Grant Hill
The element thorium really is a marvel
An actinide with no f electrons, that really makes you wonder
Molecules shaped like sandwiches, piano-stools and tricapped trigonal prismatic
It is radioactive, paramagnetic and also superconducting
Of its near neighbour uranium I’m much less enthusiastic
Sad then, that its origins led to Berzelius’ less famous blunder
Glad then, that it takes its name from the Nordic god of thunder.
About the Author
I’m Grant and I’m a Lecturer in Theoretical Chemistry at the University of Sheffield, with research interests in developing and applying quantum mechanical methods to answer fundamental questions about how and why chemistry happens. Some of my work on radium was featured in the Journal of Physical Chemistry virtual issue celebrating the International Year of the Periodic Table. I am terrible at poetry!