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Chemistry: A Volatile History

Chemistry: A Volatile History is a BBC documentary series presented by Professor Jim Al-Khalili, tracing the story of how the elements - the building blocks that make up our entire world - were discovered and mapped. The series consists of three episodes that provide a brief overview of the history of chemistry, featuring pioneering scientists such as Robert Boyle, Antoine Lavoisier, Jacob Berzelius, Dmitri Mendeleev, Marie Curie, Otto Han, and Edwin McMillian and Phillip Ableson. In this series, Professor Jim Al-Khalili traces the extraordinary story of how the elements were discovered and mapped. He follows in the footsteps of the pioneers who cracked their secrets and created a new science, propelling us into the modern age.

Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3

Episode 1 - Discovering the Elements
Professor Al-Khalili retraces the footsteps of the alchemists who first began to question the notion of the elements in their search for the secret of everlasting life.

Episode 2 - The Order of the Elements
In this episode, Professor Al-Khalili looks at the 19th century chemists who struggled to impose an order on the apparently random world of the elements.

Episode 3 - The Power of the Elements
In this episode, Professor Al-Khalili uncovers tales of success and heartache in the story of chemists' battle to control and combine the elements, and build our modern world.