"Geography is destiny"
This simile suggests that the position of an element on the periodic table determines its properties and characteristics in a way that is analogous to how a person's circumstances or environment can shape their future. By saying that "geography is destiny" for elements, Kean emphasizes the importance of their position on the periodic table and the way in which it influences their behavior and capabilities. This simile helps to convey the complex and interconnected nature of the periodic table and the ways in which different elements are related to one another.
"Carbon-based life"
This metaphor compares life on Earth to a structure or foundation made of carbon. By saying that life is "carbon-based," Kean suggests that carbon is the fundamental building block or component of living things on Earth, and that it plays a central role in their organization and functioning. This metaphor helps to convey the importance of carbon in the structure and functioning of living organisms, and to highlight its unique properties and capabilities.
"A dust cloud"
his metaphor compares the solar system to a dust cloud. By describing the solar system as a "dust cloud," Kean suggests that it is a diffuse, dispersed, and formless mass that is made up of small, individual particles. This metaphor helps to convey the vastness and complexity of the solar system and the vast amount of space that it occupies. It also suggests that the solar system is made up of a large number of individual elements that are all connected and interacting with one another in complex ways.
"Competitive race"
This metaphor compares the efforts of the U.S. and the Soviet Union to find new elements and name them during the Cold War to a competition or race. By describing this as a "competitive race," Kean suggests that the two sides were engaged in a fierce and intense struggle for superiority, in which the outcome would be determined by who could achieve the most success. This metaphor helps to convey the tension and rivalry that existed between the two sides during this period, and to highlight the ways in which they were competing with one another in order to gain an advantage. It also suggests that the pursuit of new elements was a highly competitive and high-stakes endeavor, with significant consequences for the sides involved.
