Saturday, August 14, 2021 — Elementary Chemistry

Introduction

In addition to a dictionary and thesaurus, the periodic table would be a useful reference resource to have at hand when tackling today's puzzle from Cox & Rathvon.

I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.

Solution to Today's Puzzle

Falcon's experience ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐ ███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ Legend: █ - solved without assistance █ - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools █ - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools █ - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools █ - solved but without fully parsing the clue █ - yet to be solved

Symbols and Markup Conventions
"*" - anagram "~" - sounds like "<" - indicates the preceding letters are reversed "( )" - encloses contained letters "_" - replaces letters that have been deleted  "†" - indicates that the word is present in the clue	"//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present "/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present "solid underline" - precise definition "dotted underline" - cryptic definition "dashed underline" - wordplay "wavy underline" - whimsical and inferred definitions
Click here for further explanation and usage examples of the symbols and markup conventions used on this blog.

Across

1a	Element // Nicholas Gage memoir included in tally (8)

S(ELENI)UM — ELENI (Nicholas Gage memoir) contained in (included in) SUM (tally)

Eleni^[7] is a 1983 memoir by Greek-born American author and investigative journalist Nicholas Gage that, in 1985, was made into a feature film starring John Malkovich as Gage.

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Selenium^[5] (symbol Se) is the chemical element of atomic number 34, a grey crystalline non-metal that is a semiconductor showing strong photoconductivity. It is used in rectifiers and photoelectric cells, and for colouring glass and ceramics.

5a	Hits hard, // sticky secretion in the ear (6)

WHACKS~ — sounds like (in the ear) WAX (sticky secretion)

10a	Jostle // the Mexican cellist’s accessory (5)

EL|BOW — EL (the Mexican; Spanish word for 'the') + BOW (cellist's accessory)

11a	Revising the order, Sam is up to // “K” (9)

POTASSIUM* — anagram of (revising the order) SAM IS UP TO

Potassium^[5] (symbol K, from modern Latin kalium) is the chemical element of atomic number 19, a soft silvery-white reactive metal of the alkali metal group. Potassium compounds are used in the manufacture of fertilizers, soaps, and glass.

12a	Counterfeit artist engaging a // collector in search of food (7)

FOR(A)GER — FORGER (counterfeit artist) containing (engaging) A (†)

13a	Judean official’s // exercise regimen (7)

PILATE|S — PILATE (Judean official) + S ('s)

Pontius Pilate^[5] (died circa 36 AD) was a Roman procurator of Judaea circa 26-circa 36. He is remembered for presiding at the trial of Jesus Christ and authorizing his crucifixion.

14a	Ring tone adapted // air, for the most part (8)

NITROGEN* — anagram of (adapted) RING TONE

Nitrogen^[5] (symbol N) is the chemical element of atomic number 7, a colourless, odourless unreactive gas that forms about 78 per cent of the earth’s atmosphere.

16a	Far out, regarding // dangerous gas (5)

RAD|ON — RAD (far out) + ON (regarding)

Radon^[5] (symbol Rn) is the chemical element of atomic number 86, a rare radioactive gas belonging to the noble gas series. Radon is a product of the radioactive decay of radium and is used as a source of alpha particles in radiotherapy. Small quantities of the gas are also emitted naturally from the ground in granite-rich areas—a health concern as radon can cause cancer.

19a	A guy // spy (5)

A|GENT — A (†) + GENT (guy)

21a	Shakespearean title character dressed in some // metallic stuff (8)

AN(TIMON)Y — TIMON (Shakespearean character) contained in (dressed in) ANY (some)

Timon of Athens^[7] (The Life of Tymon of Athens) is a play by William Shakespeare, published in the First Folio (1623) and probably written in collaboration with another author, most likely Thomas Middleton, in about 1605–1606. (show more )

The play is about the fortunes of an Athenian named Timon (and probably influenced by the philosopher of the same name). The central character is a well beloved citizen of Athens who through tremendous generosity spends his entire fortunes on corrupt hangers-on only interested in getting the next payout.

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Antimony^[5] (symbol Sb, from Latin stibium) is the chemical element of atomic number 51, a brittle silvery-white semimetal (an element whose properties are intermediate between those of metals and solid non-metals or semiconductors). It is used in alloys, usually with lead, such as pewter and type metal.

24a	Ugly // house I’d renovated (7)

HIDEOUS* — anagram of (renovated) HOUSE ID

26a	Charges pursuant to cup of // Starbucks products (7)

C|OF|FEES — FEES (charges) following (pursuant to) {C(up) + OF (†)}

27a	De Mille and I captivated by silent // fireworks material (9)

M(AGNES|I)UM — {AGNES (De Mille) + (and) I (†)} containing (captivated by) MUM (silent)

Magnesium^[5] (symbol Mg) is the chemical element of atomic number 12, a silver-white metal of the alkaline earth series. It is used to make strong lightweight alloys, and is also used in flash bulbs and pyrotechnics, as it burns with a brilliant white flame.

28a	Put up /or/ tear down, according to the listener (5)

RAISE~ — sounds like (according to the listener) RAZE (tear down)

29a	Endlessly talk about // track and field event (6)

DISCUS_ — DISCUSS (talk about) with its final letter removed (endlessly)

30a	A can clad in purple // metal (8)

PL(A|TIN)UM — {A (†) + TIN (can)} contained in (clad in) PLUM ([shade of] purple)

Platinum^[5] (symbol Pt) is a precious silvery-white metal, the chemical element of atomic number 78. It was first encountered by the Spanish in South America in the 16th century, and is used in jewellery, electrical contacts, laboratory equipment, and industrial catalysts.

Down

1d	Graf // appearing in surrealist effigy (6)

_STEFFI_ — hidden in (appearing in) surrealiST EFFIgy

Steffi Graf^[5] is German tennis player; full name Stefanie Maria Graf. (show more )

She was ranked top women’s player at the age of 16 and won her seventh Wimbledon singles title in 1996. During 1987–99, she became the only player to win all four Grand Slam singles titles at least four times each. She is also the only player to have won all four singles titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same year (1988).

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2d	Playboy // series involving Ernie’s pal and myself (9)

LI(BERT|I)NE — LINE (series) containing (involving) {BERT (Ernie's pal) + (and) I (myself)}

Bert and Ernie^[7] are two Muppets who appear together in numerous skits on the long-running children's television show, Sesame Street.

3d	Modern-day spiritualist // we anger, horsing around (3,4)

{NEW AGER}* — anagram of (horsing around) WE ANGER

4d	Superior // meal, after the start (5)

_UPPER — [S]UPPER (meal) with the first letter removed (after the start)

6d	“Con artist” // corrected the slur (7)

HUSTLER* — anagram of (correctd) THE SLUR

7d	Eastwood, // chief of Carmel fuzz (5)

C|LINT — C (chief [initial letter] of Carmel) + LINT (fuzz)

Clint Eastwood^[7] is an American actor, filmmaker, musician, and political figure. Elected in 1986, Eastwood served for two years as the mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. (show more )

After achieving success in the Western TV series Rawhide, he rose to international fame with his role as the Man with No Name in Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy of spaghetti Westerns during the 1960s, and as antihero cop Harry Callahan in the five Dirty Harry films throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

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8d	TV family // boys: grasping little rascals (8)

S(IMPS)ONS — SONS (boys) containing (grasping) IMPS (little rascals)

The Simpsons^[7] is an American family animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. (show more )

The series is a satirical depiction of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of parents Homer and Marge and their children Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. The show is set in the fictional town of Springfield and parodies American culture, society, television, and many aspects of the human condition.

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9d	Hurry up, // playing set point (4,2,2)

{STEP ON IT}* — anagram of (playing) SET POINT

Scratching the Surface
In tennis and other sports, a set point[5] is a point which if won by one of the players or sides will also win them a set ⇒ his brilliant ace denied Sampras the set point.

15d	Bum asking to // hide (8)

GOATSKIN* — anagram of (bum) ASKING TO

17d	Kind of wine // also carried by grocery section continuously (9)

D(AND)ELI|ON — AND (also) contained in (carried by) DELI (grocery section) + ON (continuously)

18d	Understood // craze about Tory’s foremost residence (8)

FA(T|HOME)D — FAD (craze) containing (about) {T (Tory's foremost [initial letter] + HOME (residence)}

20d	Author confused with Emerson, principally? (7)

THOREAU* — anagram of (confused with) {AUTHOR + E (Emerson, principally [initial letter])

This is an &lit. clue in which the entire clue acts as both wordplay and definition (which I would think is a bit on the cryptic side).

Ralph Waldo Emerson^[5] (1803–1882) was an American philosopher and poet. He evolved the concept of Transcendentalism, which found expression in his essay Nature (1836).

Henry David Thoreau^[5] (1817–1862) was an American essayist and poet, and a key figure in Transcendentalism. He is best known for his book Walden, or Life in the Woods (1854), an account of a two-year experiment in self-sufficiency.

Thoreau and Emerson were both residents of Concord, Massachusetts and were well acquainted. For a time, Thoreau lived in Emerson's home and tutored his children. Emerson, who was 14 years Thoreau's senior, served very much as a mentor to the younger man and greatly influenced his interest in Transcendentalism.

22d	Selfish outlook, // if terms changed (2,5)

{ME FIRST}* — anagram of (changed) IF TERMS

23d	Prize // Lauder makeup, initially (6)

ESTEE|M — ESTEE (Lauder) + M (Makeup, initially [initial letter])

Estée Lauder^[7] (1908–2004) was an American businesswoman. She was the co-founder, along with her husband, Joseph Lauter (later Lauder), of Estée Lauder Companies, her eponymous cosmetics company.

25d	Get vapour out of // a French painter (5)

DEGAS — double definition; the first a verb, the second the surname of a French artist

Edgar Degas^[5] (1834–1917) was a French painter and sculptor. An impressionist painter, Degas is best known for his paintings of ballet dancers.

26d	Saharan transport // arrived and left (5)

CAME|L — CAME (arrived) + (and) L(eft)

Epilogue

Today's puzzle was certainly a bit of a chemistry lesson.

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Key to Reference Sources: 

  ^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition

  ^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)

  ^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)

  ^[4]   - TheFreeDictionarycom (Collins English Dictionary)

  ^[5]   - Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (Oxford Dictionary of English)

  ^[6]   - Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (Oxford Advanced American Dictionary)

  ^[7]   - Wikipedia

  ^[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)

  ^[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)

^[10]   - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)

^[11]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary)

^[12]   - CollinsDictionary.com (Webster’s New World College Dictionary)

^[13]   - MacmillanDictionary.com (Macmillan Dictionary)

^[14]   - CollinsDictionary.com (COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary)

^[15]   - CollinsDictionary.com (Penguin Random House LLC/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd )

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Signing off for today — Falcon