Wednesday, October 10, 2007

The Thursday Quiz VII

Once more into the breach! It's

The Thursday Quiz!

The Thursday Quiz is, as always, a "Is It or Isn't It" game. From the list of twelve items, your job is to determine whether each IS or ISN'T in the week's category.

Remember always the way of the ancestors:


No research, Googling, Wikiing, or use of reference books. The Thursday
Quiz is a POP quiz. Violators will be cast forth from the tribe.
This Week's Category will blind you -- with science!

The Chemical Elements


1. Boron
2. Chromium
3. Germanium
4. Harmonium
5. Manganese
6. Molybdenum
7. Nasturtium
8. Silicon
9. Steel
10. Vanadium
11. Water
12. Zirconium

Test your hypotheses by submitting them to a rigorous experimental procedure! By which I mean, submit your answers as a comment.

12 comments:

Karin said...

I'll say that 1, 2, 5, 6 and 10 are, while the rest are not, although they're very nice in their own right.

Dan Nolan said...

1, 3, 5, 7, 10?

Rex Parker said...

I suck at science:

1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10

Anonymous said...

1, 2, 5.

Rebel said...

Sittin' in a research office... not a periodical chart in sight, so I've got to dig back to college 'chemistry for poets'.

1. Boron - is
2. Chromium - is
3. Germanium - is (not to be confused with Geranium)
4. Harmonium - isn't
5. Manganese - is
6. Molybdenum - isn't
7. Nasturtium - isn't (nice flower though)
8. Silicon - is
9. Steel - isn't
10. Vanadium - isn't
11. Water - isn't
12. Zirconium - sounds like it is, but probably isn't. I think it's a lab created mineral.

blythe said...

nooooo! science?! can't it be about music or history? this is why i lose trivial pursuit. if i play alone. y,y,y,n,y,y,n,y,n,y,n,y. fine. ui have no idea. you win. i am 100% nonsciencium.

d said...

1. Boron - didn't they make a movie about this?
2. Chromium - that's on cars, right?
3. Germanium - mix it with number 9 and you get really well made cars
4. Harmonium - awww.
5. Manganese - only in africa
6. Molybdenum - wtf?
7. Nasturtium - this sounds like something that died in someone's skanky crotch
8. Silicon - if it's not it should be
9. Steel - only if it's in my pants! cha ching!
10. Vanadium - i think i dated this guy last year
11. Water - definitely not
12. Zirconium - poor guys everywhere wish it were

Anonymous said...

I say yeses on 1,3,4,6,8,and 10.
7 I think of more as a garden or salad element.

Anonymous said...

1. Boron- Yes
2. Chromium- Yes
3. Germanium- No
4. Harmonium- No
5. Manganese- Yes
6. Molybdenum- No
7. Nasturtium- No
8. Silicon- No
9. Steel- No
10. Vanadium- No
11. Water- No
12. Zirconium- Yes

I have no idea.

Heatherbee said...

Boron, manganese, silicon, and zirconium are chemical elements. That's my best guess.

You know, one of these days you should make a quiz that would allow me to really kick ass and show the whole world how smart and amazing I am.

I guess that's not the point of the quiz, is it. Hmph.

Michael5000 said...

Boron and Chromium are elements.

Germanium sounds like a fake element, but is actually a real element.

Harmonium is a musical instrument.

Manganese and Molybdenum are elements.

Nasturtiums are a pretty little flower that grows beautifully on the Coast, but gets aphid-y here in the Valley.

Silicon actually is an element.

Steel isn't.

Vanadium is.

Water isn't, although I would have accepted rambling digressions about ancient and mediaeval cosmologies.

Zirconium may not be the finest of jewels, but it really is an element.

Michael5000 said...

@dan: welcome!

@blythe: You need to work on your confidence. Poor self-esteem is so stupid and lame.

@d: Ah, I remember my first beer....

@Heatherbee: I hear you. I, too, am waiting for a quiz that will let the world see how smart and amazing I am.