For example, the element symbol for iron is Fe, from the latin word ferrum for iron. On the periodic table, metals are found on the left and in the middle, and non-metals are on the right.

Earth’s core could contain helium from the early solar system. The noble gas tucks into gaps in iron crystals under high pressure and temperature.

This is the second part of a three-part series written by Carolyn Krause. Many of the elements were synthesized using an Oak ...