The Disappearing Spoon
And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements
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4.1 • 11 Ratings
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
From New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean comes incredible stories of science, history, finance, mythology, the arts, medicine, and more, as told by the Periodic Table.
Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters?
The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. The Disappearing Spoon masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery -- from the Big Bang through the end of time.
Though solid at room temperature, gallium is a moldable metal that melts at 84 degrees Fahrenheit. A classic science prank is to mold gallium spoons, serve them with tea, and watch guests recoil as their utensils disappear.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Science magazine reporter Kean views the periodic table as one of the great achievements of humankind, "an anthropological marvel," full of stories about our connection with the physical world. Funny, even chilling tales are associated with each element, and Kean relates many. The title refers to gallium (Ga, 31), which melts at 84 F, prompting a practical joke among "chemical cognoscenti": shape gallium into spoons, "serve them with tea, and watch as your guests recoil when their Earl Grey eats their utensils." Along with Dmitri Mendeleyev, the father of the periodic table, Kean is in his element as he presents a parade of entertaining anecdotes about scientists (mad and otherwise) while covering such topics as thallium (Tl, 81) poisoning, the invention of the silicon (Si, 14) transistor, and how the ruthenium (Ru, 44) fountain pen point made $400 million for the Parker company. With a constant flow of fun facts bubbling to the surface, Kean writes with wit, flair, and authority in a debut that will delight even general readers. 10 b&w illus.
Customer Reviews
My favourite book!
This book is amazing! The history behind everything chemistry as well as a crash course on chemistry; it is brilliantly written.
Best science book ever.
This book was an excellent read. I first saw it at my school's library's noteworthy book section and I thought it was about magic (I didn't read the subtitle, I just took a quick glance). Then a few days later I saw it again at a public library in the science section. I thought it was in the wrong category so I picked it up. When I read the subtitle I was hooked instantly. This was a case of literally judging a book by its cover. Once I started to read I just could not put it down. I liked the book so much that I rented it a second time a few months later to read again. This book is full of quirky stories about the periodic table of elements. It taught me more about the periodic table than my high school chemistry class. Great stories, well written. Just the way he explains things makes things easier to understand. (Though I did have to google a few things) this is a must read for any science loving person, or anyone who would like a good book to read in general.