The Deadliest Element On The Periodic Table

It occurs naturally and has the power to kill millions

Grant Piper
4 min readSep 2, 2024
(Public domain)

The Periodic Table of Elements contains 118 distinct elements that can be naturally found in nature. Some of these elements are famous and foundational. The periodic table is filled with the very essence of life. We would not be here without elements such as hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. While these elements are the building blocks of our existence, many of the others are harmful to life. No one wants to splash around in a pool of mercury, for example, or ingest too much lead. Lithium, while great for batteries, is highly explosive and radon has long been a thorn in the side of builders and homeowners due to its dangerous potential.

But which element is the deadliest? Which element is the most dangerous? If you ask ten people this question, you might get ten different answers. However, there is one element that seems to stand above the rest in terms of lethality. Polonium.

If you are scratching your head about this element, you are not alone. This is one of the most obscure elements on the periodic table, and it has very few uses for humans other than in extremely specialized nuclear and radio applications. Only highly trained individuals working in secret or sensitive industries will ever come in contact with polonium. That is a…

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Grant Piper

Professional writer. Amateur historian. Husband, father, Christian.