# Chemical element
## Microsim
### Live player
<div class="microsim-player">
<iframe src="https://editor.p5js.org/sciencenibber/full/SpKvtopBR" width="100%" height="620" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin"></iframe>
</div>
<div class="microsim-fallback">
<img src="Microsims/thumbs/Chemical_element.png" alt="Chemical_element microsim poster" style="width:100%;border:1px solid #4445;border-radius:6px;">
<p><em>Live microsim (desktop) · <a href="https://editor.p5js.org/sciencenibber/sketches/SpKvtopBR">open sketch in the p5.js editor</a></em></p>
</div>
**Editor URL:** https://editor.p5js.org/sciencenibber/sketches/SpKvtopBR
**Description (100 words):**
This microsim makes the defining fact of [[Chemistry|chemistry]] tangible: an element *is* its [[Proton|proton]] count. Drag the **Z** slider from 1 to 118 and the nucleus, the element symbol, and the name all change in lockstep — Hydrogen, Carbon, Iron, Uranium, Oganesson. A Bohr-style diagram fills [[Electron|electron]] shells outward (capacity 2n^2) and packs Z red protons plus N grey neutrons into the nucleus. The second slider, **N**, adds neutrons: the mass number A = Z + N changes, but the element never does — that is the difference between an isotope and an element. The bottom-right footer keeps the governing relations in view.
```js
// =====================================================================
// Article : Chemical element
// Slug : Chemical_element
// Wikitube : en.wikitube.io/wiki/Chemical_element
// Room : Nuclear
//
// Idea : A chemical element is defined by ONE number — the count of
// protons in the nucleus, the atomic number Z. This sketch
// lets the reader slide Z from 1 (Hydrogen) to 118
// (Oganesson) and watch the element's identity (symbol +
// name) change, while a Bohr-style atom diagram redraws its
// nucleus and electron shells. A second slider adds neutrons
// N, showing that neutrons change the ISOTOPE (mass number
// A = Z + N) but never the element. This is the central
// organising fact of chemistry and of the periodic table.
//
// Equation : Element identity <=> Z (protons). Mass number A = Z + N.
// Bohr shell capacity = 2 n^2 (n = 1, 2, 3, ...).
// (Unicode is fine here in comments; canvas text() is ASCII.)
// =====================================================================
// Rule section 3 — single source of truth for title line + save name.
const ARTICLE = "Chemical_element";
// Rule section 4 — disable the Friendly Error System for ship.
p5.disableFriendlyErrors = true;
// ---------- element data (Z = 1 .. 118) ----------
// Index 0 is a placeholder so SYMBOL[Z] / NAME[Z] read by atomic number.
const SYMBOL = ["",
"H","He","Li","Be","B","C","N","O","F","Ne",
"Na","Mg","Al","Si","P","S","Cl","Ar","K","Ca",
"Sc","Ti","V","Cr","Mn","Fe","Co","Ni","Cu","Zn",
"Ga","Ge","As","Se","Br","Kr","Rb","Sr","Y","Zr",
"Nb","Mo","Tc","Ru","Rh","Pd","Ag","Cd","In","Sn",
"Sb","Te","I","Xe","Cs","Ba","La","Ce","Pr","Nd",
"Pm","Sm","Eu","Gd","Tb","Dy","Ho","Er","Tm","Yb",
"Lu","Hf","Ta","W","Re","Os","Ir","Pt","Au","Hg",
"Tl","Pb","Bi","Po","At","Rn","Fr","Ra","Ac","Th",
"Pa","U","Np","Pu","Am","Cm","Bk","Cf","Es","Fm",
"Md","No","Lr","Rf","Db","Sg","Bh","Hs","Mt","Ds",
"Rg","Cn","Nh","Fl","Mc","Lv","Ts","Og"];
const NAME = ["",
"Hydrogen","Helium","Lithium","Beryllium","Boron","Carbon","Nitrogen","Oxygen","Fluorine","Neon",
"Sodium","Magnesium","Aluminium","Silicon","Phosphorus","Sulfur","Chlorine","Argon","Potassium","Calcium",
"Scandium","Titanium","Vanadium","Chromium","Manganese","Iron","Cobalt","Nickel","Copper","Zinc",
"Gallium","Germanium","Arsenic","Selenium","Bromine","Krypton","Rubidium","Strontium","Yttrium","Zirconium",
"Niobium","Molybdenum","Technetium","Ruthenium","Rhodium","Palladium","Silver","Cadmium","Indium","Tin",
"Antimony","Tellurium","Iodine","Xenon","Caesium","Barium","Lanthanum","Cerium","Praseodymium","Neodymium",
"Promethium","Samarium","Europium","Gadolinium","Terbium","Dysprosium","Holmium","Erbium","Thulium","Ytterbium",
"Lutetium","Hafnium","Tantalum","Tungsten","Rhenium","Osmium","Iridium","Platinum","Gold","Mercury",
"Thallium","Lead","Bismuth","Polonium","Astatine","Radon","Francium","Radium","Actinium","Thorium",
"Protactinium","Uranium","Neptunium","Plutonium","Americium","Curium","Berkelium","Californium","Einsteinium","Fermium",
"Mendelevium","Nobelium","Lawrencium","Rutherfordium","Dubnium","Seaborgium","Bohrium","Hassium","Meitnerium","Darmstadtium",
"Roentgenium","Copernicium","Nihonium","Flerovium","Moscovium","Livermorium","Tennessine","Oganesson"];
// ---------- runtime state ----------
let zSlider; // atomic number Z (protons) — defines the element
let nSlider; // neutron count N — defines the isotope
let cx, cy; // atom-diagram centre, computed in setup()
let RING; // base electron-shell radius step (px)
function setup() {
// Rule section 5 — canvas inside setup, standard size, 2x density.
createCanvas(720, 520);
pixelDensity(2);
// Atom diagram lives in the left-centre; HUD text rings the edges.
cx = width * 0.40;
cy = height * 0.46;
RING = min(width, height) * 0.055;
// Rule section 6 — controls in setup, positioned, labelled in draw.
// Z range 1..118 spans every known element; default 6 = Carbon, the
// archetypal "life" element with a tidy 2-4 shell split.
zSlider = createSlider(1, 118, 6, 1);
zSlider.position(150, height - 56);
zSlider.style("width", "230px");
// N range 0..180 covers H-1 (N=0) up to the heaviest known isotopes.
// Default 6 gives carbon-12, the mass standard.
nSlider = createSlider(0, 180, 6, 1);
nSlider.position(150, height - 30);
nSlider.style("width", "230px");
}
function draw() {
background(248);
// ---------- read controls ----------
const Z = zSlider.value(); // protons -> element identity
const N = nSlider.value(); // neutrons -> isotope
const A = Z + N; // mass number
// ---------- math: electron shells (Bohr schematic, cap = 2 n^2) ----------
const shells = electronShells(Z);
// ---------- draw electron shells + electrons (layer 1: reference) ----------
noFill();
stroke(180);
strokeWeight(1);
for (let s = 0; s < shells.length; s++) {
const r = RING * (s + 1.6);
ellipse(cx, cy, r * 2, r * 2);
}
// electrons ride their shells (layer 2: active, blue)
noStroke();
fill(40, 90, 200);
for (let s = 0; s < shells.length; s++) {
const r = RING * (s + 1.6);
const count = shells[s];
for (let k = 0; k < count; k++) {
const ang = TWO_PI * k / count - HALF_PI + s * 0.4;
ellipse(cx + r * cos(ang), cy + r * sin(ang), 7, 7);
}
}
// ---------- draw nucleus: Z protons (red) + N neutrons (grey) ----------
// Phyllotaxis packing keeps the nucleon cluster compact and even.
const nucleons = Z + N;
const nucR = constrain(2.4 * sqrt(nucleons), 6, RING * 1.35);
const golden = PI * (3 - sqrt(5)); // golden angle for even packing
for (let i = 0; i < nucleons; i++) {
const rr = nucR * sqrt((i + 0.5) / nucleons);
const ang = i * golden;
const px = cx + rr * cos(ang);
const py = cy + rr * sin(ang);
noStroke();
if (i < Z) fill(220, 60, 60); // proton
else fill(120); // neutron
const d = constrain(140 / sqrt(nucleons + 6), 3, 9);
ellipse(px, py, d, d);
}
// big symbol over the nucleus, so identity is unmistakable
noStroke();
fill(20, 200);
textAlign(CENTER, CENTER);
textSize(constrain(nucR * 0.9, 16, 40));
textFont("system-ui");
text(SYMBOL[Z], cx, cy);
// ---------- HUD watermark (rule section 2) ----------
noStroke();
textFont("system-ui");
// 2a — top-left title block.
fill(20);
textSize(20);
textAlign(LEFT, TOP);
text("Chemical element", 16, 14);
textSize(12);
fill(110);
text("Wikitube microsim - en.wikitube.io/wiki/" + ARTICLE, 16, 40);
// 2b — top-right control hints.
textAlign(RIGHT, TOP);
textSize(11);
fill(110);
text("slider Z: protons (the element) slider N: neutrons (the isotope)", width - 16, 14);
text("identity is set by Z alone; N only changes the isotope", width - 16, 30);
// 2c — bottom-left live readouts in canonical symbols.
textAlign(LEFT, BOTTOM);
textSize(14);
fill(20);
text(SYMBOL[Z] + " " + NAME[Z], 16, height - 86);
textSize(13);
fill(220, 60, 60);
text("Z = " + Z + " protons", 410, height - 56 + 10);
fill(120);
text("N = " + N + " neutrons", 410, height - 30 + 10);
fill(20);
text("A = Z + N = " + A, 560, height - 56 + 10);
// slider labels (rule section 7) — left of each slider, right-aligned.
textAlign(RIGHT, CENTER);
textSize(12);
fill(60);
text("Z (atomic number)", 140, height - 56 + 10);
text("N (neutron count)", 140, height - 30 + 10);
// 2d — bottom-right equation footer (ASCII only — see pitfalls.md).
textAlign(RIGHT, BOTTOM);
textSize(11);
fill(80);
text("element <=> Z protons A = Z + N shell cap = 2 n^2", width - 16, height - 8);
}
// ---------- helpers (rule section 10) ----------
// Distribute Z electrons into Bohr shells of capacity 2 n^2. This is the
// simple Bohr schematic (n = 1 -> 2, n = 2 -> 8, n = 3 -> 18, ...); it is
// not the true aufbau filling order, but it conveys "shells fill outward".
function electronShells(Z) {
const out = [];
let remaining = Z;
let n = 1;
while (remaining > 0) {
const cap = 2 * n * n;
const here = min(cap, remaining);
out.push(here);
remaining -= here;
n++;
}
return out;
}
```
## Links (Wikipedia order)
<!-- injected from _registry/childlinks/Chemical_element.json (2026-07-30T02:09:12Z) -->
`Abiogenesis` · `Absolute_zero` · `Abundance_of_elements_in_Earth's_crust` · `Abundance_of_the_chemical_elements` · `Abundances_of_the_elements_(data_page)` · `Actinide` · `Actinide_chemistry` · [[Actinium]] · `Acute_accent` · [[Adaptation]] · `Adenosine_triphosphate` · `Aether_(classical_element)` · `Agricultural_chemistry` · `Agriculture` · `Air_(classical_element)` · `Alchemy` · `Alkali_metal` · `Alkaline_earth_metal` · `Allotropes_of_carbon` · `Allotropy` · [[Alpha_decay]] · `Alpha_process` · [[Aluminium]] · `Amateur_chemistry` · [[Americium]] · `Amino_acid` · `Amorphous_carbon` · `Analytical_chemistry` · `Ancient_philosophy` · `Animal` · [[Antimony]] · `Antoine_Lavoisier` · `Aqua_regia` · `Arabic_numerals` · `Archaea` · [[Argon]] · `Aristotle` · [[Arsenic]] · [[Astatine]] · `Astrobiology` · `Astrochemistry` · `Astronomy` · `Atmosphere_of_Earth` · `Atmospheric_chemistry` · `Atom` · [[Atomic_mass]] · `Atomic_nucleus` · `Atomic_number` · `Atomic_orbital` · `Atomic_radii_of_the_elements_(data_page)` · `Atomic_radius` · `Aufbau_principle` · `Bacteria` · `Bar_(unit)` · [[Barium]] · [[Berkelium]] · [[Beryllium]] · [[Beta_decay]] · `Big_Bang` · `Big_Bang_nucleosynthesis` · `Biochemistry` · `Biocoenosis` · `Biodiversity` · `Biogeochemical_cycle` · `Biogeochemistry` · `Bioinorganic_chemistry` · `Biological_interaction` · `Biological_organisation` · `Biological_roles_of_the_elements` · [[Biological_system]] · `Biology` · `Biomass` · `Biome` · `Bioorganic_chemistry` · `Bioorganometallic_chemistry` · `Bioorthogonal_chemistry` · `Biophysical_chemistry` · `Biosphere` · `Biosynthesis` · [[Bismuth]] · `Bismuth-209` · `Block_(periodic_table)` · [[Bohrium]] · [[Boiling_point]] · `Boiling_points_of_the_elements_(data_page)` · [[Boron]] · `Boron_group` · `Breathing` · [[Bromine]] · `Butterworth-Heinemann` · [[Cadmium]] · [[Caesium]] · [[Calcium]] · [[Calculus]] · [[Californium]] · `Caloric_theory` · `Calorimetry` · `Carbochemistry` · `Carbohydrate` · [[Carbon]] · `Carbon-12` · `Carbon-13` · `Carbon-14` · `Carbon_dioxide` · `Carbon_group` · `Carbon_nanotube` · `Catalysis` · `Cell_(biology)` · `Cell_biology` · `Cell_cycle` · `Cell_signaling` · `Cell_theory` · `Cellular_respiration` · `Celsius` · [[Ceramic_engineering]] · [[Cerium]] · `Chalcogen` · `Characterization_(materials_science)` · `Chemical_biology` · `Chemical_bond` · `Chemical_compound` · `Chemical_database` · `Chemical_elements_in_East_Asian_languages` · [[Chemical_engineering]] · `Chemical_kinetics` · `Chemical_nomenclature` · `Chemical_physics` · `Chemical_property` · `Chemical_reaction` · `Chemical_species` · `Chemical_stability` · `Chemical_symbol` · `Chemical_synthesis` · `Chemical_thermodynamics` · `Chemically_inert` · [[Chemistry]] · `Chemistry_education` · [[Chlorine]] · `Chlorophyll` · `Chromatography` · [[Chromium]] · `Chronology_of_the_universe` · `Circulatory_system` · `Clandestine_chemistry` · `Classical_element` · `Clay_chemistry` · `Click_chemistry` · `Climate` · `Climate_change` · `Clinical_chemistry` · `Close-packing_of_equal_spheres` · `Cloud` · `Cluster_decay` · [[Cobalt]] · `Coinage_metals` · `Combinatorial_chemistry` · `Common_name` · `Community_(ecology)` · `Composition_of_the_human_body` · `Computational_chemistry` · `Conservation_biology` · `Coordination_complex` · [[Copernicium]] · [[Copper]] · `Cosmic_ray` · `Cosmic_ray_spallation` · `Cosmochemistry` · `Covalent_bond` · `Critical_points_of_the_elements_(data_page)` · `Cryochemistry` · `Crystal_polymorphism` · [[Crystal_structure]] · `Crystallography` · `Cube` · [[Cubic_crystal_system]] · [[Curium]] · `DNA` · `Dalton_(unit)` · `Dark_energy` · `Dark_matter` · [[Darmstadtium]] · [[Decay_product]] · `Densities_of_the_elements_(data_page)` · [[Density]] · `Deuterium` · `Developmental_biology` · `Diamond` · `Diatomic_molecule` · `Dividing_line_between_metals_and_nonmetals` · `Dmitri_Mendeleev` · `Dubna` · [[Dubnium]] · `Dynamic_covalent_chemistry` · [[Dysprosium]] · `Earliest_known_life_forms` · [[Earth]] · `Earth_(classical_element)` · `Earth_science` · `Ecological_niche` · [[Ecology]] · [[Ecosystem]] · `Ecosystem_ecology` · [[Einsteinium]] · `Elastic_properties_of_the_elements_(data_page)` · `Electric_charge` · `Electrical_resistivities_of_the_elements_(data_page)` · `Electricity` · `Electroanalytical_methods` · `Electrochemistry` · [[Electron]] · `Electron_affinity` · `Electron_affinity_(data_page)` · `Electron_configuration` · `Electron_ionization` · `Electron_pair` · `Electron_shell` · `Electronegativities_of_the_elements_(data_page)` · `Electronegativity` · `Electrophile` · `Element_collecting` · `Elemental_analysis` · [[Emergence]] · `Empedocles` · `Enantioselective_synthesis` · `Endocrine_system` · [[Energy]] · `Energy_level` · [[Engineering]] · `Environmental_chemistry` · `Environmental_health` · `Enzyme` · `Epidermis_(botany)` · `Epigenetics` · `Equilibrium_chemistry` · [[Erbium]] · `Eukaryote` · `European_Nuclear_Society` · `European_Physical_Journal_A` · [[Europium]] · [[Evolution]] · [[Evolutionary_developmental_biology]] · `Exotic_atom` · `Extended_periodic_table` · `Fauna` · `Femtochemistry` · `Fermentation` · [[Fermium]] · `Field_(physics)` · `Fire_(classical_element)` · [[Flerovium]] · `Flora` · `Flower` · [[Fluorine]] · `Food_chemistry` · `Food_physical_chemistry` · `Forensic_chemistry` · `Forensic_toxicology` · [[Francium]] · `Free_element` · `Fullerene` · `Fullerene_chemistry` · `Function_(biology)` · `Fungus` · `Future_of_Earth` · [[Gadolinium]] · `Gaia_hypothesis` · `Galactic_superwind` · [[Gallium]] · `Gas` · [[Gas_chromatography]] · `Gene_expression` · `Gene_flow` · `General_chemistry` · `Genetic_drift` · `Genetics` · `Genome` · `Geochemistry` · `Geological_history_of_Earth` · `Geology` · `George_Wallerstein` · [[Germanium]] · `Glenn_T._Seaborg` · `Glossary_of_chemical_formulae` · [[Gold]] · `Goldschmidt_classification` · `Graphene` · `Graphite` · `Green_chemistry` · `Ground_state` · `Ground_tissue` · `Group_(periodic_table)` · `Group_10_element` · `Group_11_element` · `Group_12_element` · `Group_3_element` · `Group_4_element` · `Group_5_element` · `Group_6_element` · `Group_7_element` · `Group_8_element` · `Group_9_element` · `Habitat` · [[Hafnium]] · [[Half-life]] · `Halogen` · `Hardnesses_of_the_elements_(data_page)` · [[Hassium]] · `Heat_capacities_of_the_elements_(data_page)` · `Heats_of_vaporization_of_the_elements_(data_page)` · `Heavy_water` · [[Helium]] · `Hemoglobin` · `Hennig_Brand` · `Henri_Becquerel` · `Henry_Moseley` · `High-performance_liquid_chromatography` · `History_of_Earth` · `History_of_biology` · `History_of_chemistry` · `History_of_life` · `History_of_the_periodic_table` · [[Holmium]] · [[Homeostasis]] · `Homonuclear_molecule` · `Human_digestive_system` · [[Hydrogen]] · `IUPAC/IUPAP_Joint_Working_Party` · `Icosahedron` · `Immune_system` · `Index_of_biology_articles` · [[Indium]] · `Inductively_coupled_plasma_mass_spectrometry` · `Infrared_spectroscopy` · `Inorganic_chemistry` · `Instrumental_chemistry` · [[Interdisciplinarity]] · `Interface_and_colloid_science` · `Internal_environment` · `Internal_structure_of_Earth` · `International_Union_of_Pure_and_Applied_Chemistry` · `Introduction_to_evolution` · `Introduction_to_genetics` · `Inverse_beta_decay` · [[Iodine]] · [[Ion]] · `Ionization` · `Ionization_energies_of_the_elements_(data_page)` · [[Iridium]] · [[Iron]] · `Iron_group` · `Iron_peak` · `Isaac_Watts` · `Island_of_stability` · `Isotope` · `Isotopes_of_actinium` · `Isotopes_of_aluminium` · `Isotopes_of_americium` · `Isotopes_of_antimony` · `Isotopes_of_argon` · `Isotopes_of_arsenic` · `Isotopes_of_astatine` · `Isotopes_of_barium` · `Isotopes_of_berkelium` · `Isotopes_of_beryllium` · `Isotopes_of_bismuth` · `Isotopes_of_bohrium` · `Isotopes_of_boron` · `Isotopes_of_bromine` · `Isotopes_of_cadmium` · `Isotopes_of_caesium` · `Isotopes_of_calcium` · `Isotopes_of_californium` · `Isotopes_of_carbon` · `Isotopes_of_cerium` · `Isotopes_of_chlorine` · `Isotopes_of_chromium` · `Isotopes_of_cobalt` · `Isotopes_of_copernicium` · `Isotopes_of_copper` · `Isotopes_of_curium` · `Isotopes_of_darmstadtium` · `Isotopes_of_dubnium` · `Isotopes_of_dysprosium` · `Isotopes_of_einsteinium` · `Isotopes_of_erbium` · `Isotopes_of_europium` · `Isotopes_of_fermium` · `Isotopes_of_flerovium` · `Isotopes_of_fluorine` · `Isotopes_of_francium` · `Isotopes_of_gadolinium` · `Isotopes_of_gallium` · `Isotopes_of_germanium` · `Isotopes_of_gold` · `Isotopes_of_hafnium` · `Isotopes_of_hassium` · `Isotopes_of_helium` · `Isotopes_of_holmium` · `Isotopes_of_hydrogen` · `Isotopes_of_indium` · `Isotopes_of_iodine` · `Isotopes_of_iridium` · `Isotopes_of_iron` · `Isotopes_of_krypton` · `Isotopes_of_lanthanum` · `Isotopes_of_lawrencium` · `Isotopes_of_lead` · `Isotopes_of_lithium` · `Isotopes_of_livermorium` · `Isotopes_of_lutetium` · `Isotopes_of_magnesium` · `Isotopes_of_manganese` · `Isotopes_of_meitnerium` · `Isotopes_of_mendelevium` · `Isotopes_of_mercury` · `Isotopes_of_molybdenum` · `Isotopes_of_moscovium` · `Isotopes_of_neodymium` · `Isotopes_of_neon` · `Isotopes_of_neptunium` · `Isotopes_of_nickel` · `Isotopes_of_nihonium` · `Isotopes_of_niobium` · `Isotopes_of_nitrogen` · `Isotopes_of_nobelium` · `Isotopes_of_oganesson` · `Isotopes_of_osmium` · `Isotopes_of_oxygen` · `Isotopes_of_palladium` · `Isotopes_of_phosphorus` · `Isotopes_of_platinum` · `Isotopes_of_plutonium` · `Isotopes_of_polonium` · `Isotopes_of_potassium` · `Isotopes_of_praseodymium` · `Isotopes_of_promethium` · `Isotopes_of_protactinium` · `Isotopes_of_radium` · `Isotopes_of_radon` · `Isotopes_of_rhenium` · `Isotopes_of_rhodium` · `Isotopes_of_roentgenium` · `Isotopes_of_rubidium` · `Isotopes_of_ruthenium` · `Isotopes_of_rutherfordium` · `Isotopes_of_samarium` · `Isotopes_of_scandium` · `Isotopes_of_seaborgium` · `Isotopes_of_selenium` · `Isotopes_of_silicon` · `Isotopes_of_silver` · `Isotopes_of_sodium` · `Isotopes_of_strontium` · `Isotopes_of_sulfur` · `Isotopes_of_tantalum` · `Isotopes_of_technetium` · `Isotopes_of_tellurium` · `Isotopes_of_tennessine` · `Isotopes_of_terbium` · `Isotopes_of_thallium` · `Isotopes_of_thorium` · `Isotopes_of_thulium` · `Isotopes_of_tin` · `Isotopes_of_titanium` · `Isotopes_of_tungsten` · `Isotopes_of_unbinilium` · `Isotopes_of_ununennium` · `Isotopes_of_uranium` · `Isotopes_of_vanadium` · `Isotopes_of_xenon` · `Isotopes_of_ytterbium` · `Isotopes_of_yttrium` · `Isotopes_of_zinc` · `Isotopes_of_zirconium` · `John_Dalton` · `John_Murrell_(chemist)` · `Joint_Institute_for_Nuclear_Research` · `Jöns_Jacob_Berzelius` · `Kelvin` · `Ken_Croswell` · `Kinetic_isotope_effect` · [[Krypton]] · `Lanthanide` · [[Lanthanum]] · `Latin` · `Latin_alphabet` · [[Lawrencium]] · [[Lead]] · `Leaf` · `Life` · `Ligand` · `Light` · `Light_metal` · `Lingua_franca` · `Lipid` · `Liquid` · `List_of_aqueous_ions_by_element` · `List_of_biology_journals` · `List_of_biomolecules` · `List_of_chemical_element_name_etymologies` · `List_of_chemical_element_naming_controversies` · `List_of_chemical_elements` · `List_of_chemical_elements_named_after_people` · `List_of_chemical_elements_named_after_places` · `List_of_elements_by_atomic_properties` · `List_of_elements_by_stability_of_isotopes` · `List_of_inorganic_compounds` · `List_of_nuclides` · `Lists_of_metalloids` · [[Lithium]] · [[Livermorium]] · `Los_Alamos_National_Laboratory` · `Los_Angeles_Pierce_College` · [[Lutetium]] · `Macroevolution` · `Magic_number_(physics)` · [[Magnesium]] · `Magnetochemistry` · `Main-group_element` · `Major_actinide` · [[Manganese]] · `Marguerite_Perey` · `Mary_Elvira_Weeks` · `Mass_deficit` · `Mass_number` · `Mass_spectrometry` · `Mass–energy_equivalence` · [[Materials_science]] · `Mathematical_chemistry` · `Matrix-assisted_laser_desorption/ionization` · `Matter` · `Mechanochemistry` · `Medicinal_chemistry` · [[Medicine]] · `Meiosis` · [[Meitnerium]] · `Melting_point` · `Melting_points_of_the_elements_(data_page)` · `Mendeleev's_predicted_elements` · [[Mendelevium]] · `Mendelian_inheritance` · [[Mercury_(element)]] · `Metabolism` · `Metal` · `Metallic_hydrogen` · `Metalloid` · [[Metallurgy]] · `Metals_of_antiquity` · `Meteorology` · `Microbiome` · `Microevolution` · `Micromeritics` · `Microwave_chemistry` · `Mineral_(nutrient)` · `Minor_actinide` · `Mitosis` · `Mixture` · `Modern_era` · `Molar_ionization_energies_of_the_elements` · `Molecular_biology` · [[Molecular_dynamics]] · `Molecular_geometry` · `Molecular_mechanics` · `Molecular_modelling` · `Molecular_physics` · `Molecule` · `Mollusc_shell` · [[Molybdenum]] · `Monoclinic_crystal_system` · `Monoisotopic_element` · `Monomer` · `Monotonic_function` · `Moonlight` · [[Moscovium]] · `Muscular_system` · `Mutation` · `NASA` · `Names_for_sets_of_chemical_elements` · `Naming_of_chemical_elements` · `Nanochemistry` · `Native_element_mineral` · `Native_metal` · `Natural_environment` · `Natural_number` · `Natural_selection` · `Nature` · `Nature-based_solutions` · `Neo-Latin` · [[Neodymium]] · [[Neon]] · [[Neptunium]] · [[Nervous_system]] · `Neurochemistry` · `Neutrino` · [[Neutron]] · `Neutron_capture` · `Neutron_star` · `Neutron_star_merger` · `Neutron–proton_ratio` · `New_World` · [[Nickel]] · [[Nihonium]] · [[Niobium]] · [[Nitrogen]] · `Nobel_Prize_in_Chemistry` · [[Nobelium]] · [[Noble_gas]] · `Noble_metal` · `Nonmetal` · `Nuclear_binding_energy` · `Nuclear_chemistry` · `Nuclear_fission` · [[Nuclear_fusion]] · `Nuclear_magnetic_resonance_spectroscopy` · `Nuclear_physics` · `Nuclear_reaction` · `Nuclear_transmutation` · `Nucleic_acid` · `Nucleogenic` · `Nucleon` · `Nucleophile` · [[Nucleosynthesis]] · `Nuclide` · `Nutrition` · `Ocean` · `Octahedron` · `Oddo–Harkins_rule` · [[Oganesson]] · `Organ_(biology)` · `Organelle` · `Organic_chemistry` · `Organic_compound` · `Organic_synthesis` · `Organism` · `Organolanthanide_chemistry` · `Organometallic_chemistry` · `Orthorhombic_crystal_system` · [[Osmium]] · `Outline_of_biology` · `Oxidation_state` · [[Oxygen]] · `PH` · [[Palladium]] · `Paracelsus` · `Particle` · `Peer_review` · `Period_(periodic_table)` · `Period_1_element` · `Period_2_element` · `Period_3_element` · `Period_4_element` · `Period_5_element` · `Period_6_element` · `Period_7_element` · `Periodic_systems_of_small_molecules` · `Periodic_table` · `Periodic_table_(crystal_structure)` · `Periodic_table_(electron_configurations)` · `Periodic_trends` · `Pharmacology` · `Phase_diagram` · [[Phase_transition]] · `Phloem` · [[Phosphorus]] · `Photochemistry` · `Photoelectrochemistry` · `Photogeochemistry` · `Photosynthesis` · `Phylogenetics` · `Physical_chemistry` · `Physical_organic_chemistry` · `Physical_property` · [[Physics]] · `Planetary_differentiation` · `Plant` · `Plant_stem` · `Plate_tectonics` · [[Platinum]] · `Platinum_group` · `Plato` · [[Plutonium]] · `Pnictogen` · [[Polonium]] · `Polymer` · `Polymer_chemistry` · `Polymer_science` · `Population_(biology)` · `Population_ecology` · `Post-mortem_chemistry` · `Post-transcriptional_modification` · `Post-transition_metal` · [[Potassium]] · `Potassium-40` · [[Praseodymium]] · `Precious_metal` · `Prices_of_chemical_elements` · `Primordial_nuclide` · `Principal_quantum_number` · `Principle_(chemistry)` · `Prokaryote` · [[Promethium]] · `Proper_noun` · `Properties_of_metals,_metalloids_and_nonmetals` · [[Protactinium]] · `Protein` · `Protist` · [[Proton]] · `Public_domain` · `Pure_and_Applied_Chemistry` · `Quantization_(physics)` · `Quantum_biology` · `Quantum_chemistry` · [[Quantum_mechanics]] · `R-process` · `Radiation` · `Radiation_chemistry` · `Radical_(chemistry)` · [[Radioactive_decay]] · `Radiochemistry` · `Radiogenic_nuclide` · `Radionuclide` · [[Radium]] · [[Radon]] · `Rain` · `Raman_spectroscopy` · `Rare-earth_element` · `Ratio` · `Red_blood_cell` · `Reductionism` · `Refractory` · `Refractory_metals` · `Regular_polyhedron` · `Regulation_of_gene_expression` · `Relative_atomic_mass` · `Reproduction` · `Reproductive_system` · `Resource_(biology)` · `Respiratory_system` · `Retrosynthetic_analysis` · `Reviews_of_Modern_Physics` · [[Rhenium]] · [[Rhodium]] · `Robert_Boyle` · [[Roentgenium]] · `Roles_of_chemical_elements` · `Root` · [[Rubidium]] · [[Ruthenium]] · [[Rutherfordium]] · `S-process` · [[Samarium]] · [[Scandium]] · [[Science]] · `Scientific_law` · `Scientific_method` · `Scientific_theory` · [[Seaborgium]] · `Seawater` · [[Selenium]] · [[Self-replication]] · `Semiconductor` · `Semisynthesis` · `Separation_process` · `Shoot_(botany)` · `Sievert` · [[Silicon]] · [[Silver]] · `Snow` · [[Society]] · [[Sodium]] · `Soil_chemistry` · `Solar_System` · `Solid` · `Solid-state_chemistry` · `Sonochemistry` · `Space` · `Speciation` · `Spectroelectrochemistry` · `Spectroscopy` · `Speeds_of_sound_of_the_elements` · [[Spin_(physics)]] · `Spin_chemistry` · [[Spontaneous_fission]] · `Stable_isotope_ratio` · `Stable_nuclide` · `Standard_atomic_weight` · `Standard_enthalpy_of_formation` · `Standard_state` · `Standard_temperature_and_pressure` · `Standing_wave` · `State_of_matter` · `Stellar_chemistry` · `Stellar_core` · `Stellar_evolution` · `Stereochemistry` · `Stimulus_(physiology)` · `Stoichiometry` · [[Strontium]] · `Structural_chemistry` · [[Structure]] · [[Sulfur]] · `Sunlight` · `Superheavy_element` · `Supernova` · `Supernova_nucleosynthesis` · `Supramolecular_chemistry` · `Surface_science` · `Synthetic_element` · `Systematic_element_name` · `Table_of_nuclides` · [[Tantalum]] · `Taxonomic_rank` · `Taxonomy_(biology)` · [[Technetium]] · [[Tellurium]] · [[Tennessine]] · [[Terbium]] · `Term_symbol` · `Tetragonal_crystal_system` · `Tetrahedron` · [[Thallium]] · `The_New_York_Times` · `The_Sceptical_Chymist` · `The_central_science` · `Theoretical_chemistry` · `Thermal_conductivity_and_resistivity` · `Thermal_expansivities_of_the_elements` · `Thermochemistry` · `Thomas_J._Ahrens` · [[Thorium]] · [[Thulium]] · `Tide` · `Timaeus_(dialogue)` · `Time` · `Timeline_of_biology_and_organic_chemistry` · `Timeline_of_chemical_element_discoveries` · `Timeline_of_chemistry` · [[Tin]] · `Tissue_(biology)` · [[Titanium]] · `Titration` · `Tornado` · `Total_synthesis` · `Trace_radioisotope` · `Traité_Élémentaire_de_Chimie` · `Transition_metal` · `Transuranium_element` · `Triclinic_crystal_system` · `Tritium` · `Trivial_name` · `Tropical_cyclone` · [[Tungsten]] · `Types_of_periodic_tables` · `Tyrosine` · `Ultraviolet–visible_spectroscopy` · `Unbinilium` · `Universe` · `Ununennium` · [[Uranium]] · `Uranium-235` · `VSEPR_theory` · `Valence_(chemistry)` · [[Vanadium]] · `Vascular_plant` · `Vascular_tissue` · `Vertebrate` · `Virus` · `Volatility_(chemistry)` · `Water` · `Water_(classical_element)` · `Wave–particle_duality` · [[Wayback_Machine]] · `Weather` · `Wet_chemistry` · `White_dwarf` · `White_phosphorus` · `Wilderness` · `Wildfire` · `Wind` · [[Xenon]] · `Xylem` · [[Ytterbium]] · [[Yttrium]] · [[Zinc]] · [[Zirconium]]
## From the Real GENERATIVE library
*Chemical element — placed from the Real G.E.N.E.R.A.T.I.V.E. course library (Engineering room). Source: Wikimedia Commons (via Wikipedia article media). [Details & license](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Periodic_table_%2832-col%2C_enwiki%29%2C_black_and_white.png).*
> A chemical element is a chemical substance that cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical reactions. The basic particle that constitutes a chemical element is the atom. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_element))
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## From the vault media library
!Chemical element thumb.png
*Chemical Element — from the vault's own media holdings, placed 2026-07-09. MTN / Wikitube.io original · CC BY-SA 4.0.*
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> **Room:** Nuclear · **Status:** ✅ shipped
## Overview
A chemical element is a chemical substance that cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical reactions. The basic particle that constitutes a chemical element is the atom. Elements are identified by the number of protons in their nucleus,1 known as the element's atomic number.2 For example, oxygen has an atomic number of 8, meaning each oxygen atom has 8 protons in its nucleus. Atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, known as isotopes of the element. Two or more atoms can combine to form molecules. Chemical compounds are molecules made of atoms of different elements, while mixtures contain atoms of different elements not necessarily combined as molecules. Atoms can be transformed into different elements in nuclear reactions, which change an atom's atomic number.
_(Overview is shorter than 200 words; the pipeline should expand it from textbook context before publishing.)_
## See also
- Room hub: Nuclear
- p5.js Editor conventions: P5 JS EDITOR
- Wiki root: MAIN
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*Scaffolded by `generative-microsim` from row 5 of the Nuclear sheet on 2026-06-03T06:11:58Z.*
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*Built to the [[WT!P5_js_Microsim_Master_Class|p5.js Master Class]].*
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**Microsim — three.js (Wikitube framework):** *Chemical element*
<div class="wt-sim" data-src="https://wikitube-3d-microsims.netlify.app/matter/Chemical_element.html" data-title="Chemical element"></div>
*Built from `MICROSIM_GUIDE/specs/sims/Chemical_element.json`; part of the [[PORTAL_Matter|Matter portal]] spine (section sims and See-also variants).*
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## Wikipedia : Wikitube
**Strict pair:** [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_element) : [Wikitube](https://en.wikitube.io/wiki/Chemical_element)
## Previous hub tags
Tree parents: [[Helium]] · [[Hydrogen]] · [[Oxygen]].
Legacy hubs: `GENERATIVE`.
---
*Sources: 1 legacy note. Minted wave 1, 2026-07-30 (v1.6 order).*