Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? Why did the Japanese kill Godzilla with missiles made of cadmium (Cd, 48)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why did tellurium (Te, 52) lead to the most bizarre gold rush in history? The periodic table is one of our crowning scientific achievements, but it's also a treasure trove of passion, adventure, betrayal and obsession. The fascinating tales in "The Disappearing Spoon" follow carbon, neon, silicon, gold and every single element on the table as they ...
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Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? Why did the Japanese kill Godzilla with missiles made of cadmium (Cd, 48)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why did tellurium (Te, 52) lead to the most bizarre gold rush in history? The periodic table is one of our crowning scientific achievements, but it's also a treasure trove of passion, adventure, betrayal and obsession. The fascinating tales in "The Disappearing Spoon" follow carbon, neon, silicon, gold and every single element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, finance, mythology, conflict, the arts, medicine and the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. Why did a little lithium (Li, 3) help cure poet Robert Lowell of his madness? And how did gallium (Ga, 31) become the go-to element for laboratory pranksters? "The Disappearing Spoon" has the answers, fusing science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, discovery and alchemy, from the big bang through to the end of time.
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Add this copy of The Disappearing Spoon...and Other True Tales From the to cart. $23.62, new condition, Sold by Kennys.ie rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Galway, IRELAND.
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Seller's Description:
New. 2011. Paperback. Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? This title includes tales that follow carbon, neon, silicon, gold and every single element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, finance, mythology, conflict, the arts, medicine and the lives of the mad scientists who discovered them. Num Pages: 400 pages, Illustrations, ports. BIC Classification: PDX; PDZ; PNK. Category: (G) General (US: Trade); (P) Professional & Vocational; (U) Tertiary Education (US: College). Dimension: 198 x 132 x 27. Weight in Grams: 278......We ship daily from our Bookshop.
Add this copy of Disappearing Spoon and Other True Tales of Madness, to cart. $36.74, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hialeah, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2011 by Black Swan Books, Limited.
Add this copy of Disappearing Spoon and Other True Tales of Madness, to cart. $72.97, new condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hialeah, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2011 by Black Swan Books, Limited.
Add this copy of Disappearing Spoon and Other True Tales of Madness, to cart. $76.06, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hialeah, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2011 by Doubleday Books.
The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean was helpful in helping this grandma understand a little more about all those elements, and it was a fun read, and my book club will study it together, but many people think it is somewhat inaccurate, so choose for yourself.
Jeane B
Jan 20, 2011
A Chemical Romance?
Loved this book. I had the best chem teacher in high school, who brought the periodic table alive for us, and so with that fond memory in mind and the prospect of adding cool info to all the other useless and moderately useful arcana in my head I bought this book. A little history, a little geography, a little interpersonal intrigue- it's all there. Engaging, fun, this is a must-read for anyone who's been to high school and survived the science curriculum. If you liked Victoria Finlay's books, you'll enjoy this one too.
