Cracking the Elements
Published on 6. September 2018
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-1-84403-951-7 (ISBN)
Description
From the earliest-known elements to those named in 2016, this book takes a comprehensive look at the development of the periodic table - and reveals untold stories, unsung pioneers and plenty of fascinating science along the way.
In twelve illustrated chapters, the book makes sense of the patterns and groups within the periodic table, introducing each of the 118 known elements individually and exploring questions including:
- Why did the history of fizzy water give early chemistry a sparkle?
- How did hydrogen reveal the structure of the atom?
- What was the Bunsen burner's role in discovering new elements?
- Which of the alkaline earth metals accounts for a kilogramme of your weight?
- Why is Marie Curie such a scientific star?
- How do tungsten and vanadium explain the secret of super-sharp Syrian swords?
- Who discovered the most elements in the periodic table?
- What made nihonium, element 113, such a wonderful new year's gift for Japan?
- Is glass a liquid or a solid?
- How did nitrogen fulfill the alchemists' dream?
- Would you have smeared antimony on your face if you'd lived in ancient Egypt?
- Why might naked mole rats have clues for surviving a heart attack?
- How did the Haya people of Tanzania make steel 1500 years ago?
- What makes xenon a great anaesthetic - and why can't all patients use it?
- Might there be a pattern in yet undiscovered elements beyond number 118?
In twelve illustrated chapters, the book makes sense of the patterns and groups within the periodic table, introducing each of the 118 known elements individually and exploring questions including:
- Why did the history of fizzy water give early chemistry a sparkle?
- How did hydrogen reveal the structure of the atom?
- What was the Bunsen burner's role in discovering new elements?
- Which of the alkaline earth metals accounts for a kilogramme of your weight?
- Why is Marie Curie such a scientific star?
- How do tungsten and vanadium explain the secret of super-sharp Syrian swords?
- Who discovered the most elements in the periodic table?
- What made nihonium, element 113, such a wonderful new year's gift for Japan?
- Is glass a liquid or a solid?
- How did nitrogen fulfill the alchemists' dream?
- Would you have smeared antimony on your face if you'd lived in ancient Egypt?
- Why might naked mole rats have clues for surviving a heart attack?
- How did the Haya people of Tanzania make steel 1500 years ago?
- What makes xenon a great anaesthetic - and why can't all patients use it?
- Might there be a pattern in yet undiscovered elements beyond number 118?
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Octopus Publishing Group
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
300 illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 191 mm
Width: 207 mm
Thickness: 31 mm
Weight
567 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84403-951-7 (9781844039517)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Rebecca Mileham began her career developing exhibitions at the Science Museum, London, before becoming a freelance writer and consultant. Her first popular science book was published in 2008 and she now contributes to award-winning exhibitions and museums all over the world.