The Disappearing Spoon
And Other True Tales of Rivalry, Adventure, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements (Young Readers Edition)
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4.4 • 5 Ratings
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
Explore the wacky, weird, and wonderful true stories behind one of the greatest scientific tools in history—the periodic table!—in this young readers edition of the New York Times bestseller The Disappearing Spoon.
Why did Gandhi hate iodine?
How did radium nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation?
And why did tellurium lead to the most bizarre gold rush in history?
The periodic table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, greed, betrayal, and obsession. A series of fascinating tales in The Disappearing Spoon follow the unassuming elements on the table as they play surprising roles in human history, finance, mythology, conflict, the arts, medicine—and of course the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them!
With line-drawings and side-bars throughout, students, teachers, and burgeoning science buffs will love learning the often unbelievable history behind the chemistry.
Perfect for…
★ Aspiring scientists
★ STEM classrooms
★ Trivia lovers
★ Fans of Bill Nye
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.
