Science & Technology

Jules Raulin, a student of Louis Pasteur, made a seminal discovery on zinc’s essential role in a microorganism’s growth. 150 years later, growing questions about this integral and essential element revolve around its purpose for our everyday lives.

Fluorine (atomic symbol: F) is the 13th most common element in the earth crust and the lightest member of the halogen group, which is also called group 17 in the Periodic System of Elements. Under standard conditions, fluorine is a diatomic gas with a shade of yellow colour. It exhibits a distinct odour significantly different from that of the other halogens; chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br) and iodine (I).