
This is a book about discovery and disaster, exploitation and invention, warfare and science - and the relationship between human beings and the chemical elements that make up our planet. Lars Ohrstrom introduces us to a variety of elements from S to Pb through tales of ordinary and extraordinary people from around the globe. We meet African dictators controlling vital supplies of uranium; eighteenth-century explorers searching out sources of precious metals; industrial spies stealing the secrets of steel-making. We find out why the Hindenburg airship was tragically filled with hydrogen, not helium; why nail-varnish remover played a key part in World War I; and the real story behind the legend of tin buttons and the downfall of Napoleon. In each chapter, we find out about the distinctive properties of each element and the concepts and principles that have enabled scientists to put it to practical use. These are the fascinating (and sometimes terrifying) stories of chemistry in action.
This book investigates the complex, often volatile relationship between human history and the chemical elements that constitute the physical world. Lars Öhrström, a professor of inorganic chemistry, utilizes historical anecdotes and scientific analysis to demonstrate how specific elements have shaped geopolitical conflicts, industrial progress, and human tragedy. By framing chemical properties through the lens of human experience, the author argues that chemistry is not merely a laboratory pursuit but a fundamental driver of global events.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Readers frequently note the accessible prose style, which successfully bridges the gap between academic chemistry and popular history. Experts highlight this as a useful text for students and laypeople interested in the practical, real-world consequences of chemical science.
Page Count:
271
Publication Date:
2013-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191637068
ISBN-13:
9780191637063
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