John Emsley
Autore di Nature's building blocks: an A-Z guide to the elements
Sull'Autore
John Emsley is Science Writer in Residence at the University of Cambridge. Author of the highly popular "Molecule of the Month" column for The Independent and of the book Molecules in an Exhibit, he has received both a Glaxo Award for science writing and the Chemical Industries Association's mostra altro President's Award for science communication. He lives in London mostra meno
Fonte dell'immagine: Photo by John Holman
Opere di John Emsley
The Consumer's Good Chemical Guide: A Jargon-free Guide to the Chemicals of Everyday Life (1994) 56 copie
Better Looking, Better Living, Better Loving: How Chemistry can Help You Achieve Life's Goals (2007) 12 copie
Opere correlate
The Guardian science course : Part VI : Building blocks — Collaboratore — 1 copia
Etichette
Informazioni generali
- Data di nascita
- 1938
- Sesso
- male
- Nazionalità
- UK
- Luogo di residenza
- London, England, UK
- Attività lavorative
- science writer
- Organizzazioni
- University of Cambridge (King's College)
- Premi e riconoscimenti
- Rhône-Poulenc prize (1995)
GDCh Literaturpreis (2003)
Utenti
Recensioni
The 13th element : the sordid tale of murder, fire,… di John Emsley
I never thought anything on the periodical table could be so much fun. apologies for sister maria kellner, my chemistry teacher, for not taking her word for it years ago
Really 3 1/2, I think, but I'm feeling generous. Everything you ever wanted to know about phosphorus. Possibly a great deal of information you didn't particularly need about phosphorus. Lots of it is interesting (I particularly enjoyed the history of phosphorus-match-making--who knew?) but some of it isn't. My big problem with this book is that there isn't a narrative flow--the chapters feel isolated, so you don't really feel inclined to keep reading.
Really 3 1/2, I think, but I'm feeling generous. Everything you ever wanted to know about phosphorus. Possibly a great deal of information you didn't particularly need about phosphorus. Lots of it is interesting (I particularly enjoyed the history of phosphorus-match-making--who knew?) but some of it isn't. My big problem with this book is that there isn't a narrative flow--the chapters feel isolated, so you don't really feel inclined to keep reading.
Phosphorus was the 13th Element to be discovered although it is the 15th element in the Periodic Table and is one of the building blocks of life as well as a deadly poison. Elemental phosphorus was most probably first seen by an alchemist named Hennig Brandt in Hamburg around 1669 deriving it from urine. And so began the history of one of the most dangerous elements from which men learned to make Lucifers (matches), incendiary bombs (used extensively in WWII), nerve gases, and pesticides.
I found this book to be interesting and an easy read although some will find that the chemical formulas and long names for various compounds may be a minor stumbling block. Not only is there a lot of science but a lot of history in these three hundred pages covering over 300 years. I particularly liked learning about matchmaking and the health problems it caused in the workers until a safer method of making them was adapted.
Recommended for those who enjoy reading about the history of science and technology.… (altro)
I found this book to be interesting and an easy read although some will find that the chemical formulas and long names for various compounds may be a minor stumbling block. Not only is there a lot of science but a lot of history in these three hundred pages covering over 300 years. I particularly liked learning about matchmaking and the health problems it caused in the workers until a safer method of making them was adapted.
Recommended for those who enjoy reading about the history of science and technology.… (altro)
Liste
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Statistiche
- Opere
- 25
- Opere correlate
- 1
- Utenti
- 1,540
- Popolarità
- #16,722
- Voto
- 3.8
- Recensioni
- 25
- ISBN
- 85
- Lingue
- 9
- Preferito da
- 2