The Periodic Table: A Field Guide to the Elements

Description

The Periodic Table is one of the most recognizable images in science - and in our culture. Its 118 elements make up everything on our planet and in the entire universe. But how many of us actually know how to interpret its distinctive design? And what does its unique arrangement tell us about the behaviour of each element in the world around us? The Periodic Table looks at the fascinating story and surprising history of each of these elements, from the little-known uses of gold in medicine to that of arsenic as a wallpaper dye in the ninteenth-century and the development of the hydrogen bomb. Packed with interesting facts and figures and helpful illustrations, this accessible guide will help the armchair chemist navigate through the different groups of elements - and discover the world afresh.

Dr Paul Parsons is a regular contributor to Nature, New Scientist and the Daily Telegraph. He frequently appears on BBC radio and his television credits include Richard & Judy and BBC Breakfast. He was formerly editor of the BBC's award-winning science and technology magazine Focus. His book The Science of Doctor Who was longlisted for the 2007 Royal Society Prize for Science Books. Gail Dixon is a journalist and editor. She recently co-authored 3-minute Hawking, the most up-to-date book on the greatest living theoretical physicist. She has also worked as a commissioning editor for BBC Focus magazine.

Each element gets a minimum two-page spread, consisting of one page of narrative detailing important facts about the element facing a large, full-color photograph of the element itself. The useful, simple nature of the material and the price point make this a must-have for all science shelves.--Rebecca Vnuk, Booklist This handy scientific reference canvasses the building blocks of all matter in a convenient, richly illustrated layout. It is packed with all the pertinent information necessary to gain a solid understanding of the chemical world . . One by one, the elements are each presented within a format that alternates from a page of lucid description to a captioned visual representation for each that pops in lively colors from a white background . . . This is an outstanding resource for high school and college chemistry students and anyone with a scientific curiosity.--Brian Odom, Library Journal