TL;DR
A newly updated ‘Periodic Table of Endangered Elements’ reveals that 44 of the 118 chemical elements may disappear by the end of the century. The table highlights the most at-risk elements, emphasizing sustainability and resource management issues.
The Periodic Table of Endangered Elements was officially updated in 2023 to reflect the declining availability of 44 of the 118 chemical elements. This new visualization highlights the elements most at risk of depletion by the end of the century, including zinc, gallium, germanium, arsenic, silver, indium, tellurium, and hafnium. The table aims to raise awareness about resource scarcity and sustainability challenges linked to critical elements used in modern technology and industry.
The updated table, created by EuChemS and made available under a Creative Commons license, expands on the original 2015 design by including the current-day availability of all 90 elements, rather than just the endangered 44. It introduces an axis for sustainability and flags elements heavily used in smartphone production, emphasizing their importance in consumer electronics and industry.
According to the American Chemical Society, the potential disappearance of these elements is driven by factors such as limited natural reserves, geopolitical issues, and increasing demand, especially for high-tech devices. The most endangered elements, highlighted in red on the table, are zinc, gallium, germanium, arsenic, silver, indium, tellurium, and hafnium, raising questions about future supply chains and technological development.
While the table provides a comprehensive visual tool to understand resource risks, experts caution that precise timelines for depletion are uncertain. The update aims to inform policymakers, industry leaders, and consumers about the urgency of sustainable resource management, but detailed projections remain complex and subject to change as new data emerges.
The Periodic Table of Endangered Elements
Chemistry’s most iconic chart has been redrawn as a warning. The 2023 update by EuChemS shows that 44 of the 118 chemical elements could vanish before the end of this century — the hidden materials inside your smartphone, solar panels, and semiconductors are running out.
The Endangered Eight
Highlighted in red on the updated table, these elements face the gravest threat of depletion — and nearly all of them live inside your everyday devices.
Why Elements Disappear
According to the American Chemical Society, depletion risk is driven by converging pressures on limited natural reserves.
Limited Natural Reserves
Many critical elements exist only as by-products of mining other metals, with no dedicated mines of their own — supply cannot easily scale up.
Geopolitical Issues
Extraction is concentrated in a handful of countries, exposing global supply chains to export controls, trade disputes, and political instability.
Exploding High-Tech Demand
Smartphones, solar panels, semiconductors, and defense systems all compete for the same scarce elements, accelerating depletion timelines.
Gallium and indium are essential for semiconductors and solar panels — their depletion could ripple across electronics, renewable energy, and defense industries worldwide.
From Discovery to Disappearance
1869 — The Table Born
Mendeleev’s periodic table organizes all known elements into chemistry’s fundamental tool.
2015 — First Warning
EuChemS releases the original Endangered Elements table, visualizing 44 at-risk elements.
2023 — Expanded Scope
The update tracks all 90 available elements, adds a sustainability axis, and flags smartphone-critical materials.
2100 — The Deadline
Projected horizon by which 44 elements may be depleted without intervention.
Scarce Elements in Your Devices
Relative supply risk of critical elements used in consumer electronics and renewable technology (indicative, based on EuChemS risk categories).
What You Need to Know
Which elements are most at risk?
Zinc, gallium, germanium, arsenic, silver, indium, tellurium, and hafnium — all flagged in red on the updated table.
Why are they endangered?
Limited reserves, high demand in electronics and renewables, geopolitical concentration, and recycling challenges.
Can technology prevent depletion?
Recycling advances, material substitution, and efficient usage can delay depletion — but significant challenges remain.
What actions are underway?
Policymakers and industry are promoting sustainable extraction, recycling initiatives, and research into alternatives.
Implications of Endangered Elements for Future Technology
This visualization underscores the potential risks to global supply chains and technological innovation, especially as critical elements like gallium and indium are essential for manufacturing semiconductors and solar panels. The depletion of these resources could impact electronics, renewable energy, and defense industries, prompting a reevaluation of material sourcing and recycling strategies. The table also highlights the broader challenge of sustainable resource management in a world increasingly dependent on finite materials, emphasizing the need for alternative materials and conservation efforts.
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Background on Element Scarcity and Resource Management
The periodic table, first developed in 1869, has long served as a fundamental tool in chemistry, listing all known elements. Over time, scientists have recognized that some elements are becoming scarce due to natural depletion, geopolitical factors, and rising demand for high-tech applications. The original 2015 version of the ‘Periodic Table of Endangered Elements’ aimed to visualize these risks, but the 2023 update reflects new data and a broader scope, including all available elements and their current status.
Research indicates that 44 elements face potential depletion by the end of this century, driven by their critical roles in electronics, energy, and industrial processes. Elements like gallium and indium are vital for smartphones and solar panels, yet their supply is limited. The updated table emphasizes these issues visually, aiming to inform policy and industry decisions to mitigate future shortages.
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Uncertainties in Timing and Impact of Resource Depletion
While the table indicates that 44 elements might disappear by the end of the century, precise timelines are uncertain. Factors such as technological advances in recycling, alternative materials, geopolitical stability, and discovery of new reserves could alter these projections. Experts caution that these estimates are based on current data and trends, which may change as new information becomes available.
indium and gallium semiconductor supplies
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Future Monitoring and Policy Responses to Element Scarcity
Researchers and policymakers are expected to continue monitoring the status of critical elements, refining depletion models, and promoting sustainable practices. Industry efforts may focus on recycling and developing substitutes for scarce materials. The visual tool will likely be updated regularly to reflect new data, helping guide global strategies to manage resource risks and ensure technological resilience.
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Key Questions
Which elements are most at risk of depletion?
The most at-risk elements include zinc, gallium, germanium, arsenic, silver, indium, tellurium, and hafnium, all highlighted in red on the updated periodic table.
Why are these elements considered endangered?
Their scarcity is driven by limited natural reserves, high demand in electronics and renewable energy technologies, geopolitical issues, and challenges in sustainable extraction and recycling.
How does this update affect industries relying on these elements?
Industries may face supply shortages, prompting increased focus on recycling, developing alternatives, and securing new sources to mitigate potential disruptions.
Can technological advances prevent the depletion of these elements?
Advances in recycling, material substitution, and more efficient usage can help delay or prevent depletion, but current trends suggest significant challenges remain.
What actions are being taken to address resource scarcity?
Policymakers and industry leaders are promoting sustainable extraction, recycling initiatives, and research into alternative materials to reduce dependence on scarce elements.
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