:Periodic Videos

The project began recording on 9 June 2008 and the initial videos were completed on 17 July 2008. The collection includes videos, each just a few minutes long, for all 118 known elements with a video for each element, as well as many additional supplemental chemistry videos. The 118 element videos and introduction videos were all shot unscripted in June and July 2008.

Since the initial videos were completed in 2008 the team has been refining and uploading revised versions of the videos with new video and in higher resolutions. A key example of this revising is with the xenon video that was redone in honour of professor Neil Bartlett who died on 5 August 2008; Bartlett prepared one of the first xenon compounds, xenon hexafluoroplatinate.

Poliakoff is the most visible presenter on the videos; his hair, reminiscent of Albert Einstein or a mad scientist, is frequently commented upon.{{Cite journal|author=Ritter, Stephen|title = Elements Achieve Internet Stardom|journal = Chemical & Engineering News|volume = 86|issue = 37|pages = 42–43|date = September 15, 2008|url = http://pubs.acs.org/cen/education/86/8637education.html|access-date = July 17, 2010|doi = 10.1021/cen-v086n037.p042}} The combination of the professor's hair and amusing experiments has made these videos quite popular. Although uncertain what to think about the attention given to his hair, Professor Poliakoff is excited with the success of the videos, stating "With a few hours of work, I have lectured to more students than I have reached in my entire career."{{Cite video|people = Brady Haran (producer)|title = The Professor talks about The Periodic Table of Videos|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yT8kvHlgeg|publisher = The Periodic Table of Videos|location = Nottingham, UK|date = 31 May 2010|access-date = 17 July 2010}} The YouTube channel as of December 2021, has over 1.5 million subscribers and the videos have surpassed 260 million views.{{YouTube|user=periodicvideos}} The YouTube channel is now one of the most popular chemistry related channels on all of YouTube. The producers of the videos have received praise from Nobel Laureates, chemistry professors, and the general public, says Professor Poliakoff. Chemistry Nobel Laureate Roald Hoffmann has even offered his praise of the videos, stating they "are like the best reality show I've ever seen – the universe revealing itself, element by element." In 2019, Poliakoff was awarded the Royal Society of London Michael Faraday Prize for science communication for his work on the videos.

The videos feature various experiments and demonstrations of the elements, some too dangerous to be performed in a classroom.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sci/tech/7507986.stm |title=Elements brought to life online |date=15 July 2008 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=17 July 2010}} Though the presenters take appropriate precautions when doing such experiments and provide adequate warnings, some scientists have criticized the dangerous experiments fearing people might try them at home and get hurt. The intent of the videos is to bring chemistry to a new generation of students and to get them enthused about science and understand how chemists think and what chemists are trying to do.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/3347317/YouTube-periodic-table-Explosive-video-guides.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821135425/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/3347317/YouTube-periodic-table-Explosive-video-guides.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 August 2009 |title=YouTube periodic table: Explosive video guides |author=Matthew Moore |date=15 Jul 2008 |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=17 July 2010}} Many school teachers now incorporate these videos into their classes,{{cite video|date = 20 December 2009|title = Web Wizard|url = http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6002511n|publisher = CBS News|access-date = 17 July 2010}} and the professor has even recorded video responses to some of the students' questions.{{Cite video|people = Brady Haran (producer)|title = Questions for The Professor – Periodic Table of Videos|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F_ztEv_v1Y|publisher = The Periodic Table of Videos|location = Nottingham, UK|date = 3 August 2009|access-date = 7 July 2010}} Some of the most popular videos are those of sodium, potassium, and uranium.

The Periodic Table of Videos team has also performed live. Their first performance was in May 2009 at the Broadway Media Centre in Nottingham; in July 2010 they performed at the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) in Turin, Italy.

A grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council of £25,249 was awarded on 19 January 2010 to extend the video library to include topical videos on molecules of general interest.{{cite video|date = June 4, 2010|title = It's elementary, my dear Poliakoff!|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EmN6XpbIBI|publisher = Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council|access-date = 17 July 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/ViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/H027424/1 |title=The Periodic Table of Videos: MolVids Grant |publisher=Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council |access-date=July 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518172424/http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/ViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP%2FH027424%2F1 |archive-date=May 18, 2011 |url-status=dead }} The first of these new videos were on carbon dioxide and methane.

File:Periodic_table_(7258944296).png]]

The Periodic Table of Videos has filmed at least one video for each of the 118 elements (from hydrogen to oganesson).[http://www.periodicvideos.com/ Read below the periodic table] "Tables charting the chemical elements have been around since the 19th century – but this modern version has a short video about each one.

We've done all 118 – but our job's not finished. Now we're updating all the videos with new stories, better samples and bigger experiments.

Plus we're making films about other areas of chemistry, latest news and occasional adventures away from the lab.

We've also started a new series – The Molecular Videos – featuring our favourite molecules and compounds.

All these videos are created by video journalist Brady Haran, featuring real working chemists from the University of Nottingham." They have also filmed several videos that discuss molecules such as D₂O (heavy water)[http://www.periodicvideos.com/videos/mv_heavywater.htm Heavy water video] and sulfuric acid.[http://www.periodicvideos.com/videos/mv_sulfuric_acid.htm Sulfuric acid video] Also filmed are "Chem definitions" that provide an explanation to words that are used in chemistry. Lastly, the team has filmed "Roadtrips" where they travel to different places in the world that have an importance in chemistry (such as the mine outside Ytterby, Sweden, which had four elements – yttrium, terbium, erbium, and ytterbium – named after it.)

{{Clear}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite journal|last1=Haran|first1=Brady|last2=Poliakoff|first2=Martyn|title=How to measure the impact of chemistry on the small screen|journal=Nature Chemistry|date=21 February 2011|issue=3|pages=180–82|doi=10.1038/nchem.990|volume=3|pmid=21336314|bibcode=2011NatCh...3..180H}} {{Subscription required}}
• {{cite journal|last1=Haran|first1=Brady|last2=Poliakoff|first2=Martyn|title=The Periodic Table of Videos|journal=Science|date=27 May 2011|volume=332|issue=6033|pages=1046–47|doi=10.1126/science.1196980|pmid=21617067|bibcode=2011Sci...332.1046H|doi-access=free}}

• {{Official website|www.periodicvideos.com|The Periodic Table of Videos}}
• {{YouTube|user=periodicvideos|suffix='}}
• [http://www.test-tube.org.uk Test Tube Project]

{{University of Nottingham}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Periodic Table of Videos}}

Category:Chemistry education in the United Kingdom

Category:Periodic table in popular culture

Category:Science and technology in Nottinghamshire

Category:Science education in the United Kingdom

Category:University of Nottingham

Category:Science-related YouTube channels

Category:YouTube channels launched in 2008