The following pairs of elements have spectra that look superficially similar.

Close Resemblances
Hydrogen and Lithium
Hydrogen and Cadmium
Helium and Sodium
Nitrogen and Lead
Fluorine and Protactinium
Neon and Curium
Sulfur and Selenium
Scandium and Vanadium
Iron and Cerium
Copper and Einsteinium
Zinc and Cadmium
Gallium and Francium (named for the same country too!)
Arsenic and Tellurium
Krypton and Mercury
Rubidium and Plutonium
Yttrium and Ytterbium
Indium and Cesium
Barium and Lead
Cerium and Samarium
Cerium and Terbium
Cerium and Thorium
Tungsten and Thorium
Rhenium and Gold
Rhenium and Polonium
Protactinium and Curium
Distant Resemblances
Boron and Americium
Carbon and Europium
Magnesium and Thallium
Phosphorus and Iron
Potassium and Rubidium
Potassium and Francium
Vanadium and Molybdenum
Chromium and Copper
Manganese and Germanium
Nickel and Tungsten
Rubidium and Francium
Lanthanum and Praseodymium
Lanthanum and Neodymium
Cerium and Terbium
Praseodymium and Neodymium
Samarium and Dysprosium
Terbium and Dysprosium
Holmium and Erbium

« Back to Main Page