The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word SULPHURIC
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
U
L
P
H
U
R
I
C
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Like the element" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case like the element = sulphuric.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SULPHURIC mean?
SULPHURIC adjective- Of, or relating to sulfur, especially in its higher oxidation state