{"title":"Domes","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"manganese-mn-dome","title":"Manganese","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eIn this protective dome sits an absolutely beautiful lab-grown crystal of manganese metal. This is an element with a dual personality. Cheap and easily available it is extensively used in steelmaking as an additive that imparts both additional hardness and resistance against corrosion. The irony is that manganese by itself is brittle and easily corrodes. And as temperature increases so does its vulnerability to oxidation… so much so that after a few hundred degrees the attraction between Mn and O is so great that the reaction is explosive and separating the two becomes an enormous challenge.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eHere in this case manganese is grown in a vacuum machine well away from the spoiling effects of oxygen. Each cluster, weighing around 250g each and roughly 50mm tall, is housed in a sturdy glass dome. The intricate branching patterns formed make for a truly impressive presentation piece! \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806074650789,"sku":"Mn_dome","price":375.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Mn_8bec499f-bc77-4753-af3f-87816a380d39.webp?v=1778165810"},{"product_id":"cadmium-cd-dome","title":"Cadmium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003e“Cray havoc and let slip the dogs of war!” With this famous quote from Julius Caesar, Shakespeare sets the stage for one of history’s greatest military showdowns. And within the protective confines of this dome this sample of cadmium reveals otherworldly geometry that seems to capture a freeze frame of an epic struggle. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eSharp, shard-like features intersect at shallow angles to create blades. Interfering in the progress of their growth then come secondary bulbous structures. In some cases the softness of the curves obstructs the path and elsewhere they merely glom on. At the point the crystal’s growth was stopped a jumble of formations attests to an overall stalemate with clear winners of each form in disparate regions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThe microscopic war that birthed its creation is here housed in a beautiful glass dome providing a collector the opportunity to more closely study the tussle that took place. One can hardly imagine a more supreme example of the individuality of this humble metal which is typically offered in bars, rods and other similar industrial forms.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease note that your dome may come with loose crystals not affixed to the base.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806074683557,"sku":"Cd_dome","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Cd.webp?v=1778165811"},{"product_id":"lead-pb-dome","title":"Lead","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eHere’s proof that you really can make a purse out of a sow’s ear (well, metaphorically speaking). Reviewing our options on what would make the most presentable offering possible for this unsexy metal we sidestepped crystals and went all in on something artsy. Unlike modern art in a gallery, however, the price tag is at least somewhat justified on account of the use of astoundingly pure lead: at 99.999% the couple of ounces inside costs nearly three times the going rate for silver… and that’s just for the starting material.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThe thick knotted wire sculpture housed within this glass dome makes for a very bold presentation that is both modern and timeless. In a collection of elements lead might be one of the last to get attention - here’s a good opportunity to give this underdog a headstart!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806074749093,"sku":"Pb_dome","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Pb_f0d985c7-3949-42d0-a894-9ea021a91faa.webp?v=1778165812"},{"product_id":"calcium-ca-dome","title":"Calcium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eJust as tungsten makes for a wow experience when someone first holds it because of its unexpected heft, calcium can do the same for the opposite reason. When first picking up this sizeable sample your brain may subconsciously prepare by tensing your hand’s muscles in expectation of a commensurate force needed to lift it. Instead you quickly notice your hand lifts rather effortlessly!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eIn addition to being ethereally light, calcium makes some seriously trippy structures when its atoms, free from the bother of other chemistry interfering with it, is allowed to grow according to its own inner recipe. The resulting jumble of columns and planes are scarred and fractured born of internal forces that even a physicist might strain to fully understand. This is truly an amazing presentation piece!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806074814629,"sku":"Ca_dome","price":240.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Ca_3c147353-814e-4224-ae33-8d8ec81c1d74.webp?v=1778165813"},{"product_id":"arsenic-as-dome","title":"Arsenic","description":"\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eToxicity gives this element its legendary notoriety but it also gives chemical engineers fits for a different reason: its propensity to oxidize even in the presence of tiny amounts of oxygen. Ridding the work environment of every last trace of this gas is the first step in the preparation of high purity arsenic. In these carefully controlled conditions delicate arsenic crystals form which can reach over an inch in length. And the thick walls of this well-sealed glass dome will ensure that the element stays pristine indefinitely.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eWe really bring on the ‘wow’ factor in this version 2.0 of the arsenic dome. While a multitude of crystals is nice, one big honking one is on a whole ‘nother level. These half hemispheres are sized a bit smaller than a tennis ball that provide a wall-to-wall experience in “The Arsenic Show”; their very otherworldliness could earn them a spot as an alien prop in a Sci Fi flick.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eThere is no finer specimen available. They look, truly, like something that belongs in a museum!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806074912933,"sku":"As_dome","price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Arsenic_dome_71d04e79-94ca-4abd-ae2a-ec64a33ee4f6.webp?v=1778165813"},{"product_id":"bromine-br-dome","title":"Bromine","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eBromine’s over-the-top corrosiveness and its mesmerizing beauty makes for irresistible nerd porn. While the collector is content to admire the sample with a sense of awe and respect those whose love for science compels them to, um, \u003cem\u003eexperiment \u003c\/em\u003ewill not be able to resist the temptation to dunk their iPhone in it - or at least watch the YouTube of someone else doing it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eOur supplier has provided us with a sample that is absolutely stunning. A glass sphere within the dome holds a little of the deadly blood-red liquid which supersaturates the tiny atmosphere held within to suffuse it in a lovely shade of red. Keep it by your desktop and you’ll find it turns into a distraction as you reach for a frequent shake to watch its droplets slide down the side. How are you going to get any work done?\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806074945701,"sku":"Br_dome","price":160.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Br.webp?v=1778165814"},{"product_id":"beryllium-be-dome","title":"Beryllium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThe great difficulty of extraction of this metal coupled with the very high cost of machining it safely all but guarantee that beryllium will remain a name unknown to just about everyone. This is unfortunate as it combines properties that would make it an ideal material for many different applications.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWhen we inquired about the source of these rods we received a matter of fact answer that they came from a closed Soviet factory which bult them for ICBMs. Wasn’t quite sure if that was a joke but a bit o’ Googling coughed up that, indeed, rockets used beryllium in the gyroscopes that controled their flight paths (presumably obsoleted by GPS). While there’s obviously no way to verify that these are in fact bits of the innards of the nukes that were meant to turn us to cinders it at least makes for a plausible and very interesting story!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eEach dome has an uncountable number of closely packed pure beryllium pegs. Net weight of the metal is 80 grams.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075011237,"sku":"Be_dome","price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Be_5cff38f0-b0a9-454b-8a50-63a50e37d133.webp?v=1778165815"},{"product_id":"magnesium-mg-dome","title":"Magnesium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eMagnesium is a metal that especially benefits from a protective barrier such as this dome. When in pure form it is quite vulnerable to humidity which turns the surface hazy and robs it of its otherwise brilliant metallic luster.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eAt just 1.7 grams per cubic centimeter (or 1.7 times as heavy as water to put it another way) magnesium is the lightest of all metals except for lithium which can’t survive in open air in its pure state. Although it’s too soft to be used to any great degree in engineering one particularly appealing prospect would be as an alternative to aluminum in airplane fuselages. Magnesium is more expensive but it’s less than half the weight which could spell enormous fuel efficiency advantages and possibly be the single most important step in making electric flight a reality. However, it’s not expense that precludes its adoption in the airline industry. The real bogeyman is that magnesium can catch on fire. And not just any fire. We’re talking kiss-your-ass-goodbye level inferno when the right spark sets it off.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eBut that’s a bit of an unjustified scare. That affinity to rapid oxidation that we refer to in everyday life as ‘fire’ can be successfully tamed by the addition of secondary metals which, in addition, work also to provide stiffness to what is otherwise a metal that is much too soft to do any heavy lifting. Advanced magnesium alloys are a very promising prospect that seem just an obstacle or two away from winning over even the most safety conscious regulators. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eFor decorative purposes, in this dome we have a flower-like crystal of ultrapure magnesium. Each day you look at it a million little faces will sparkle back at you like an alien gem. Word has it that if you stare at it long enough you gain Magnet-O-Vision powers. Yep.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075044005,"sku":"Mg_dome","price":180.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Mg_b987537d-ed98-4c3b-a04d-ce16f80a66e0.webp?v=1778165815"},{"product_id":"antimony-sb-dome","title":"Antimony","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eAntimony is a a very fragile semi-metal that easily crumbles into dust. In its most readily available forms it is unattractive, messy and somewhat hazardous. For these reasons it is not one of the more popular elements to collect. That, however, could change if crystals this nice were commonplace. The high cost of producing these beauties will, unfortunately, substantially dampen the potential demand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eLooking like miniature clusters of quartz crystals, antimony here boasts a tongue-twisting soup of polygonal shapes like rhombuses, dihedrons, tetrahedra and who knows what else. Take it to a New Ager party and you may be inducted as a spiritual leader on the spot!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075109541,"sku":"Sb_dome","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Sb_c010ab46-ddbc-440a-9e3c-9c28fbc0b3b1.webp?v=1778165816"},{"product_id":"strontium-sr-dome","title":"Strontium","description":"\u003cp\u003eAs you can see in this photo strontium can be dazzlingly beautiful but it’s a fleeting, almost unattainable beauty. The metal ranks among the most fragile and vulnerable to corrosion. The light brassy color is an unintended artifact and testament to this fragility. Even very sophisticated glove boxes will be unable to catch every single errant O2 molecule. Ready for some math? I’ll make it easy, promise.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo calculate the number of oxygen molecules in a given unit of air we’re told we need to start by multiplying its density times the Avogadro’s number then divide that by its molar mass. Off to the Googles and we get the handy formula of 1.225 x 6.022*10^23 \/ 29. And that works out to the incomprehensibly ridiculous number of 2,543,770,000,000,000,000,000,000 air molecules in a cubic meter of air. Now, since we are sensible people, we should scale down to a more manageable cubic millimeter. Chop nine of those zeroes off. And then we need to remember that oxygen makes up only 20% of air so let’s reduce the number by a further 80%. Finally, let’s say that our lab has a totally badass glove box that can get oxygen levels down to one part per billion. And you know what? If my calculator didn’t go whack that still leaves us with over \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e5 million\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e oxygen atoms in every cubic millimeter of space inside that dome. Easily enough to change the shade of that surface to a lovely golden tone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is by far the loveliest sample of this element we could ever hope to get. Cut a piece of strontium and the initially shiny gray surface will in a matter of hours turn to the color of poorly healing scabs. Quite possibly the least attractive of anything else on the periodic table. But behind this dome that big crystal will remain a thing of breathtaking beauty for as long as the glass and its seals don’t break.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075142309,"sku":"Sr_dome","price":300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Sr_cdaed397-951e-4156-9391-71fec7e8dd1b.webp?v=1778165818"},{"product_id":"tellurium-te-dome","title":"Tellurium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eDId you know that tellurium is rarer than platinum? It is, but why is it so cheap then? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eTellurium’s annual commercial supply is largely soaked up in various applications in the semiconductor industry but still accounts for several orders of magnitude less demand than precious metals. Fewer buyers means fewer dollars vying for the tellurium pie. The price tag for 99.9% tellurium (towards the low end of the purity scale) may cost less than $100 a kilogram. With an estimated annual production of fewer than 500 tons this means that a hedge fund could, with just a few million dollars, completely screw up the supply chain and corner the market on this rare commodity. If you ever wanted to be a supervillain….\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eTellurium’s crystal growth is scaly and curvy looking a bit like a metal pineapple (and quite similar to manganese which is otherwise completely dissimilar in properties). \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075207845,"sku":"Te_dome","price":240.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Te_334e4b39-3ef8-48c3-a4f9-17d86e23c82c.webp?v=1778165818"},{"product_id":"titanium-ti-dome-rod","title":"Titanium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eTitanium is a popular metal that comes in many forms and is offered in many different grades of purity. By far the most commonly seen is the so-called “Grade 5” of 94% purity. Grade 1 jumps to 99% pure and after that you must look to a specialized lab if you need it any purer. At 99.999% this sample is the highest purity available to the general consumer. A few experimental distillations may have yielded an extra nine or two but, if so, the cost is likely prohibitive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eOption one: An ounce worth of spikes and needles assembles beneath the glass like a prickly metal monster. You can be excused if when picking up this sample you feel a bit itchy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eOption two: a thick crystal rod\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075371685,"sku":"Ti_dome_rod","price":200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Ti_6e3ea46b-c3e8-43a1-aa04-4040b96ff0c2.webp?v=1778165820"},{"product_id":"zinc-zn-dome","title":"Zinc","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eIf musical notes were associated with the elements zinc might be paired with a sad trombone sound. It sits in the doldrums of Luciteria sales, competing with lead for least loved. This is in large part due to its ubiquity and overall cheapness. Although used in large quantities in every nameable industry, zinc’s use in its pure form is much rarer despite its low cost. This is because it doesn’t hold up well in the environment. It tarnishes easily and quickly progresses as the corrosion attacks beneath the surface promptly turning wahtever was made out of it into a crumbling mess. Oddly, applied as a thin coating on steel it becomes a barrier to deterioration. Anything advertised as “galvanized” is coated in this metal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThis is zinc at its fanciest and costliest. A lab-grown crystal takes on a number of very interesting textures that somehow coexist on limited real estate and beckon the viewer’s attention. Zinc has a subtle cyan color that becomes obvious when placed next to another metal like steel. The protective glass dome will maintain the delicate structure intact for as long as it doesn’t break.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075404453,"sku":"Zn_dome","price":180.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Zn_2d527a1e-4fa9-4c89-b6f5-d83395cb1975.webp?v=1778165820"},{"product_id":"samarium-sm-dome","title":"Samarium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eAs a commodity samarium has few major uses besides specialized magnets and sparklers and maybe a few other very niche uses. Consequently, it is sold at low cost and our supplier confides that it can be difficult finding buyers for it. The growing collector market however views samarium much more positively. Despite its low cost it is arguably the most attractive of all the rare earth metals as it forms beautiful dendrites at 99.99% or higher purity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eUnfortunately, samarium is quite vulnerable to atmospheric oxygen which turns the metal dull gray within a matter of weeks. Strangely, sometimes sectrons of a piece of samarium will remain oxide free while elsewhere it succumbs to oxidation despite being equally exposed. This uneven oxidation may be explained in microscopic differences on the surface which their topology somehow offers differing amounts of susceptibility.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eNo worries about luster decay with this dome. The samarium crystal within will stay looking bright and fresh thanks to its being pumped full of argon gas. The crystal itself can be described as a patchy bulb comprising an untold number of smaller blobs jostling together to reach forward without any one reaching supremacy. It would provide for a wonderful study under magnification!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075469989,"sku":"Sm_dome","price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Sm.webp?v=1778165821"},{"product_id":"barium-ba-dome","title":"Barium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eInfamous for its chemical reactivity with oxygen, barium’s infamy can be increased by its attributes of being - essentially - a worthless element to the various interdisciplinary applications in engineering, material sciences and metallurgy in general. Not just in the pure metal either but even as minute dilutions in alloying barium contributes nothing positive that some other metal can’t do better and cheaper. That explains why to most people the word barium may not even conjure the mental picture that ‘steel’ or ‘titanium’ might.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eNone of this, of course, is barium’s fault. We can’t blame it for its softness or its ease of oxidation. What we can do, however, is take pause at just how difficult it is to turn barium oxide into, you know, barium period. And we can marvel, too, at the delicate luster that peeks through from underneath the dulling effect of just a few atoms’ worth of oxides. Barium’s crystalline structure - at least on the macro level - is superficially similar to that of calcium (which is hardly surprising given that they’re in the same family grouping on the Periodic Table). But whereas calcium’s crystals go wanton and freeform, barium’s truncate prematurely and look somewhat more stubby.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWhatever. This is another wonderful achievement that will be a welcome addition to a growing dome collection!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075502757,"sku":"Ba_dome","price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Ba_b8af2fdf-e3c4-46f6-b185-f6275bc957a8.webp?v=1778165822"},{"product_id":"ytterbium-yb-dome","title":"Ytterbium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThe conservative, fuzzy-peach look of ytterbium here betrays its usually toothy form as tends to come from the rare earth refiners. Despite the lanthanide series all behaving more or less identically chemically, this slightly yellow metal certainly has a lot of visual character to set it apart from its cousins on this row of the periodic table. Unexpectedly, sometimes entirely dissimilar metals end up looking related when their crystalline form is grown in the special tubes in which these creations are produced; at a macroscopic level appearing rather like the samples from manganese and tellurium, for example!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075568293,"sku":"Yb_dome","price":300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Yb_00dcae95-a80c-48af-b12b-ca8160759993.webp?v=1778165823"},{"product_id":"europium-eu-dome","title":"Europium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eEuropium is known for few things besides its extreme finickiness. Unless samples of this metal are prepared in atmospheres carefully purged of every last trace of oxygen you can expect at best dull looking bits the kind that belong on the greasy floor of an auto mechanic’s shop. A little more than that - and we’re really talking just parts per million - and you’re left with blackened crumbs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eSo we were quite surprised when we got these domes. Whoa baby!! These are the rockin’ colors you’d expect of anodized niobium. Although totally unintended here, the two share in the nature of all those hues: a microscopically thin layer of oxides arranged evenly across otherwise unperturbed, flat metal which reflects light selectively. Dial in the thickness of this oxidation to a smidge either side of 500 billionths of a meter (or some 200 times thinner than a hair) and your eyes see blue. A little thicker, at 550nm, and it’s green. The whole of the rainbow, amazingly, can be encoded within the thickness of a frikkin’ virus(!). Any more or less and the effect is lost; less and you get no color, more and, yeah, greasy floor metal bits.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThe color steals the show in this sample and now we’re going to task the lab that they better figure out how to make them like this from now on because that’s what the customer will expect going forward :-)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075601061,"sku":"Eu_dome","price":475.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Eu_a1f1e09a-b2a3-4ac1-bc64-a313312b9bcf.webp?v=1778165823"},{"product_id":"chlorine-cl-dome","title":"Chlorine","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThe pale yellow of this gas belies the hard wallop it can deal to all lifeforms. Familiar as the pungence of bleach, chlorine is so viciously reactive that it was once straight up used as a chemical weapon. Even when watered down the reddened eyes of someone coming out of a pool hint at the irritant power of this atom; a nuisance to humans this diluted but still lethal to microbial life so a convenient tradeoff.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eTwo walls of glass separate the dangerous gas in this presentation dome but it’s a bit of overkill. Given the modest amount, breaking the glass is likely to make you shed tears more from the loss of this expensive specimen than due its chemical effect!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075666597,"sku":"Cl_dome","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Cl_81c13584-51f9-4f9c-a8d5-cb4a587eeee0.webp?v=1778165824"},{"product_id":"indium-in-dome","title":"Indium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eIndium is our second in the extrusion series for these presentation domes. Too soft to form structurally sound crystals, this metal (along with its periodic cousins lead and thallium) are instead turned into this type of wiry format which we feel to be the most attractive alternative. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eA commercially valuable resource, indium is recovered as a trace byproduct of zinc and copper mining. While the mining of these two metals is intense the yield in indium is rather paltry. Industry studies note with alarm these mines will be tapped out within a couple of decades unless new mines come online. Meanwhile, China has locked up nearly two thirds of the annual supply and nearly all of that is earmarked to its own electronics factories pumping out the motherboards and screens which require this metal to function. Rare already, the beefy spaghetti strand in this dome might well have a solid reason to be displayed in a museum gallery dedicated to once-common materials of the iPhone age.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075732133,"sku":"In_dome","price":200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/In_60b38c27-cd8b-4691-b57a-03027057ade0.webp?v=1778165825"},{"product_id":"thallium-tl-dome","title":"Thallium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eIn this third and last entry for the extrusion specimens we have the deadly metal thallium. Although rare in nature (fewer than 1 part per million in the Earth’s crust is thallium) rarer yet would be finding applications that merit the use of such a dangerous substance. Only about ten tons - a chunk the size of your typical washing machine - is refined each year where it is used very sparingly in specialty solders and advanced optics. Oh yeah, and to make decorative displays for collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eNo messing around. By way of our strongest disclaimer we’d like to drive home the point that within this hand-sized dome you will be holding thallium sufficient enough to sicken an entire city. Although there are no federal regulations prohibiting the ownership or transport of pure thallium we will proactively reserve the sale of these domes to pre-screened customers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075830437,"sku":"Tl_dome","price":700.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Tl.jpg?v=1778165827"},{"product_id":"thulium-tm-dome","title":"Thulium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotryoidal\u003c\/strong\u003e. Here’s your fancy word for the day. It describes a shape like a bunch of grapes. On the very remote chance that you had at some point in your life become distracted on the question of what shape thulium metal takes if it can grow under ideal lab conditions, well, wonder no more. It forms into countless little balls one on top of the other and the structure itself becomes a globe like a runaway fractal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eIt’s an unusual shape considering that the dendritic form of this metal, branchy and wiry, is so much more familiar to element collectors. Just goes to show you Nature’s always got a wild card up her sleeve!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075863205,"sku":"Tm_dome","price":440.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Tm.jpg?v=1778165828"},{"product_id":"germanium-ge-dome","title":"Germanium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThis is our most dramatic sample of germanium. Normally available as crushed bits up to an inch or so, within this presentation dome sits a monolith of the purest grade of this element. It is, in fact, a chip off the block. A block that was meant to be sliced wafer thin to be turned into exotic semiconductors perhaps. Or maybe into a lens for night vision goggles. Whatever it was initially intended for it has wound up as a decorative object that will drop the jaw of every science-lovin’ geek who gazes upon it. Amen!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075895973,"sku":"Ge_dome","price":320.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Ge_aa3b417e-ce6f-4029-a522-d884fb2c7b54.webp?v=1778165831"},{"product_id":"lithium-li-dome","title":"Lithium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eOn our first anniversary of this “Domes” section we introduce a true exotic: crystallized lithium metal. If we can be allowed a small measure of immodesty we’d pat ourselves on the back for being the first company to introduce crystals of this metal to the general public. Indeed, while it’s likely to have been made and sold in small quantities by university labs as study samples we’re confident these presentation domes are the first of their kind outside of academia. In fact, Google has at present not so much as one single image showing lithium metal crystals because, really, who among the general populace could give two rips?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eLong before lithium became a household word for its ability to keep our gadgets working on the go, it was widely synonymized with mental health as pills containing lithium carbonate tend to even out one’s moods; proving an essential medical tool for treating a number of psychological disorders.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eAnyway, lithium is a supremely delicate metal both for its softness and its extreme sensitivity to most other elements. In addition to rapidly oxidizing in air because of oxygen it reacts also with nitrogen which is generally regarded as near inert at low temperatures. Lithium reacts even with glass though the reaction, thankfully, takes place at temperatures well above what could mar one of these samples even on a hot summer’s day.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075961509,"sku":"Li_dome","price":240.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Lithium_crystal.webp?v=1778165833"},{"product_id":"iodine-i-dome","title":"Iodine","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eOne of the more interesting aspects of iodine is its unusually high vapor pressure. To the lay person, vapor pressure can be crudely summarized as the ‘willingness’ of a substance to evaporate. Pour out a puddle of alcohol, water and oil and you’ll see that the alcohol disappears quickly, the water dries later and the oil seemingly refuses to ever dry out. This rate of evaporation is the vapor pressure and believe it or not even the strongest steels, all materials in fact, will evaporate given enough time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eIodine is on the extreme quick side of the equation. If outside of a sealed glass dome like this one it will race with that alcohol mentioned above into who disappears into thin air fastest. It will turn into a beautiful purple fume that will make you choke like you just took a lungful of strong pool chemicals too. But, back to the topic at hand: iodine is in fact so difficult to keep in its pure form that even when stored in a non-glass container or a liquid that dissolves it it will find the smallest, microscopic fissure to sneak out and break free.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eFor this reason these domes were made a little differently than the rest. Note on the photos that to one side there’s a curious nipple. This was actually a glass tube that was fused to the dome where the iodine vapor was piped in and then allowed to condense along the sides. A flame then severed and fused shut the dome as a final step. This differs from the other domes on this page which, if you look carefully, all have bases that are glued on. Making iodine in this standard method might work on the short term but eventually it would eat through the glue - maybe years later - only for you to one morning wake up to find your dome magically empty. So with this method there’s no way of that happening. Well, so long as you take care of the glass not breaking of course!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eEach dome will have an array of crystals splashed across the internal walls of the dome. You can, if you are feeling adventurous, gently heat the dome to the lowest setting in your oven for a few minutes and the crystals should turn into that deadly-but-beautiful purple haze. As it cools down you will get a different arrangement of crystals. The rate of cooling dictates the shape and size of the crystals; something best done in a lab so don’t pout if your crystals aren’t quite as big or nice as the originals ;-)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806075994277,"sku":"I_dome","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_2323_7193b4a9-1a22-449f-acdf-25e4affaa50c.webp?v=1778165833"},{"product_id":"gallium-ga-dome","title":"Gallium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eEach year Luciteria sells hundreds of kilograms of gallium metal; far more than any other of the 80+ elements the company sells. Presumably nearly all of it is going to homes where the novelty of thawing it with your body’s heat provides - we hope - not just a temporary, geeky plaything but perhaps turn out to be a measure of inspiration into a later career in the STEM fields.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eDisillusionment tends to set in quickly with those who were hoping for it to be a hardier toy. While melting gallium in your hand is fun and harmless the gallium itself is very prone to picking up dirt and making a mess of itself. Despite its immense popularity we note in our sales database very few repeat orders which seems to suggest questionable staying power as an entertainment vehicle. One might reflexively think that storing it in a bottle, where it can stay clean from lack of direct handling, would be a solution. Alas, nope. Gallium also happens to have extreme sensitivity to oxygen. While this oxidation is invisible due to it forming only a microscopic layer, gallium oxide is very sticky and will readily coat anything almost anything it comes into contact with it. The protective bottle thus quickly turns into a mirror preventing your view of the liquefied metal behind it. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThis dome is a cure for that problem. High-end lab equipment can replace oxygen with argon gas ensuring that this “toy” can finally become reality: melt it and let it slosh around in there til you get bored and then watch it solidify forming crystalline structures then melt it again and repeat this a thousand times if you want to and the ounce or so of gallium within will stay pristine until that sad sad day you accidentally drop it onto the floor… oh the humanity!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eOne last cautionary note: gallium expands a considerable 3% by volume upon freezing. Glass is not a material that deals with expansion with grace. While the lack of hard edges of this dome will help the cooling metal to expand along the path of least resistance it is best not to tempt the devil. To prevent accidental rupture, do not allow the molten gallium to stand at the bottom by letting it stand on its base. Instead, tip it on its side so that it’s free to expand as it cools down.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076059813,"sku":"Ga_dome","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Gallium_dome.jpg?v=1778165834"},{"product_id":"nickel-ni-dome","title":"Nickel","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eIt seems fair that this element - paid little regard by collectors given its commonness - should sport such a dramatic expression of its inner, uh, atomness. Under the careful watch of a lab tech, pure nickel metal crystals grow in a manner resembling tight clumps of seaweed - or perhaps evoke the image of an erupting volcano. And whether we can thank the abstruse laws of quantum mechanics or a more mundane reason, you’ll be happy to know that no two of these specimens will ever look the same. Yay for nickel individuality!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076092581,"sku":"Ni_dome","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Nickel.jpg?v=1778165834"},{"product_id":"vanadium-v-dome","title":"Vanadium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eVanadium is one of a very few metals which is available commercially as crystals. The making of metallic crystals requires stock of very high purity; which is both costly to achieve and not typically necessary for most industrial uses. On the surface, vanadium does not fit the profile as the bulk of the demand goes into preparing stainless steel. However, vanadium is also a staple of laboratories as the element receives a lot of research attention to expand the palette of potential uses. Unlike industrial applications, labs do require high purity levels. And so refineries have invested in scaling up delivery of these crystals.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eFor this presentation dome a cluster of big crystals has been selected the better to show off the intricate nature of its crystalline lattices. The entire sample is is permanently sealed in argon gas to prevent oxidation of this rather delicate metal.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076158117,"sku":"V_dome","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_2862_3ceb1e35-818e-43cf-97d1-9b2b119c13d5.webp?v=1778165835"},{"product_id":"sulfur-s-dome","title":"Sulfur","description":"\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eFor the ultimate sulfur sample we’ve gone with an unusual option by selecting natural rather than laboratory-grown crystals. While nature’s version comes with undesirable impurities it bests the synthetics in both size and transparency; presumably the result of very slow cooling and growth stages spanning tens of thousands of years.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eEach will come with small matrix adhesions born from its original environs and, needless to say, each one is unique. We can say with confidence that each sulfur cluster has been selected from among the best specimens available to show off this element in nothing short of showroom status.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076190885,"sku":"S_dome","price":160.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_2887.webp?v=1778165836"},{"product_id":"neodymium-nd-dome","title":"Neodymium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eThe lanthanides are a fertile row on the periodic table for their unusual (and desirable) magnetic properties with at least half of them finding some use or other in this area. None, however, are as linked with the word “magnet” the way neodymium is. Alloyed with iron and a little boron, this mixture provides for the strongest permanent magnets available. And these neodymium magnets have by now largely replaced the older iron-nickel-cobalt general purpose magnets. Today you find them literally everywhere. They’re integral to the monster power windmills, EVs and cell phones.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eThe pure metal is much too delicate to last long in open air as oxygen attacks it and turns even a big chunk like this into powder in a matter of weeks. Bathed in pure argon gas however this big specimen weighing over an ounce will remain a gleaming white beauty as long as the dome’s seal is not compromised.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076256421,"sku":"Nd_dome","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_3763.jpg?v=1778165837"},{"product_id":"silicon-si-dome","title":"Silicon","description":"\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eSilicon is the easiest element to acquire in ultra-pure form. The necessity of atomically flawless silicon for the making of microchips has seen the electronics industry perfecting the techniques necessary to not only achieve the heady purity levels needed but also scale up the production to the point that they’ve become items affordable even to the poorest in the developing world. Usually only a thin, millimeter-thick sliver, these chips have all the circuitry lasered onto one surface and then packaged in plastic and plastered with soldered contacts all around.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eHere is an altogether different type. Unlike virtually every other piece of silicon in existence, this single crystal rod was expressly grown as a collectible and then housed in an airtight dome to protect it. How cool is that?\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076289189,"sku":"Si_dome","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_6579_ec47d5b4-a02b-48ef-8a98-6affd13e2f02.webp?v=1778165837"},{"product_id":"praseodymium-pr-dome","title":"Praseodymium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eOnly a hardcore science fan can appreciate the “beauty” of a shapeless chunk of metal as not just a decoration but a full-on \u003cem\u003ecollectible\u003c\/em\u003e. An ordinary person might see this as nothing more than worthless machine shop scrap. We see it differently altogether. Behind the glass, an exotic element unkown to most. It is pure. It is extremely difficult to isolate. The very air we breathe can turn it to dust. And here’s a big piece of it, stuck in a glass pedestal like a trophy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eYou bet it’s special. This is praseodymium!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076354725,"sku":"Pr_dome","price":160.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_3784_c7ccf81f-aff5-4ac8-835c-1c74b1a7c8db.webp?v=1778165838"},{"product_id":"lanthanum-la-dome","title":"Lanthanum","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eOur lab has managed to crack the code and is now shipping big chunks of 99.9% pure lanthanum free of oxides. There’s multiple steps necessary if one wishes to banish even the merest hint of pollutants which can haze the surface. One critical step is purifying argon gas to a much higher degree than usual. Normally, laboratories buy their argon from the same gas refineries that make commercial refrigerants and propane tanks. While for most uses this is perfectly serviceable, in a handful of cases even 99.99% pure argon is not good enough. That other 0.01% is air basically. Which as you probably know consists of not only oxygen but also nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapor. Labs will take this gas and run it through filters to remove the oxygen but nitrogen is in most cases inert so they don’t bother. The amount of the other contaminants is so low that they’re also not worth chasing away. That one-in-one-thousand unwelcome guest that rides in along with the argon atoms, however, is still sufficient to wreak visual havoc on lanthanum.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWhile not the most air sensitive among the rare earths (europium takes that crown), lanthanum is nevertheless severely vulnerable to these otherwise harmless elements. Enough, at least, to dull the surface. So removing them means finding methods which can scavenge and clear them out. It is a very costly and time consuming process to get to the point where the lab technician is ready to feed into the glovebox lumps of metal to begin work.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eAs if that’s not enough then there is another major challenge: how to replicate this ultrapure argon gas environment long term in the domes that are bound to go to the customers? Labs are not typically in the business of packaging goods meant as consumer goods. The schools, businesses or government labs who are their typical customers tend to get these specialty items in boxes that are often comically oversized. Unsightly, as they’re meant to be purely functional, they tend to involve a series of boxes within smaller boxes like Russian dolls, each with its own unique wrapping. A simple glass dome, free of markings and meant to be an attractive presentation piece is not what white-coated lab techs are trained to handle. Asides from overcoming the reluctance to work in this more retail-oriented fashion there is also the technical aspect of how to do it effectively. In the end, the solution is perfected through trial and error. The domes need to receive their own series of pre-treatments and the glue and the manner in which it is applied and cured has to go through rounds of testing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eAchieving the holy grail of getting all of this to work out in the long run is reason to celebrate. And now that you understand a little of the work it took to make we hope you too can feel a tinge of pride in owning this absolutely flawless chunk of lanthanum metal :-)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076387493,"sku":"La_dome","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_5036_9cf008e2-1f1c-49d3-9709-955790066e47.webp?v=1778165839"},{"product_id":"antimony-sb-dome-2","title":"Antimony","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eTo be honest, antimony is far down the list of best sellers here at Luciteria. It is an element that fails to garner much in the way of inspiration. It’s just a bit too common, cheap and unattractive. It doesn’t help that it’s fragile and tends to turn to a pile of messy crumbs if handled roughly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eBut - there’s always a but - thanks to a quirk of processing and the juju of chemistry, electronics-grade antimony forms into drop dead gorgeous plugs perfect for housing as ornaments. Each of these cylinders was formed using the zone refining method that is a staple for the ultra-high purity metalloids needed in the semiconductor industry. The principle is fairly simple. Impurities in these elements tend to drop out of solution so to get rid of them all that needs to be done is to have the sample go through repeated malt thaw cycles. Specifically,  a starting crystal of already quite pure antimony will have a comb-like stylus that is electrically heated past its melting point. As it rakes the crystal back and forth the traces of other elements follow along the melting area which on its final pass is taken to the extreme end where it can be lopped off and the remainder is ready for production. The higher the purity needed the higher the corresponding number of passes it needs to go through.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWe stop at seven nines (99.99999%) because going higher at this point increases the price without any added benefit in terms of visual appeal. Securely affixed in this protective glass dome, each of these stunning yet fragile rods is protected from harm. It’s one of the few samples we sell that would likely please even someone who couldn’t care less about nerdy science stuff just for being so weirdly attractive in their own right. If you buy only one dome, you can’t go wrong with this one!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076420261,"sku":"Sb_dome_2","price":235.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_5262.webp?v=1778165840"},{"product_id":"yttrium-y-dome","title":"Yttrium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eTeasing out yttrium’s metallic character is not very easy. Like many of the rare earth metals it resembles, yttrium is difficult to isolate. The refiners that work with it offer generally unattractive forms meant for industrial use. Making it into appealing objects usually requires remelting in oxygen-free furnaces as it would otherwise instantly oxidize. Even at room temperature yttrium tends to tarnish, especially in humid environments.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eWe resort to a small Chinese lab that takes the trouble to purify yttrium from ordinary 99.9% to 99.99%. This tenfold increase in purity allows for the formation of dendritic crystals which are somewhat similar to those of scandium (not surprising considering the two are homologues). But where scandium’s crystal habit tends to the wiry, here yttrium takes on the appearance of a furry mat. Because there are myriads of these growths, each leaning to a slightly different angle, the effect recalls a sheet stuck with glitter.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThankfully, that glitter is safe from ever dulling over with tarnish as the sample is sealed within an argon-filled glass dome.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076518565,"sku":"Y_dome","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Yttrium_81c984df-2b8e-443b-a369-69c7b9385afd.webp?v=1778165841"},{"product_id":"erbium-er-dome","title":"Erbium","description":"\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eDespite the Rare Earth metals group being hotly pursued the world over, the few applications where erbium outperforms other elements - lasers, glass coloring, fiber optics - need relatively little of it. This leaves it a bit of an orphan and pushes down its cost. You wouldn’t guess this from looking at the price tag of one of these domes though. There is a simple reason for this and it has to do with purity. Much of the erbium that is retrieved in the early stages of refining the lanthanides ores is simply not processed any further and is either passed off for filler projects or dumped in the tailings. The portion that is sent on to further refinement keeps a comparatively high price simply because the supply is being dialed in to the actual demand. The Chinese producers involved essentially function as a cartel because they have no competition so are able to control the market: if the price goes down they ease up on the processing to limit availability and if it goes up too much they start dumping more onto the market so as to signal to any potential competitors that it’s not worth their investment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThe business of this family of elements sure can be cutthroat - it’s worth billions after all - but this doesn’t take so much as a tiny bit away from how interesting and enigmatic they are. And we make every effort to amplify this aspect by sifting through literal kilograms of the stuff looking for the most visually appealing specimens. These are sent to be mounted in these crystal domes to be treasured as scientific collectibles.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076551333,"sku":"Er_dome","price":260.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Erbium_dome_0c471a82-d143-4e2e-8aa0-7a56695aed97.webp?v=1778165841"},{"product_id":"dysprosium-dy-dome","title":"Dysprosium","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis sample of ultrapure dysprosium stands on its base as though it grew from unseen roots into a glorious, twisty metal tree straight out of a sci-fi movie. The dense mass of metal dendrites have formed according to the laws of physics as known to this and only this element. Any other might have a shape that is loosely similar but just not the same. And yet, each coil of dysprosium is also unique; an uncountable number of alike atoms coming out of melt and jostling to take their place in this edifice; twisting exactly this way and not a fraction of a degree in another. Then the reaction stops and the creation is made. Complete. As long as it stays protected in this glass dome it will continue to mesmerize with its otherworldly charm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA gorgeous, ~50g chunk of 99.99% dysprosium in a format that will make every other element collector green with envy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076715173,"sku":"Dy_dome","price":300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_4974_54154c28-bc5e-4d17-ab92-07502f9fb7fe.webp?v=1778165843"},{"product_id":"tin-sn-dome","title":"Tin","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eDid you know that tin has a dark secret? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eTin is an ordinary metal familiar to just about everyone (lead free solder being a great example). It is soft, white, easy to melt and non-toxic. Being plentiful in nature, it has found many uses throughout history. But for a long time there were rumors that objects made from tin could all of a sudden just crumble into a pile of dust for no reason. Tin pest they called it. The only clue was that it seemed to happen in the coldest of winters. Scandinavian metalsmiths might have guessed their stock cursed by the unseen gremlins of the mines where they got it from.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThe real reason is more pedestrian. Like many of its neighbors in this particular area of the Periodic Table, tin has more than one form, or allotrope. Carbon is the best known of this as most people learn at some point that diamonds and a lump of coal are chemically identical. Tin’s secondary persona was much less known as this type is rather shy (and actively avoided in industry). While technically speaking putting some soldering wire in the fridge will kick in the \u003cem\u003epest\u003c\/em\u003e, you’d grow gray hairs while waiting for anything to happen. Tin doesn’t give it up that easily. To really get it going you need it frozen with dry ice or liquid nitrogen. And then…. and then tin cries uncle! You take a cube, freeze it waaaay below zero then you could almost swear it’s groaning in pain as the surface creases and dimples and buckles. The whole thing shakes like it ate bad Chinese. Then cracks. Cracks turn to fissures then canyons.  And then, well, right at that point and just before it completely goes “\u0026gt;poof\u0026lt; I’m dead!” you mercifully raise the temperature to lock in the damage done in the name of science!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eTo be sure, locking the tin in this state is not an easy task. Bringing the thermostat to room temperature again tin just wants to be its old self. You know, the boring type. In the long run it will revert come hell or high water but the lab has imparted a little secret sauce to delay the inevitable that you can enjoy your greatly distressed tin-that-was-once-a-cube for years to come!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076747941,"sku":"Sn_dome","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_4971.jpg?v=1778165844"},{"product_id":"boron-b-dome","title":"Boron","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eDespite its placement on the Periodic Table right next to carbon, familiar to literally just about everyone and perhaps nature’s most versatile atom, boron remains one of the most obscure and elusive of the elements. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eIt is not particularly rare. Its minerals are used in a long list of household products. Borax, boric acid and borosilicate glass are just three common chemicals whose name hints at this key ingredient. But while its cousin carbon is easily found in the elemental state, boron is absolutely never found free of chemical attachments. In fact, these bonds are so tenacious that engineers really have to work at it when attempting to get to its pure form. So laborious was the task that it took nearly a century after its identification as an element before someone managed to isolate it this way.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eThe need for boron in electronics applications nowadays has given rise to industrial refining processes that yield black crystals of very high purity. For this dome we choose a cluster of these crystals affording the owner the chance to examine up close the texture of this shy and little-known element.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076813477,"sku":"B_dome","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Boron_dome.jpg?v=1778165845"},{"product_id":"scandium-sc-dome","title":"Scandium","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eAs chemistry textbooks tend to point out, although its place on the periodic table suggests otherwise, scandium really does belong with the rare earths for the many similarities it shares with that series. In nature they’re almost inextricably linked because of their chemical affinity towards each other. They have similar metallurgical properties and they share a visual kinship too.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eLuckily, that visual kinship happens to be quite handsome. When very pure, scandium’s atoms interlink in a twisty lattice to form tendrils. The size and shape of the mold wherein it forms will dictate what its crystals will look like as the structure forms. Sometimes it will be tufts like fossilized hair curls and other times, such as in this case, into fur-like sheets - and always distinctly yellow.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eScandium is expensive because of its natural and commercial rarity but its relatively low density works in our favor as relatively large pieces can be selected without pricing it out of reach of most collectors. You can be sure that the most “showy” of these samples are earmarked for the domes as the ultimate representative of this fascinating element.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076846245,"sku":"Sc_dome","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/Scandium_5c2aa382-14d1-4e7b-8164-354f55d5f677.webp?v=1778165845"},{"product_id":"bismuth-bi-dome","title":"Bismuth","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eAs an element, bismuth is already quite well known as a collectible because of the curiously stair-steppy and colorful crystals it forms. Walk into any rock shop and there’s probably a bin devoted to them. Online you can find them as jewelry and they’re even sold by New Agers who tout their various “healing” properties.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eFrom a design point of view we felt there was no way to one-up the crystals as this is undeniably its most beguiling format. On the other hand, just putting one in a glass jar feels like a low-effort copout. What to do? Well, there is one feature we can tweak. You see, the rainbow of colors these crystals come in are quite attractive but it does also add a layer of oxidation, however thin, that some perfectionist collectors would rather not have. What you don’t see on offer are crystals \u003cstrong\u003ewithout\u003c\/strong\u003e this oxidation. These colors form when the molten bismuth that is cooling into a crystal is exposed to air. While bismuth is quite unreactive at room temperature, at its melting point it’s much less so and ambient oxygen readily combines to form the oxide.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"\u003eSo what makes this dome special is that your crystals will be gleaming white. Actually, when viewed in strong light and against a totally colorless metal like silver or polished aluminum, you will note that it is very slightly pink; its natural color that so rarely gets the chance to be appreciated. We can’t promise it’ll make you more spiritual or align your chakras but it’ll be damn cool all the same!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806076911781,"sku":"Bi_dome","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_5314.webp?v=1778165846"},{"product_id":"molybdenum-mo-dome","title":"Molybdenum","description":"\u003cp\u003eMolybdenum has no claim to fame. It is a blue collar metal, like iron or manganese, but with the added disadvantage of a funny name that causes those who are not careful to spittle embarrassingly when pronouncing its name. That it is the quintessential gray of a generic \"metal\" is another ding to its popularity. It does not form pretty crystals nor can it be used for anything in its pure elemental form as moisture causes it to tarnish. Damn moly, tough break!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSo in this section that is devoted to gallery grade samples what can one do with such humble fare?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWell, a lot as it turns out. Inside this protective dome we present a bar reaching an astonishing 99.999% of purity. The method used is the same familiar zone refinement process invented in the early 1950s to make germanium and silicon crystals of the very high purity needed in electronics. For this use something as trivial as a small cluster of atoms of some unexpected element can render worthless an entire chip many trillions of times bigger in size. This process, known as the Czochralski method, relies on a heated stylus 'combing' these cylinders over and over, dragging with it a bit more of those impurities on each pass. That back and forth raking takes place in slow motion - about as fast as a clock's minute hand in some cases - meaning that each bar can take days to get it to the target purity. That combined with the monster amount of electricity required to heat the moving section to its melting point does mean that the initially dirt cheap starting metal becomes very expensive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere's an added element of interest with these particular rods as they were made by Russian scientists during the closing days of the Soviet Union. The box that they came in had this tag showing a 1991 manufacture date making them a cold war era relic and leaving one to speculate for what purpose they were intended. That each one weighs 220 grams (half a pound) and they just happen to be very shiny is yet another welcome bonus!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNow, you might want to practice saying \"Czochralski molybdenum\" a few times out loud before showing off your prized specimen ;-)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806077108389,"sku":"Mo_dome","price":335.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_5606_a08d1bcf-ab41-4529-af54-c25d4f5423ac.webp?v=1778165846"},{"product_id":"aluminum-al-dome","title":"Aluminum","description":"\u003cp\u003eOf late aluminum has been experience something of a renaissance. Or maybe makeover is the more appropriate word.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically thought of as the lightweight stand-in for steel - if it’s given any thought at all - of late it’s become the darling of luxury goods from watches to sports cars and perhaps most noticeably in this sector as the ultimate in luggage fashion. You know it’s hit a high water mark when your aluminum wares begin losing money to knockoff brands using painted plastic made to \u003cem\u003elook\u003c\/em\u003e like aluminum. Even the New York Times took note in a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2023\/03\/29\/fashion\/craftsmanship-aluminum-jewelry.html\"\u003erecent article\u003c\/a\u003e noting the resurgence of its use in jewelry; not the vending machine kitsch you’d assume from a generation or two ago but instead the type that the rich might have to fight over to  get themselves on waiting lists to buy. Not a bad comeback!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe pay homage to this traditionally overlooked element with these otherworldly looking ultrapure hunks housed in a  protective gas bubble guaranteed to conserve its surface sheen forever. Unlike those \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=instagram+rimowa+tumi\u0026amp;sca_esv=83b4be902a61a33d\u0026amp;udm=2\u0026amp;biw=1918\u0026amp;bih=1260\u0026amp;ei=1jpMZ5HwCeLBkPIP9dvJ2AU\u0026amp;ved=0ahUKEwiRs5nmroaKAxXiIEQIHfVtElsQ4dUDCBA\u0026amp;uact=5\u0026amp;oq=instagram+rimowa+tumi\u0026amp;gs_lp=EgNpbWciFWluc3RhZ3JhbSByaW1vd2EgdHVtaUisLlDBDljeK3ACeACQAQCYAX6gAagKqgEEMC4xMbgBA8gBAPgBAZgCCaAC3gbCAgYQABgHGB7CAgUQABiABMICBBAAGB7CAgYQABgIGB7CAggQABiABBixA8ICDhAAGIAEGLEDGIMBGIoFwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYigXCAgYQABgFGB6YAwCIBgGSBwMyLjegB4Ea\u0026amp;sclient=img\"\u003etrendy carry-ons\u003c\/a\u003e you might have noticed at the airport. Those are getting dinged and dirtied ;-)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luciteria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47806077206693,"sku":"Al_dome","price":120.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/files\/DSC_6018_e162e431-a8a5-43fd-8df9-2c7e0c3d3590.webp?v=1778165847"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/8833\/6805\/collections\/Pb.webp?v=1777985131","url":"https:\/\/luciteria.com\/collections\/domes.oembed?page=4","provider":"Luciteria","version":"1.0","type":"link"}