Listener Crossword 4312: Solution Notes
Elementary Deduction by Rood
Puzzle explanation
Wordplay in clues led to the answer with an extra chemical symbol. The symbols spelt out “Initiating at column five, using D, obtain every fifth clockwise” and “Care with position of tiny particles”. With the correct resolution of clashes, taking every 5th perimeter letter spelt out “Draw rings of atomic no. six” and the six occurrences of E (or e) in the grid occurred in two central rings, representing a carbon atom, with the outer ring passing through cells containing “valence electrons”. With the other choices for the clashes, the message would specify “atomic no. five”, but choosing “boron” (with its five electrons) and “valency electrons” in the centre would leave an extra electron (e) on the perimeter of the grid.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation [extra letters] |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | GOAS | GO + (o)AS[I](s) |
| 5 | DOF | [Ni]DOR with F for R |
| 8 | SIRKAR | SI[T] + [i]R + KARZY − Z − Y |
| 13 | LOTAH | ATOL(l) < + H[At] |
| 14 | VARIX | VA[In] + R + FIX − F |
| 16 | OCTADIC | OCTA + DI[G] + [a]C |
| 17 | TIARA | TI[T] + [c]AR + A |
| 18 | YOUNG | (GNU + [O]O + Y) < |
| 19 | RONINS | (squad)RON IN [Lu]S(hun) |
| 20 | KERB | KE[M]B around [n]R |
| 23 | DOITIT | DO + [F]IT + IT |
| 24 | TIRL | TI in [I]RL |
| 25 | OBANGS | ([V]AN + (engravin)G) in OBS |
| 28 | SNYE | SE[E] around NY + [u] |
| 29 | SERES | SE(t) + [Si]RE’S |
| 31 | SITE | SI[N]TE(r) |
| 35 | GHERAO | (GA[G] around HER) + [d]O |
| 37 | VROW | RO[O] in VW |
| 38 | ITHACA | HA[B]IT * + CA |
| 41 | NYAS | SA[Ta]Y < after N |
| 43 | GROW ON | G[I]RO + WON |
| 47 | RADIO | DI[Ne] in OAR < |
| 48 | HOG IT | HOG + [V]ITE − E |
| 49 | MAIL-INS | MAINLIN[Er]S − (first) N |
| 50 | TRANT | T[Y]RANT |
| 51 | UMRAS | RAS after [F]UM |
| 52 | CONGII | CO[I]N + GI + I(magines) |
| 53 | AIT | A[F]RIT − R |
| 54 | AMIR | MIR[Th] after A |
| Down | ||
| 2 | ONCOMING | COM in [Cl]ONING |
| 3 | ACTUARY | AC + AUT[O] < + RY |
| 4 | FLANK | FLA[C]K around N |
| 5 | DODGEMS | D + [K]O’D + GEMS |
| 6 | OTIC | O[W]T + I(rritate) C(entre) |
| 7 | FACT | [I]F + ACT |
| 8 | SHARD | [Se]SH + ARD |
| 9 | RAIN IN | RA[Ca] + IN + IN |
| 10 | KRAIT | RA[Re] in KIT |
| 11 | AIRN | [W]AIN around R |
| 12 | ROYSTS | ROY + S[I]TS |
| 15 | VASTY | VAS + TY[Th](e) |
| 21 | RHEA | HEA[P] in R[o] |
| 22 | BOSON | OS[Si] in NOB < |
| 26 | BEVY | BEY around [Ti]V |
| 27 | STOTINKI | SKI around (T[O]OT + IN) |
| 30 | SHARIAT | HAS * + RIA[N]T |
| 32 | IRIDIUM | (I[O]U + M) after (I + RID) |
| 33 | SWOOSH | ’S + WOO[F] + SH |
| 34 | NIGHT | NI(t) + [Ti]GHT |
| 36 | YAWING | YAW[N]ING |
| 39 | HOGAN | AN[Y] after HOG |
| 40 | ANHUI | [P]AN + HUI |
| 42 | SALSA | SAL[Ar](y) + S(exy) + A |
| 44 | RO-RO | [Ti]RO around OR |
| 45 | EMMA | [Cl]EM + MA |
| 46 | LARI | LAR[Es] + I |