SYDNEY, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Western Australia has constructed the world's biggest periodic table of elements, a 662 square metre testament to one of science's most important and iconic achievements.
Covering one entire side of ECU's newly constructed science building, the giant periodic table was the brainchild of university Vice Chancellor Professor Steve Chapman, who told Xinhua on Friday that being a chemistry teacher as well, he loves the new look.
"As a chemist, I love looking at it, it's a work of art. It's kind of the music of science if you know how to read it. It's fantastic," Chapman said.
ECU's periodic table is made up of 360 individual perforated panels, creating a screen that helps with solar heat and glare control, while also allowing natural light to the spaces behind.
Chapman said that the monument will act as a teaching tool, as well as serving to remind everybody of the periodic table's incredible depth and significance.
"It really does contain the secrets of the universe -- all the elements that make up our natural and built environments and also ourselves as humans," he said.
The periodic table of elements known today was created 150 years ago by Russian chemist, Dmitri Mendeleev.
Building on the work of those before him, Mendeleev in 1869 successfully categorised all the known elements based on their atomic weights, as well as predicting the existence of elements not yet known to man.
"To be able to list everything that exists in the universe, so you understand their properties and all kinds of different things about them in one table -- I think that's way up there as one of the greatest things mankind has ever achieved," Chapman said.
While it is possible to synthesize more elements beyond the current 118, as they get bigger and bigger they become more and more unstable, existing for nanoseconds or less, making them near impossible to study.
However, Chapman said that there is enough room on their giant periodic table for any surprises science might discover.
"We've got gaps on our periodic table. So if someone finds another one will stick it up there."
