Software > > Gift Ideas > Science & Math







Price: $10.19 ($14.99)

(as of 2012-10-06 21:08:56 PST)

You save $4.80 (32%)

Usually ships in 24 hours

Science & Math

Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 (174 votes)

Released: 2011-06-06

Buying Choices

53 new from $8.60
34 used from $7.37

(as of 2012-10-06 21:08:56 PST)



 


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

Description

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.

Check All Offers Add to Wish List Customer Reviews

Book Details

Author: Sam Kean Publisher: Back Bay Books Binding: Paperback Language: English Pages: 416

Similar Books

The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code
Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History
Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities
The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York
Periodic Tales: A Cultural History of the Elements, from Arsenic to Zinc



Become a fan of EbooksPublication.com | Best Source for Kindle eBooks on Facebook for the inside scoop on latest and most exclusive books.