869, the Periodic Table arranges chemical elements by atomic number, electron configuration, and chemical properties. This organization helps scientists understand the characteristics of the elements and the relationships between them – and even to predict new ones!

Corning is marking this milestone by spotlighting a few elements that are vital to our work, along with some of our scientists’ sentimental favorites.

Click on the elements below to learn more.

Silicon: The Collaborator

Glass Engineer Natesan Venkataraman still recalls his first encounter with silicon in the 10^th grade. His teacher gave him several unidentified materials to explore. The first looked like polished metal and felt brittle.

Glass Engineer Natesan...

Glass Engineer Natesan Venkataraman still...

Glass Engineer Natesan Venkataraman still recalls his first encounter with...

Glass Engineer Natesan Venkataraman still recalls his first encounter with silicon in the 10^th grade....

Glass Engineer Natesan Venkataraman still recalls his first encounter with silicon in the 10^th grade. His teacher gave him several...

Boron: The Tough Guy

Boron is considered a “low-abundance” element in the solar system and makes up only 0.001% of the Earth's crust. Yet, despite its modest representation in the universe, it is extremely prevalent in Corning’s research and development labs.

Boron is considered a...

Boron is considered a “low-abundance”...

Boron is considered a “low-abundance” element in the solar system and...

Boron is considered a “low-abundance” element in the solar system and makes up only 0.001% of the Earth's...

Boron is considered a “low-abundance” element in the solar system and makes up only 0.001% of the Earth's crust. Yet, despite its modest...

Silver: The Virtuoso

When you think of silver, what comes to mind first? Probably jewelry, coins, or flatware. But silver also has a special place in Corning’s history of technical glass innovations.

When you think of silver,...

When you think of silver, what comes to mind...

When you think of silver, what comes to mind first? Probably jewelry,...

When you think of silver, what comes to mind first? Probably jewelry, coins, or flatware. But silver also has a...

When you think of silver, what comes to mind first? Probably jewelry, coins, or flatware. But silver also has a special place in Corning’s...

Copper: The Defender

Your home most likely features copper wiring, and possibly copper plumbing and roofing components as well. Copper is widely used as a structural material due to its durability, resistance to corrosion, and extremely high thermal and electrical conductivity.

Your home most likely...

Your home most likely features copper...

Your home most likely features copper wiring, and possibly copper plumbing...

Your home most likely features copper wiring, and possibly copper plumbing and roofing components as well. Copper...

Your home most likely features copper wiring, and possibly copper plumbing and roofing components as well. Copper is widely used as a structural...

Potassium: The Facilitator

Potassium is an ingredient in many of Corning’s technical glasses. For example, it plays a key role in the ion-exchange process that helps give Corning® Gorilla® Glass its toughness.

Potassium is an ingredient in...

Potassium is an ingredient in many of...

Potassium is an ingredient in many of Corning’s technical glasses. ...

Potassium is an ingredient in many of Corning’s technical glasses. For example, it plays a key role in...

Potassium is an ingredient in many of Corning’s technical glasses. For example, it plays a key role in the ion-exchange...