This isn't really a serious question, but I want to pose it anyway.
If Mithril is 'true silver' as Tolkien says, how can we explain that in chemical terms? What I mean is if Middle-Earth had a periodic table would mithril be considered an element in its own right, or just a possible isotope of silver? Maybe if they are considered two seperate elements, Middle-Earth chemists could call 'true silver' mithrilium.
And when I make posts like this folks, it tells me that it is way past my bedtime.