| The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements Contributor(s): Kean, Sam (Author) |
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ISBN: 0316051632 ISBN-13: 9780316051637 Publisher: Back Bay Books OUR PRICE: $20.89 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: June 2011 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Science | Chemistry - Inorganic - Science | History - Science | Chemistry - Organic |
| Dewey: 546 |
| LCCN: 2011381769 |
| Lexile Measure: 1300 |
| Physical Information: 1.2" H x 5.5" W x 8.2" (0.80 lbs) 416 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| 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. |