The Disappearing Spoon

The Disappearing Spoon and Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World From the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean Summary: 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. Angie's Comments: I really enjoyed the various stories that Kean unearthed. If only I had known some of these stories in high school chemistry, I would have done better at knowing the elements. The stories include villains and those prone to error, people who stumbled onto important discoveries, and people who knew exactly what they were looking for. Plus, as a bonus for Shark Week, the megalodon is mentioned starting on page 261. The one issue I had with the book was that there was no periodic table included. I found it easier to follow the book by having my own periodic table to reference. Recommended for anyone interested in chemistry or history.  Request this item