- Paperback: 560 pages
- Publisher: Oxford University Press (Aug 11 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0198503407
- ISBN-13: 978-0198503408
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.2 x 2.9 cm
- Shipping Weight: 821 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
-
Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#138,213 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #15 in Books > Science > Chemistry > Crystallography
- See Complete Table of Contents
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
There is a newer edition of this item:
|
Product Details |
Product Description
From Booklist
Written by the author of The Elements (3d ed., Oxford, 1999), a data book on chemical elements created for scientists, this work is aimed at a general audience. All of the elements are covered, from actinium to zirconium to an element thought to exist but not yet synthesized (element 119). The alphabetically arranged entries range in length from two (Actinium) to nine pages (Hydrogen). Elements of atomic number 101 and above are discussed in a single entry for the transfermium elements.
Following brief information on the element's name and pronunciation, each entry is arranged into several sections addressing specific uses or roles. For example, "Food Element" treats the importance of the element in the human diet, and "Element of History" deals with the element's discovery. Also covered are medical, economic, environmental, and chemical aspects. There is even an "Element of Surprise," which highlights some interesting facts. Here and in occasional sidebars we learn that Mozart may have been accidentally poisoned by antimony, cobalt was once used to make invisible ink, silver can be used to sterilize water, mercury was once used to treat syphilis, and Napoleon may have been poisoned by arsenic from the wallpaper at his home on St. Helena.
There are many sources of accurate information on the chemical elements. A distinguishing feature of this work is the inclusion of unusual facts that should appeal to the general reader with little science background. It is recommended for special, public, and academic libraries. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Review
`Review from previous edition Emsley's design, layout and presentation is logical, clear and beautifully written. The introduction itself is both informative and full of unexpected, yet valuable information . . . I would recommend the work particularly as an essential bookshelf companion for all teachers of chemistry and as a project resource for students of all levels.' Chemistry in Britain March 2002
`. . . [an] astonishingly comprehensive survey of nature's fundamental ingredients . . .' New York Times 02/04/2002
`A readable and entertaining guide . . . Doubles as both an accessible reference source and an enjoyable and fascinating 'dip into' read.' Materials World 01/12/02
`What for many might be a dry and dusty collection of facts has been turned into an amusing and finely crafted set of mini-biographies. . . . This is a fine, amusing and quirky book that will sit as comfortably on an academic's bookshelf as beside the loo . . .' Nature, 01/11/01
`. . . fascinating book . . . deeply useful for both teachers and students of chemistry, at almost any level . . .' New Scientist, 11/08/01
`This book is like a bar of Cadbury's chocolate: You can't eat just one square. Having said this, I think this is a wonderful book for scientists of all persuasions' Andrew R. Barron, C and EN
`. . . [an] astonishingly comprehensive survey of nature's fundamental ingredients . . .' New York Times 02/04/2002
`A readable and entertaining guide . . . Doubles as both an accessible reference source and an enjoyable and fascinating 'dip into' read.' Materials World 01/12/02
`What for many might be a dry and dusty collection of facts has been turned into an amusing and finely crafted set of mini-biographies. . . . This is a fine, amusing and quirky book that will sit as comfortably on an academic's bookshelf as beside the loo . . .' Nature, 01/11/01
`. . . fascinating book . . . deeply useful for both teachers and students of chemistry, at almost any level . . .' New Scientist, 11/08/01
`This book is like a bar of Cadbury's chocolate: You can't eat just one square. Having said this, I think this is a wonderful book for scientists of all persuasions' Andrew R. Barron, C and EN
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good, comprehensive reference.,
By
This review is from: Nature's Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements (Paperback)
A comprehensive reference book on all the elements in the periodic table. Well researched and presented. Definitely reference bookshelf material.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Book I've Been Looking For!,
By
This review is from: Nature's Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements (Paperback)
I was looking for a good book on the elements over the last few years and kept drawing a blank. The few I found were too technical, too simple, or involved strange treatments. Than I found this book! It was exactly what I wanted. A complete treatment of the elements of the periodic table alphabetically arranged. When I first found it I thought I would test it out by checking a rather obscure biological fact- certain tunicates (ascidians) concentrate vanadium in their blood. On p. 486 I found the reference with one error- Ascidia was called a "worm" (it is a Urochordate). However, the author made up for this by noting under copper that snails, spiders, octopi and oysters utilize that element as part of an oxygen-carrying blood pigment, making their blood pale blue.Other entries were just as fascinating. The sections for each element cover such subjects as human involvement (biologically- including food and medicine), history, economics, environmental associations, chemical properties and "Element of Surprise" - little known facts regarding the element in question. Where else could you find the origin of Teflon, the history of lead, the use of a salt of nitrogen to inflate airbags, or that thorium oxide was injected into patients during early X-ray diagnosis? These, and a host of other facts, are presented in exacting detail in "Nature's Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements." This is a very much-needed book for anybody requiring a good reference on the chemical elements. It is also a very good read!
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book is a blast!,
By
This review is from: Nature's Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements (Paperback)
I keep this book by my bedside table, and read an element each night before falling asleep. It's loaded with factoids that will bring a smile to your face and amaze your friends. For example, did you know that even 0.5 microgram of Tellurium will give you bad breath for up to 30 hours? Or that Charles II died of mercury poisoning because he did alchemical experiments in a poorly ventilated room in his palace? I'm reading the book cover-to-cover, but I know that in the future I'll want to dip into it again and again.My only criticism, and it's minor, is that I wish the chapter headings (e.g., "Indium") contained the info summarized in the chemical element table (symbol, atomic number, atomic weight) at the end of the chapter.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
