The Secret Lives of the Elements

by Kathryn Harkup

Overview

'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 this book Kathryn Harkup reveals that there are personalities, passions, quirks and historical oddities behind those ordered rows, and 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 for ever.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781529412741
Publisher:	Mobius
Publication date:	03/22/2022
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	650,509
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.90(d)

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. 

Table of Contents

Introduction 6

1 Hydrogen The Misfit 12

2 Helium The Loner 16

3 Lithium The Tranquillizer 20

4 Beryllium The Space Crusader 24

5 Boron The Rocket Scientist (not) 28

6 Carbon The Great Adaptor 32

7 Nitrogen The Fertilizer 36

8 Oxygen The Maverick 40

9 Fluorine The Great Destroyer 44

10 Neon The Bright Light 48

11 Sodium The Silent Partner 52

12 Magnesium Our Green-Fingered Friend 56

13 Aluminium The Lightweight 60

14 Silicon The Hybrid 64

15 Phosphorus The Gothic One 68

16 Sulphur The Acid Rain Maker 72

17 Chlorine A Split Personality 76

19 Potassium The Showman 80

20 Calcium The Character Actor 84

22 Titanium The Strongman 88

24 Chromium The Fading Star 92

26 Iron Hard as Nails 96

27 Cobalt The Trickster 100

28 Nickel The Alien 104

29 Copper The Blue-Blooded One 108

30 Zinc The Wallflower 112

31 Gallium The Francophile 116

33 Arsenic The Poisoner 120

34 Selenium The Stinker 124

35 Bromine The Sedative 128

37 Rubidium The Uninvited Guest 132

39 Yttrium The Russian Doll 136

43 Technetium The Monster 140

47 Silver The Flatterer 144

50 Tin The Team Player 148

51 Antimony The Poisoned Chalice 152

53 Iodine The Rain Maker 156

56 Barium The Medical Marvel 160

63 Europium The Forger's Foe 164

74 Tungsten Bringer of Light 168

78 Platinum Little Silver 172

79 Gold The Nanotechnologist 176

80 Mercury The Weirdo 180

81 Thallium The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing 184

82 Lead The False Friend 188

83 Bismuth The Looker 192

84 Polonium The Devil Incarnate 196

92 Uranium The Game Changer 200

94 Plutonium The Hell-Raiser 204

101 Mendelevium The Chemist 208

109 Meitnerium The Tribute Maker 212

118 Oganesson The Superheavyweight 216

Timeline of Discovery 220

Bibliography 222

About the Author 224