I saw this on a t-shirt and had to know whether the verdicts hold up. I did what any responsible nerd in 2026 would do. I asked AI to fact-check the lickability of every element on the periodic table. Hover any cell for the why.
Can I Lick It? A Periodic Table Guide Periodic table of the elements color coded by lickability, from safe to instantly fatal to radioactively lethal. Can I lick it? A periodic table guide Hover any cell to see the verdict. See the lanthanide strip below * 57-71 See the actinide strip below ** 89-103 Hydrogen (H, atomic number 1). Verdict: can't lick (it's a gas). can't lick a gas, plus it's flammable. 1 H Hydrogen Helium (He, atomic number 2). Verdict: can't lick (it's a gas). noble gas, no taste, just a squeaky voice. 2 He Helium Lithium (Li, atomic number 3). Verdict: you will die. reacts violently with the water in your saliva. 3 Li Lithium Beryllium (Be, atomic number 4). Verdict: don't, toxic. beryllium dust gives you incurable lung disease. 4 Be Beryllium Boron (B, atomic number 5). Verdict: tastes terrible. mildly toxic, definitely not pleasant. 5 B Boron Carbon (C, atomic number 6). Verdict: lick away. graphite, diamond, charcoal, all fine. 6 C Carbon Nitrogen (N, atomic number 7). Verdict: can't lick (it's a gas). gas, makes up most of the air you breathe. 7 N Nitrogen Oxygen (O, atomic number 8). Verdict: can't lick (it's a gas). gas, you breathe this constantly. 8 O Oxygen Fluorine (F, atomic number 9). Verdict: you will die. most reactive element on the table. 9 F Fluorine Neon (Ne, atomic number 10). Verdict: can't lick (it's a gas). noble gas, only good for signs. 10 Ne Neon Sodium (Na, atomic number 11). Verdict: you will die. explodes on contact with saliva. 11 Na Sodium Magnesium (Mg, atomic number 12). Verdict: tastes terrible. mildly reactive but mostly fine. 12 Mg Magnesium Aluminum (Al, atomic number 13). Verdict: lick away. foil, cans, cookware, harmless. 13 Al Aluminum Silicon (Si, atomic number 14). Verdict: lick away. sand, glass, computer chips, inert. 14 Si Silicon Phosphorus (P, atomic number 15). Verdict: you will die. white phosphorus burns through flesh. 15 P Phosphorus Sulfur (S, atomic number 16). Verdict: lick away. smells like hell but tastes harmless. 16 S Sulfur Chlorine (Cl, atomic number 17). Verdict: you will die. toxic gas, used as a chemical weapon. 17 Cl Chlorine Argon (Ar, atomic number 18). Verdict: can't lick (it's a gas). noble gas, nothing happens. 18 Ar Argon Potassium (K, atomic number 19). Verdict: you will die. more violent than sodium. 19 K Potassium Calcium (Ca, atomic number 20). Verdict: tastes terrible. reacts with water, mildly disappointing. 20 Ca Calcium Scandium (Sc, atomic number 21). Verdict: tastes terrible. probably ok, definitely metallic. 21 Sc Scandium Titanium (Ti, atomic number 22). Verdict: lick away. biocompatible, used in medical implants. 22 Ti Titanium Vanadium (V, atomic number 23). Verdict: don't, toxic. compounds are toxic. 23 V Vanadium Chromium (Cr, atomic number 24). Verdict: tastes terrible. metal is fine, hex chrome will kill you. 24 Cr Chromium Manganese (Mn, atomic number 25). Verdict: tastes terrible. neurotoxic in any quantity. 25 Mn Manganese Iron (Fe, atomic number 26). Verdict: lick away. you taste it every time you bite your tongue. 26 Fe Iron Cobalt (Co, atomic number 27). Verdict: don't, toxic. contact allergen and mildly toxic. 27 Co Cobalt Nickel (Ni, atomic number 28). Verdict: don't, toxic. one of the worst contact allergens. 28 Ni Nickel Copper (Cu, atomic number 29). Verdict: tastes terrible. tastes like blood, mildly toxic. 29 Cu Copper Zinc (Zn, atomic number 30). Verdict: lick away. cold lozenge ingredient, essential nutrient. 30 Zn Zinc Gallium (Ga, atomic number 31). Verdict: lick away. melts in your hand, fine to lick. 31 Ga Gallium Germanium (Ge, atomic number 32). Verdict: tastes terrible. probably fine but off-tasting. 32 Ge Germanium Arsenic (As, atomic number 33). Verdict: you will die. the classic Victorian poison. 33 As Arsenic Selenium (Se, atomic number 34). Verdict: don't, toxic. toxic in even small amounts. 34 Se Selenium Bromine (Br, atomic number 35). Verdict: you will die. toxic vapor and severe burns, awful smell. 35 Br Bromine Krypton (Kr, atomic number 36). Verdict: can't lick (it's a gas). noble gas, no kryptonite jokes. 36 Kr Krypton Rubidium (Rb, atomic number 37). Verdict: you will die. reacts violently with water, will burn. 37 Rb Rubidium Strontium (Sr, atomic number 38). Verdict: don't, toxic. reactive, isotopes can be radioactive. 38 Sr Strontium Yttrium (Y, atomic number 39). Verdict: tastes terrible. metallic, mildly toxic. 39 Y Yttrium Zirconium (Zr, atomic number 40). Verdict: lick away. very inert, used in implants. 40 Zr Zirconium Niobium (Nb, atomic number 41). Verdict: lick away. used in body piercings. 41 Nb Niobium Molybdenum (Mo, atomic number 42). Verdict: lick away. trace nutrient, you actually need this. 42 Mo Molybdenum Technetium (Tc, atomic number 43). Verdict: see you on the other side. first synthetic element, fully radioactive. 43 Tc Technetium Ruthenium (Ru, atomic number 44). Verdict: tastes terrible. probably fine, metallic. 44 Ru Ruthenium Rhodium (Rh, atomic number 45). Verdict: lick away. inert noble metal, very expensive. 45 Rh Rhodium Palladium (Pd, atomic number 46). Verdict: lick away. inert noble metal. 46 Pd Palladium Silver (Ag, atomic number 47). Verdict: lick away. historically swallowed for ailments. 47 Ag Silver Cadmium (Cd, atomic number 48). Verdict: you will die. accumulates in kidneys, severely toxic. 48 Cd Cadmium Indium (In, atomic number 49). Verdict: tastes terrible. probably ok in small amounts. 49 In Indium Tin (Sn, atomic number 50). Verdict: lick away. lick the can, it's fine. 50 Sn Tin Antimony (Sb, atomic number 51). Verdict: don't, toxic. toxic, used in old medicine, badly. 51 Sb Antimony Tellurium (Te, atomic number 52). Verdict: don't, toxic. gives you garlic breath for weeks. 52 Te Tellurium Iodine (I, atomic number 53). Verdict: don't, toxic. mildly toxic, will stain. 53 I Iodine Xenon (Xe, atomic number 54). Verdict: can't lick (it's a gas). noble gas, anesthetic but not lickable. 54 Xe Xenon Cesium (Cs, atomic number 55). Verdict: you will die. most reactive metal, explodes in water. 55 Cs Cesium Barium (Ba, atomic number 56). Verdict: don't, toxic. soluble compounds are highly toxic. 56 Ba Barium Hafnium (Hf, atomic number 72). Verdict: lick away. inert refractory metal. 72 Hf Hafnium Tantalum (Ta, atomic number 73). Verdict: lick away. biocompatible, used in implants. 73 Ta Tantalum Tungsten (W, atomic number 74). Verdict: lick away. inert, lightbulb filament. 74 W Tungsten Rhenium (Re, atomic number 75). Verdict: lick away. inert and very rare. 75 Re Rhenium Osmium (Os, atomic number 76). Verdict: don't, toxic. metal is fine, the tetroxide is deadly. 76 Os Osmium Iridium (Ir, atomic number 77). Verdict: lick away. inert noble metal. 77 Ir Iridium Platinum (Pt, atomic number 78). Verdict: lick away. inert and expensive. 78 Pt Platinum Gold (Au, atomic number 79). Verdict: lick away. you can literally eat gold leaf. 79 Au Gold Mercury (Hg, atomic number 80). Verdict: don't, toxic. liquid metal, vapor is the real killer. 80 Hg Mercury Thallium (Tl, atomic number 81). Verdict: you will die. tasteless poison, hair falls out first. 81 Tl Thallium Lead (Pb, atomic number 82). Verdict: don't, toxic. cumulative neurotoxin. 82 Pb Lead Bismuth (Bi, atomic number 83). Verdict: lick away. active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol. 83 Bi Bismuth Polonium (Po, atomic number 84). Verdict: see you on the other side. Litvinenko's last cup of tea. 84 Po Polonium Astatine (At, atomic number 85). Verdict: see you on the other side. rarer than gold, infinitely worse for you. 85 At Astatine Radon (Rn, atomic number 86). Verdict: see you on the other side. radioactive gas in your basement floor. 86 Rn Radon Francium (Fr, atomic number 87). Verdict: see you on the other side. decays before you can pucker up. 87 Fr Francium Radium (Ra, atomic number 88). Verdict: see you on the other side. killed the Radium Girls who painted dials. 88 Ra Radium Rutherfordium (Rf, atomic number 104). Verdict: see you on the other side. blink and it's gone, you might be too. 104 Rf Rutherfordium Dubnium (Db, atomic number 105). Verdict: see you on the other side. named after Dubna, half-life of seconds. 105 Db Dubnium Seaborgium (Sg, atomic number 106). Verdict: see you on the other side. named after a still-living scientist. 106 Sg Seaborgium Bohrium (Bh, atomic number 107). Verdict: see you on the other side. microseconds of existence. 107 Bh Bohrium Hassium (Hs, atomic number 108). Verdict: see you on the other side. decays before your tongue can move. 108 Hs Hassium Meitnerium (Mt, atomic number 109). Verdict: see you on the other side. dead from radiation before you taste it. 109 Mt Meitnerium Darmstadtium (Ds, atomic number 110). Verdict: see you on the other side. milliseconds of life, then poof. 110 Ds Darmstadtium Roentgenium (Rg, atomic number 111). Verdict: see you on the other side. named after the X-ray guy, take the hint. 111 Rg Roentgenium Copernicium (Cn, atomic number 112). Verdict: see you on the other side. Copernicus would not approve. 112 Cn Copernicium Nihonium (Nh, atomic number 113). Verdict: see you on the other side. Japan's contribution to the synthetic graveyard. 113 Nh Nihonium Flerovium (Fl, atomic number 114). Verdict: see you on the other side. decays in seconds, you in less. 114 Fl Flerovium Moscovium (Mc, atomic number 115). Verdict: see you on the other side. Moscow's offering, fleeting and deadly. 115 Mc Moscovium Livermorium (Lv, atomic number 116). Verdict: see you on the other side. Livermore's contribution to your demise. 116 Lv Livermorium Tennessine (Ts, atomic number 117). Verdict: see you on the other side. Tennessee's most radioactive export. 117 Ts Tennessine Oganesson (Og, atomic number 118). Verdict: see you on the other side. probably solid, definitely lethal. 118 Og Oganesson Lanthanum (La, atomic number 57). Verdict: tastes terrible. mildly toxic. 57 La Lanthanum Cerium (Ce, atomic number 58). Verdict: tastes terrible. reactive, mildly toxic. 58 Ce Cerium Praseodymium (Pr, atomic number 59). Verdict: tastes terrible. mildly toxic and hard to spell. 59 Pr Praseodymium Neodymium (Nd, atomic number 60). Verdict: tastes terrible. magnetic, mildly toxic. 60 Nd Neodymium Promethium (Pm, atomic number 61). Verdict: see you on the other side. named after Prometheus, kills you for similar hubris. 61 Pm Promethium Samarium (Sm, atomic number 62). Verdict: tastes terrible. mildly toxic. 62 Sm Samarium Europium (Eu, atomic number 63). Verdict: tastes terrible. mildly toxic, glows under UV. 63 Eu Europium Gadolinium (Gd, atomic number 64). Verdict: tastes terrible. used in MRI but not in your mouth. 64 Gd Gadolinium Terbium (Tb, atomic number 65). Verdict: tastes terrible. mildly toxic. 65 Tb Terbium Dysprosium (Dy, atomic number 66). Verdict: tastes terrible. mildly toxic. 66 Dy Dysprosium Holmium (Ho, atomic number 67). Verdict: tastes terrible. mildly toxic. 67 Ho Holmium Erbium (Er, atomic number 68). Verdict: tastes terrible. mildly toxic. 68 Er Erbium Thulium (Tm, atomic number 69). Verdict: tastes terrible. mildly toxic. 69 Tm Thulium Ytterbium (Yb, atomic number 70). Verdict: tastes terrible. mildly toxic. 70 Yb Ytterbium Lutetium (Lu, atomic number 71). Verdict: tastes terrible. mildly toxic. 71 Lu Lutetium Actinium (Ac, atomic number 89). Verdict: see you on the other side. glows blue in the dark, makes you glow too. 89 Ac Actinium Thorium (Th, atomic number 90). Verdict: see you on the other side. the gentlest actinide, still a no. 90 Th Thorium Protactinium (Pa, atomic number 91). Verdict: see you on the other side. rare and wildly radioactive. 91 Pa Protactinium Uranium (U, atomic number 92). Verdict: see you on the other side. yellow cake is not actually a dessert. 92 U Uranium Neptunium (Np, atomic number 93). Verdict: see you on the other side. the bridge to plutonium. 93 Np Neptunium Plutonium (Pu, atomic number 94). Verdict: see you on the other side. the dose is the poison, then radiation finishes it. 94 Pu Plutonium Americium (Am, atomic number 95). Verdict: see you on the other side. lives in your smoke detector. 95 Am Americium Curium (Cm, atomic number 96). Verdict: see you on the other side. named after the Curies, who knew the cost. 96 Cm Curium Berkelium (Bk, atomic number 97). Verdict: see you on the other side. Berkeley made it and probably regrets it. 97 Bk Berkelium Californium (Cf, atomic number 98). Verdict: see you on the other side. literally sprays neutrons at you. 98 Cf Californium Einsteinium (Es, atomic number 99). Verdict: see you on the other side. discovered in fallout from a hydrogen bomb. 99 Es Einsteinium Fermium (Fm, atomic number 100). Verdict: see you on the other side. synthetic, half-life of days at best. 100 Fm Fermium Mendelevium (Md, atomic number 101). Verdict: see you on the other side. decays before the lab tech finishes paperwork. 101 Md Mendelevium Nobelium (No, atomic number 102). Verdict: see you on the other side. fleeting existence, bad ending. 102 No Nobelium Lawrencium (Lr, atomic number 103). Verdict: see you on the other side. minutes of half-life, instantly fatal. 103 Lr Lawrencium Lick away Tastes terrible Don't, toxic You will die Can't lick (it's a gas) See you on the other side Concept inspired by classic xkcd. Verdicts are for pure elements. Compounds may differ. Please do not actually lick anything. Please do not actually lick any elements. Not even the green ones. Yes, the chart says gold is fine. Yes, you can technically eat gold leaf. But “technically safe to lick” and “a good idea” are two very different categories, and this blog post is not a permission slip.
The verdicts that made me laugh The chart’s author did their homework. Some highlights from the verification:
Iron (Fe): “Lick away” – You taste it every time you bite your tongue. You’ve been licking iron your whole life.Gallium (Ga): “Lick away” – Melts in your hand at 29.7 C. It’s like the chocolate of metals, except don’t eat it.Sodium (Na): “You will die” – Pure sodium explodes on contact with moisture. Your saliva is moisture. Do the math.Tellurium (Te): “Don’t, toxic” – Toxic, and it gives you garlic breath for weeks. Your coworkers will file a complaint before the toxicity gets you.Uranium (U): “See you on the other side” – The chart helpfully notes that “yellow cake is not actually a dessert.”Bismuth (Bi): “Lick away” – Active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol. You’ve probably already licked bismuth this month.I was particularly amused by Oganesson (element 118), which gets a “See you on the other side” with the note that it’s “probably solid, definitely lethal.” Probably solid. Science isn’t even sure about its state of matter, but it is absolutely certain you shouldn’t lick it.
The lanthanides are a wall of yellow “Tastes terrible” boxes, which feels right. Fifteen elements that all taste bad and are mildly toxic. It’s like the periodic table’s equivalent of that drawer in your kitchen full of spices you bought once and never used again.
The disclaimer Once again! Please do not lick any elements.
If the shirt inspires you, channel that energy into buying the shirt, not into raiding a chemistry lab. Your tongue will thank you. Your local emergency room will thank you. And Francium, which decays before you can even pucker up, will continue to not care either way.
Stay curious. Stay alive. Don’t lick things.
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