So might aliens, Kean notes: If they ever glimpse the periodic table, perhaps they’ll even “whistle (or whatever) in real admiration.” If your most recent glance at the periodic table was in a classroom long ago, have no fear, this book is threaded with plots more often found in love stories or thrillers than in chemistry books, and Kean’s enthusiasm and wit carry the reader through spells of heavy lifting.Įven hard-core chemists will undoubtedly learn something new. These broader ideas reveal how truly elemental the elements are and explain why this chemistry book appeals to nonchemists. Instead, chapters deal with periods in history, such as the Cold War, or a particular theme, such as art or money. While a map is an excellent metaphor, Kean doesn’t guide the reader region by region across the table. He also reveals their personalities: Gold is aloof, carbon promiscuous and nitrogen an intriguing combination of “plentitude, ineptitude, and importance.” From the Big Bang to ancient Greece to Nazi Germany and Gandhi’s India, Kean highlights the prominent roles of various chemical elements throughout history.
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