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This Very Short Introduction traces the history and cultural impact of the elements on humankind, and examines why people have long sought to identify the substances around them. Looking beyond the Periodic Table, the author examines our relationship with matter, from the uncomplicated vision of the Greek philosophers, who believed there were four elements - earth, air, fire, and water - to the work of modern-day scientists in creating elements such as hassium and meitnerium. Packed with anecdotes, The Elements is a highly engaging and entertaining exploration of the fundamental question: what is the world made from?
| ISBN | 0192840991 | | Volumes | 1 | | ISBN13 | 9780192840998
(What's this?) | | Weight (grammes) | 168 | | Publisher | Oxford University Press | | Published in | Oxford | | Imprint | Oxford University Press | | Series ISSN | 104 | | Format | Paperback | | Series title | Very Short Introductions | | Publication date | 08 Apr 2004 | | Height (mm) | 174 | | Library of Congress | QD466 | | Width (mm) | 112 | | DEWEY | 546 | | Spine width (mm) | 12 | | DEWEY edition | DC21 | | Academic level | General | | Pages | 186 | |
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| | | List of figures | | | | 1 | | Aristotle's quartet : the elements in antiquity | | 1 | | 2 | | Revolution : how oxygen changed the world | | 21 | | 3 | | Gold : the glorious and accursed element | | 40 | | 4 | | The eightfold path : organizing the elements | | 65 | | 5 | | The atom factories : making new elements | | 91 | | 6 | | The chemical brothers : why isotopes are useful | | 118 | | 7 | | For all practical purposes : technologies of the elements | | 139 | | | | Notes | | 159 | | | | Further reading | | 164 | | | | Index | | 165 |
"A delight of a book.... Elegantly written...far-reaching, entertaining and salted with anecdote.... It could become a classic."--New Scientist "Ball brings the periodic table to life."--Discover "Philip Ball's book is an excellent introduction."--Chemistry and Industry "The book contains some delightful anecdotes."--Times Higher Educational Supplement (London)  Be the first to write a customer review
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