This issue is all about the chemical elements—the building blocks from which come the more than 49 million inorganic and organic compounds registered by the Chemical Abstracts Service and the many benefits those substances bring to our society. I hope that you learn a lot more about the elements from this issue and the resources it refers to. I also hope that you will pass along what you learn to your students and colleagues.One of the features this month is a series of articles by chemists/teachers about their favorite elements and why those elements are so likeable. Every one of these articles contains tidbits that you can use to spice up your teaching and bring more of the human element to your students. Another article describes the Elements on Facebook project, which enables anyone to become a fan of one or more elements. A good assignment would be for students to choose a favorite element, do research on its properties, uses, and other characteristics, and then enter information into the element’s page in Facebook. A similar project that does not involve Facebook is also described.

With all the talk about favorite elements, I started thinking about my favorite elements, but with a slight twist. My favorite elements are those that have been the building blocks of success for this Journal during the 13 years of my editorship. In this my last editorial I want to thank those elements that have made your Journal what it is.

Let’s begin with cerium (Ce). Copy editing is essential to maintaining high quality in any journal. Bernadette Caldwell, Arrrietta Clauss, and Liana Lamont have many properties that have helped authors to improve their manuscripts beyond the many comments the reviewers have made. That is attested to in this letter to the editor. Like all but one of the elements whose symbols begin their names, they readily react to content that is unclear or poorly stated, providing authors with suggestions and clarifications. Even the unreactive Ar can enlighten when an electric discharge passes through it, and Arrietta is always highly charged, so these favorite elements are well suited to their responsibilities.

Next we have germanium (Ge). Graphics editing for the JCE has been handled for nearly all of my 13 years by Randy Wildman. Sometimes he seems to emanate radiation, so great is his enthusiasm for his job, but usually he provides a steady light, as does a tungsten filament. High quality graphics, both drawings and photographs, have been Randy’s responsibility and his passion—to our benefit.

Another favorite is meitnerium (Mt). Manuscript tracking is an essential service that Alice Teter has provided for all of my 13 years. Interacting with the authors and reviewers of more than 700 papers every year is a big task that requires both tact and toughness. Pure aluminum is soft, but when alloyed it is much stronger—even when alloyed with tellurium. Alice has displayed the qualities of pure and alloyed aluminum in just the right mix throughout her tenure with the JCE.

Those of you who have visited JCE booths at meetings or wanted JCE publicity materials shipped to you will be familiar with Linda Fanis. Like the elements whose symbols adorn her name, Linda reacts rapidly and completely to such requests. Linda’s activity level is very high and will be higher in the future now that she is business manager for the Journal. JCE issues are prepared for JCE Online by Ed Fedosky. It seems fitting that the technical aspects of Journal production would involve iron, an element that in one way or another has long been associated with information storage.

Another important element in our success is Erica Jacobsen. Currently she serves as the high school editor, as editor of the JCE Classroom Activity column, and in several other capacities. Like erbium, Erica never tarnishes. Every time the bar is raised she clears it handily. She is a joy to work with and she continually comes up with new, useful, interesting ideas. Not only that, she carries them out—on time and at the highest level of quality. Erbium is a super element.

Next are the most important elements of all. Sulfur, holmium, and molybdenum. Mary Saecker, Jon Holmes, and Elizabeth Moore have been associate editors for the JCE since 1996; before that Jon and Betty did essential work for JCE Software.

Mary supervises submissions from acceptance to publication. She supports serendipity by juxtaposing articles that are related, and performs myriad other tasks that take the Journal’s quality to the highest plane. Like sulfur she is bright, cheery, and creatively involved in a broad range of contributions to everyone’s well being.

Holmium is a rare earth that is always found in combination with other elements. Jon Holmes is a rare combination of technical expertise and ability to make technical information understandable to those who need to know. He has been instrumental in devising and implementing the many technical advances the JCE has made during the past 13 years. Many of these, such as JCE Online are visible, but others, such as our manuscript handling data base are not. All work to perfection.

More than 80% of molybdenum is used in alloys, and it also is contained in many catalysts. Betty Moore has alloyed herself with every aspect of JCE (and earlier JCE Software); she has also catalyzed much of the work all of us have done in bringing the Journal to where it stands today. That she has transformed the Chemical Education Today section in support of JCE and ACS outreach is obvious in every issue and especially in this one. This Journal would be a much duller place without her efforts.

These essential elements of the JCE deserve your strongest possible thanks. They certainly have mine.

Idea Bank: Presidential