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The Secret Lives of the Elements
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The Secret Lives of the Elements
$4999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
An exploration into the fascinating stories and personalities of 52 of life's essential building blocks.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
'A delightful and engaging treasure trove of a book that brings the chemical elements to life and gives them personalities of their own. A wonderful read for young and old alike to get you inspired by chemistry.' – Jim Al-Khalili
'The perfect book to escape our human-sized existence and take a tour of the atomic world instead.' – Helen Arney, science comedian and broadcaster
When we think of the periodic table, we picture orderly rows of elements that conform to type and never break the rules. In The Secret Lives of the Elements, Kathryn Harkup reveals that there are personalities, passions, quirks, and historical oddities behind those ordered rows. She shows us that the periodic table is a sprawling family tree with its own black sheep, wayward cousins, and odd uncles. The elements in the periodic table, like us, are an extended family - some old, some newborn, some shy and reticent, some exuberant or unreliable.
Dr Harkup tells the weird and wonderful stories of just fifty-two members of this family - remarkable tales of discovery, inspiration, and revolution, from the everyday to the extraordinary. Some elements are relatively anonymous; others, already familiar, are seen in a new light; and old friends have surprising secrets to share. From our green-fingered friend magnesium to the devil incarnate polonium, this eclectic collection of engaging and informative stories will change the way you see the periodic table forever.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The Secret Lives of the Elements by Kathryn Harkup is praised for its engaging and delightful approach to chemistry, charmingly animating the elements with their own personalities. It's recommended as a perfect read for those looking to be inspired by the atomic world, offering an appealing escape from everyday life.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781529412741
Publisher: Quercus Publishing
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 07 October 2021
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Greenfinch
Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 24.0mm
Width: 152.0mm
Height: 218.0mm
Weight: 560g
Pages: 224
About the Author
Kathryn Harkup is a chemist and author. Her first book was the international best-seller, A is for Arsenic. She has also written about the science of Frankenstein in Making the Monster, all the ways to die in a Shakespeare play in Death By Shakespeare and investigated the scientific background to horror's most famous fiend in her most recent book Vampirology.
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