Kryptonite and the Periodic Table of Elements

[Cactusjack1999]

I've been asknig myself this question since 6th grade science class. Where Exactly would Kryptonite fit onto the Periodic Table if it was real.

The only things I know about it is taht it give off radiation and it's affects can be blocked By lead. Which I'm guessing would put it somewhere near Utanium and Plutonium.

Anyone else have any insight on this or just some random thoughts on it?

[Joe Tully]

My first thought was "Could it be a compound instead of an element?" but that doesn't really make much sense, because if it was a compound then it would probably be formed easily from elements on Earth. And I think that it has been portrayed as an element in the comics.

Anyways, if Kryptonite existed, it would have to be off the scale of the Periodic Table. The reason why is because if it had approximately the same number of protons as Plutonium or Uranium, then it would actually be one of the elements already listed in that area of the table since an element's name depends on how many protons it has. (I hope that I explained that well.) So Kryptonite would not fit in anywhere in the middle of the existing table, but at the end. Of course, all of the elements up that far on the table decay very quickly, and are all very very heavy, which does not correspond with Kryptonite. And like you said, if it was up that far on the table it would probably not be blocked by lead. So I think that the answer is: it's a comic book. :D

[The Green Hornet]

the problem is that it is NOT a natural element

its bits of krypton altered by the massive rads put out by what destroyed it (sun, planet core meltdown whatever)

i think if it fell anywhere it would be down with unilquadium and so forth

[The Guard]

Umm...there IS an element called Krypton on there...

[The Game]

Umm...there IS an element called Krypton on there...

Yeah, but it's not the same as Kryptonite, the stuff you see in Superman. I think. :)

[Joe Tully]

Yeah, it's one of the Noble Gases...it'd be a little hard to find that in rock form like Kryptonite. :D

[DCDave12]

It would be a compound since it is really the planet Krypton irradiated and the periodic table is elements.

[Fantasie117]

It also depends on Kryptonite's electron configuration, which is also a big factor in placement of elements (not just the atomic number).


Oh man, chemistry class is leaking into every day life. First, CSI and now this. I don't want to prove that cocky textbook right.

[Naraht]

Krypton is a gas, like Helium...doesn't burn, combust, rust, react...

it wouldn't emit radiation...

Kryptonite I agree, wouldn't be an "element" per se....but it might have a unique kryptonian element that reacts with a unique hryptonian element in Clark, and that's why it effects him so much.

Just a dum theory

[Cactusjack1999]

Thanks for the insight guys.

I acctualy have a rock of kryptonite (OK it's a piece of I think limestone covered with glow in hte dark paint SO SUE ME)

But kryptonite comes in 3 distince colors. Green Red and Gold (Yes tehre is a Gold color of kryptonite. It was a What if story in an issue of Action comic where Lex Luthor and Superman were brothers. I lost hte issue number but if I find it I'll tell you)

I'm pretty sure there are other colors but I'm not sure.

[Joe Tully]

Here's something from http://www.wikipedia.com/wiki/Kryptonite

It's not an official source, but it's an interesting idea.


It is speculated that kryptonite may be located in a hypothetical "island of stability" high on the periodic table, beyond the currently known unstable elements, in the vicinity of atomic number 150. The transmutation of Earth's Kryptonite could be explained by the acceleration of its natural atomic decay under this theory.

By "island of stability" I think that they mean that, although it's so high on the table, it would break rules of the Periodic Table and degrade more slowly, be blocked by lead, and somehow not be very heavy I guess... I still say it's a comic book and don't bother trying to figure it out, because Krytonite just doesn't follow any scientific rules, but that's the best answer you'll probably get.

Also, there were many colors of Kryptonite (all listed at that site) during Pre-Crisis, but now there seems to be just Green K.

[Cassandra]

I feel like a brat correcting you after such a great post, Tully, but if you are talking comics, Batman made some red K not too long ago in the JLA tower of babel issues.

[Joe Tully]

Originally posted by Cassandra
I feel like a brat correcting you after such a great post, Tully, but if you are talking comics, Batman made some red K not too long ago in the JLA tower of babel issues.

Heh, thanks! I admit that I forgot about that Red K. from Tower of Babel. It was Green K. based, so I guess it would probably be similar.