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Theodore Gray's Completely Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do at Home but Probably Shouldn't: The Complete and Updated Edition
The ultimate Theodore Gray collection, Theodore Gray's Completely Mad Science collects every one of Gray's dramatic, visually spectacular, and ultimately enlightening scientific experiments into one complete volume.
Bestselling author Theodore Gray has spent more than a decade dreaming up, executing, photographing, and writing about extreme scientific experiments, which he then published between 2009 and 2014 in his monthly Popular Science column "Gray Matter." Previously published in book form by Black Dog in two separate volumes (Mad Science and Mad Science 2), these experiments, plus an additional 5, are available now in one complete book.
Completely Mad Science is 432 pages of dazzling chemical demonstrations, illustrated in spectacular full-color photographs. Experiments include: Casting a model fish out of mercury (demonstrating how this element behaves very differently depending upon temperature); the famous Flaming Bacon Lance that can cut through steel (demonstrating the amount of energy contained in fatty foods like bacon); creating nylon thread out of pure liquid by combining molecules of hexamethylenediamine and sebacoyl chloride; making homemade ice cream using a fire extinguisher and a pillow case; powering your iPhone using 150 pennies and an apple, and many, many more.
Theodore Gray is the author of The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe; Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything; Theo Gray's Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do at Home, But Probably Shouldn't; and Mad Science 2: Experiments You Can Do at Home, but Still Probably Shouldn't. He lives in Urbana, Illinois.
Bestselling author Theodore Gray has spent more than a decade dreaming up, executing, photographing, and writing about extreme scientific experiments, which he then published between 2009 and 2014 in his monthly Popular Science column "Gray Matter." Previously published in book form by Black Dog in two separate volumes (Mad Science and Mad Science 2), these experiments, plus an additional 5, are available now in one complete book.
Completely Mad Science is 432 pages of dazzling chemical demonstrations, illustrated in spectacular full-color photographs. Experiments include: Casting a model fish out of mercury (demonstrating how this element behaves very differently depending upon temperature); the famous Flaming Bacon Lance that can cut through steel (demonstrating the amount of energy contained in fatty foods like bacon); creating nylon thread out of pure liquid by combining molecules of hexamethylenediamine and sebacoyl chloride; making homemade ice cream using a fire extinguisher and a pillow case; powering your iPhone using 150 pennies and an apple, and many, many more.
Theodore Gray is the author of The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe; Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything; Theo Gray's Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do at Home, But Probably Shouldn't; and Mad Science 2: Experiments You Can Do at Home, but Still Probably Shouldn't. He lives in Urbana, Illinois.
408 pages, Hardcover
First published March 25, 2009
76 people are currently reading
1020 people want to read
About the author
Theodore Gray
29 books121 followersTheodore Gray is the author of 'The Elements' and 'Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do at Home-But Probably Shouldn't', and of Popular Science magazine's 'Gray Matter' column. He is the proprietor of periodictable.com and the creator of the iconic photographic periodic table poster seen in universities, schools, museums, and on TV shows from 'MythBusters' to 'Hannah Montana'. In his other life, he is co-founder of the software company Wolfram Research, creators of the world's leading technical software system, Mathematica®, and WolframlAlphaTM. He lives in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.
From periodictable.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 30, 2009
Theodore Gray has an encyclopedic knowledge of chemistry and the elements and his knowledge and passion just ooze out of the pages in this thrilling science experiment book. What's in here? Making ice cream with liquid nitrogen, casting real silver bullets, preserving a snowflake for decades, electroplating your iPod and lots of things that burn or go BOOM!
But wait .. don't get too excited. Most of these experiments, as cool and mind stimulating as they are, have a high danger/explosive/toxicity level and are not suitable for the average home scientist. Some of the ingredients even have a warning that they might not be legal for private possession.
So, read this book to be inspired by chemical principles in action, but be warned that you may be able to do the experiments only in your mind.
I dream that perhaps he will write another gorgeous picture experiment book, but one that is a little more suited for an average family's garage workshop or kitchen lab. He's a genius with elements and I would love to do more dramatic experiments with my kids besides the ubiquitous volcano experiment to get them engaged with science.
But wait .. don't get too excited. Most of these experiments, as cool and mind stimulating as they are, have a high danger/explosive/toxicity level and are not suitable for the average home scientist. Some of the ingredients even have a warning that they might not be legal for private possession.
So, read this book to be inspired by chemical principles in action, but be warned that you may be able to do the experiments only in your mind.
I dream that perhaps he will write another gorgeous picture experiment book, but one that is a little more suited for an average family's garage workshop or kitchen lab. He's a genius with elements and I would love to do more dramatic experiments with my kids besides the ubiquitous volcano experiment to get them engaged with science.
June 1, 2016
There's no vinegar and baking soda reactions in this book! It's stuffed with madcap experiments that generally outpace the average household. Science geek that I am, I would be unable / unwilling to do many of these experiments without my lab or local facilities yard.
That said, I love the way the book is written. The photographs are fantastic; more than once I caught someone reading this book over my shoulder on the train. I also appreciate the author maintaining a website (graysci.com) with up to date info on purchasing items as these change more frequently than published editions.
A great book that will appeal to the local geek, tinkerer, or mad person in your life.
That said, I love the way the book is written. The photographs are fantastic; more than once I caught someone reading this book over my shoulder on the train. I also appreciate the author maintaining a website (graysci.com) with up to date info on purchasing items as these change more frequently than published editions.
A great book that will appeal to the local geek, tinkerer, or mad person in your life.
March 22, 2016
Theo Gray’s Mad Science
By Theodore Gray
Everything about this book appeals to human nature and curiosity. Its contents
are summarized spectacularly by the subtitle on the front cover: Experiments you can
do at home – but probably shouldn’t. And the author, Theodore Gray, wasn’t joking,
some of the concepts in this book are quite dangerous! This book is awesome in the
true sense of the word. Explaining chemical reactions and concepts in the most extreme
ways possible, Theodore Gray explains the relevance of over 50 chemical experiments
in fresh and humorous ways, and then gives a step by step breakdown on how to carry
them out. The processes are illustrated with stunning photographs of each step and the
various results. Many of the experiments involve violent chemical reactions which
usually make for spectacular photos and border on what one might imagine to be
alchemy or wizardry.
Some of the experiments are almost unachievable unless one has access to
nuclear science equipment, or the odd bank or two of 12,000v capacitors. Like one
experiment that uses extremely powerful magnetic fields to shrink most coins to half of
their original size. Other experiments are rather simple and don’t take much work at all,
such as an experiment that illustrates some of the properties of aluminum, and the
reason you are not allowed to bring mercury on air planes. The main reason is that
when aluminum rusts or oxidizes, it creates a layer of extremely durable material that
protects it from further oxidization. And mercury destroys this layer and will cause
aluminum to rust away, right before your eyes! (Airplanes happen to be made of
aluminum.)
The most dangerous experiment (nominated by the author) in this book has the
end goal of salting popcorn. It doesn’t exactly sound dangerous, but when you are
combining liquid sodium, and the same kind of chlorine gas used in chemical warfare
during World War I, it’s a little trickier. The resulting ball of fiery madness gives off white
smoke which is, roughly, gaseous table salt. Luckily this book is so well illustrated you
need not endanger your personal safety because you can clearly observe the steps the
author took through the photographs. And if you were to decide that you want to try
these experiments, the author gives the most realistic and honest safety precautions
that I have ever seen. Bluntly stating what could happen if you were to do something
improperly, and what could happen even if you do everything correctly. Some
experiments in this book do have the potential to be quite lethal.
Overall this book is the perfect combination of Theodore Gray’s humor,
photographs, knowledge, and daring “mad science” to provide the most entertaining
form of chemistry oriented learning possible.
By Theodore Gray
Everything about this book appeals to human nature and curiosity. Its contents
are summarized spectacularly by the subtitle on the front cover: Experiments you can
do at home – but probably shouldn’t. And the author, Theodore Gray, wasn’t joking,
some of the concepts in this book are quite dangerous! This book is awesome in the
true sense of the word. Explaining chemical reactions and concepts in the most extreme
ways possible, Theodore Gray explains the relevance of over 50 chemical experiments
in fresh and humorous ways, and then gives a step by step breakdown on how to carry
them out. The processes are illustrated with stunning photographs of each step and the
various results. Many of the experiments involve violent chemical reactions which
usually make for spectacular photos and border on what one might imagine to be
alchemy or wizardry.
Some of the experiments are almost unachievable unless one has access to
nuclear science equipment, or the odd bank or two of 12,000v capacitors. Like one
experiment that uses extremely powerful magnetic fields to shrink most coins to half of
their original size. Other experiments are rather simple and don’t take much work at all,
such as an experiment that illustrates some of the properties of aluminum, and the
reason you are not allowed to bring mercury on air planes. The main reason is that
when aluminum rusts or oxidizes, it creates a layer of extremely durable material that
protects it from further oxidization. And mercury destroys this layer and will cause
aluminum to rust away, right before your eyes! (Airplanes happen to be made of
aluminum.)
The most dangerous experiment (nominated by the author) in this book has the
end goal of salting popcorn. It doesn’t exactly sound dangerous, but when you are
combining liquid sodium, and the same kind of chlorine gas used in chemical warfare
during World War I, it’s a little trickier. The resulting ball of fiery madness gives off white
smoke which is, roughly, gaseous table salt. Luckily this book is so well illustrated you
need not endanger your personal safety because you can clearly observe the steps the
author took through the photographs. And if you were to decide that you want to try
these experiments, the author gives the most realistic and honest safety precautions
that I have ever seen. Bluntly stating what could happen if you were to do something
improperly, and what could happen even if you do everything correctly. Some
experiments in this book do have the potential to be quite lethal.
Overall this book is the perfect combination of Theodore Gray’s humor,
photographs, knowledge, and daring “mad science” to provide the most entertaining
form of chemistry oriented learning possible.
December 21, 2019
Theodore Gray's chemistry books:
Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe
Photos of Gray's collection of objects made of pure or nearly-pure chemical elements. Comparing this book to Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything drives home the fact that it's only in combining with other elements that the chemical elements become interesting.
Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything
Takes some of the mystery out of organic chemistry by showing the simple ways carbon combines with hydrogen and other atoms. Shows the "dictionary" of amino-acid codons genes are written in. This is much the most interesting of Gray's chemistry books (unless you intend to actually blow stuff up). In this book Gray chose his subjects for their chemically interesting properties he wanted to share. He laments that he ended up with a book of pictures of white powders.
Reactions: An Illustrated Exploration of Elements, Molecules, and Change in the Universe
Here Gray gives us colorful pictures and words. I didn't find the chemistry as interesting as in Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything.
Theodore Gray's Completely Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do At Home, But Probably Shouldn't , The Complete and Updated Edition
Crazy dangerous demonstrations, up to and including salting popcorn by reacting pure chlorine with pure sodium. Some of them are less life-threatening than that. Combines Theo Gray's Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do at Home - But Probably Shouldn't and Mad Science 2: Experiments You Can Do At Home, But STILL Probably Shouldn't.
Some insights Gray shares:
https://www.goodreads.com/trivia/auth...
Gray's Mathematica books: This is his day job. His boss, Stephen Wolfram, has praised Gray's ability to find simple ways to do the seemingly computationally impossible.
https://www.wolfram.com/books/search....
Exploring Mathematics with Mathematica: Dialogs Concerning Computers and Mathematics
The Beginner's Guide to Mathematica (R) Version 3
By the way, there's a version of Mathematica free online, Wolfram Alpha:
http://www.wolframalpha.com/
It can solve and plot. Astounding what it can do.
Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe
Photos of Gray's collection of objects made of pure or nearly-pure chemical elements. Comparing this book to Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything drives home the fact that it's only in combining with other elements that the chemical elements become interesting.
Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything
Takes some of the mystery out of organic chemistry by showing the simple ways carbon combines with hydrogen and other atoms. Shows the "dictionary" of amino-acid codons genes are written in. This is much the most interesting of Gray's chemistry books (unless you intend to actually blow stuff up). In this book Gray chose his subjects for their chemically interesting properties he wanted to share. He laments that he ended up with a book of pictures of white powders.
Reactions: An Illustrated Exploration of Elements, Molecules, and Change in the Universe
Here Gray gives us colorful pictures and words. I didn't find the chemistry as interesting as in Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything.
Theodore Gray's Completely Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do At Home, But Probably Shouldn't , The Complete and Updated Edition
Crazy dangerous demonstrations, up to and including salting popcorn by reacting pure chlorine with pure sodium. Some of them are less life-threatening than that. Combines Theo Gray's Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do at Home - But Probably Shouldn't and Mad Science 2: Experiments You Can Do At Home, But STILL Probably Shouldn't.
Some insights Gray shares:
https://www.goodreads.com/trivia/auth...
Gray's Mathematica books: This is his day job. His boss, Stephen Wolfram, has praised Gray's ability to find simple ways to do the seemingly computationally impossible.
https://www.wolfram.com/books/search....
Exploring Mathematics with Mathematica: Dialogs Concerning Computers and Mathematics
The Beginner's Guide to Mathematica (R) Version 3
By the way, there's a version of Mathematica free online, Wolfram Alpha:
http://www.wolframalpha.com/
It can solve and plot. Astounding what it can do.
February 24, 2021
This book is awesome and completely mad. Some experiments you can do and others would be completely nuts for you to try! I really like this book because of the awesome photography and all the amazing experiments. You should definitely get this book.
August 17, 2019
I'm the kind of person who often takes warnings to "not try this at home" as a challenge. I like to tinker and experiment, and I have a particular fondness for demonstrations that look incredibly dangerous but are actually quite safe as long as I've taken the proper precautions. I purchased this book in the hopes of being able to proudly disregard the "...but probably shouldn't" part of the subtitle. On that point, I was largely disappointed, but the book made up for this shortcoming in other ways.
The simple fact of the matter is, many (not all) of the experiments described in this book can't actually be done at home. Some are prohibitively expensive. Some are seriously dangerous (in the no kidding, "you will kill yourself if you aren't professionally trained" sort of way, not in the stereotypical "do not try this at home" sort of way). Some require ingredients that are illegal to possess without some kind of proper license. While it's true that several other experiments actually can be done at home (exactly how many cross that threshold depends largely on the reader's willingness to purchase expensive equipment), if you're buying this book hoping to find a bunch of backyard science experiments to do with your family, you will be disappointed.
However, what the contents lack in practicality, they more than make up for in entertainment value. Most books of "do it at home" science experiments rehash the same old demonstrations we all learned about in middle school. This book will actually show you some that, unless you're a professional chemist, you've probably never seen before. Yes, it covers some familiar territory as well, but I was seriously impressed by how many of the experiments were new to me. Indeed, some of them even taught me some interesting new principles of chemistry beyond the particulars of the reaction in question. With that in mind, if you're looking for an entertaining and informative collection of science demonstrations without regard for their practicality, this book is just what the doctor ordered.
Whichever category you find yourself in, I think you'll be impressed with the author's casual yet informative tone and often humorous commentary. Similarly, the photography almost every page is first-rate. You might not be able to do these experiments at home, but they've been beautifully rendered in images, often from high-speed cameras, that are almost as impressive as it would be to see the demonstrations in person.
This was not at all the book I thought it was when I purchased it, but I found myself glad to have bought it and read it anyway. My disappointment at the impracticality of the experiments was more than compensated for by the book's other qualities.
The simple fact of the matter is, many (not all) of the experiments described in this book can't actually be done at home. Some are prohibitively expensive. Some are seriously dangerous (in the no kidding, "you will kill yourself if you aren't professionally trained" sort of way, not in the stereotypical "do not try this at home" sort of way). Some require ingredients that are illegal to possess without some kind of proper license. While it's true that several other experiments actually can be done at home (exactly how many cross that threshold depends largely on the reader's willingness to purchase expensive equipment), if you're buying this book hoping to find a bunch of backyard science experiments to do with your family, you will be disappointed.
However, what the contents lack in practicality, they more than make up for in entertainment value. Most books of "do it at home" science experiments rehash the same old demonstrations we all learned about in middle school. This book will actually show you some that, unless you're a professional chemist, you've probably never seen before. Yes, it covers some familiar territory as well, but I was seriously impressed by how many of the experiments were new to me. Indeed, some of them even taught me some interesting new principles of chemistry beyond the particulars of the reaction in question. With that in mind, if you're looking for an entertaining and informative collection of science demonstrations without regard for their practicality, this book is just what the doctor ordered.
Whichever category you find yourself in, I think you'll be impressed with the author's casual yet informative tone and often humorous commentary. Similarly, the photography almost every page is first-rate. You might not be able to do these experiments at home, but they've been beautifully rendered in images, often from high-speed cameras, that are almost as impressive as it would be to see the demonstrations in person.
This was not at all the book I thought it was when I purchased it, but I found myself glad to have bought it and read it anyway. My disappointment at the impracticality of the experiments was more than compensated for by the book's other qualities.
February 24, 2019
4.5stars - anything that makes chemistry this fun gets my vote.
Theo Gray is basically the missing Mythbuster - the one who specialises in Chemistry. The light and sound and explosions that Theo can create are every bit as spectacular as those that Adam and Jamie can manage with explosives and large machinery.
This book is terrific and lots of fun, however I do have two complaints (which are not at all negative, if that makes sense). Firstly, I wish this book were accompanied by a Youtube channel, because the photography, admittedly stunning, can't do each experiment justice. I just want more details of everything, and want to be able to watch the processes from start to finish. (If this book were written more recently than in 2009, it might well have started as a Youtube channel and then was offered a book deal).
Secondly, the "Experiments you can do at home" subtitle is a bit misleading, because it would be pretty difficult to replicate any of these experiments, unless you have a fantastically well-equipped laboratory/workshop. Which is probably just as well, as most of the experiments involve toxic, explosive or corrosive substances, and should be performed or supervised by a trained scientist. It's just as fun to let Theo do all the hard work and go along for the ride.
Theo Gray is basically the missing Mythbuster - the one who specialises in Chemistry. The light and sound and explosions that Theo can create are every bit as spectacular as those that Adam and Jamie can manage with explosives and large machinery.
This book is terrific and lots of fun, however I do have two complaints (which are not at all negative, if that makes sense). Firstly, I wish this book were accompanied by a Youtube channel, because the photography, admittedly stunning, can't do each experiment justice. I just want more details of everything, and want to be able to watch the processes from start to finish. (If this book were written more recently than in 2009, it might well have started as a Youtube channel and then was offered a book deal).
Secondly, the "Experiments you can do at home" subtitle is a bit misleading, because it would be pretty difficult to replicate any of these experiments, unless you have a fantastically well-equipped laboratory/workshop. Which is probably just as well, as most of the experiments involve toxic, explosive or corrosive substances, and should be performed or supervised by a trained scientist. It's just as fun to let Theo do all the hard work and go along for the ride.
March 25, 2019
A fun book with many experiments you could do at home, although not recommended. I like that for each one he explains exactly why each experiment is dangerous and how it could hurt you. I wasn’t a fan of the experiments involving mercury just because, as cool as it is, no one should be playing with that stuff. I found this to be more of a photo book of cool science experiments instead of a “cool science experiments you can do at home” book. In fact some titles weren’t even experiments or projects. In one he just takes a grinder to random metals to make sparks. Look at the cool sparks! Ooo, ahhhh! I’m going to take a picture of this cus it looks cool. I wish there were more titles and experiments with house hold items instead of rare stuff you have to order from catalogs (his website is one). The least volatile of these I may do at home. Worth a read.
February 10, 2013
Mad science is an anthology of Gray's columns from Popular Science - in which he does relatively dangerous, but nonetheless fun experiments in his home with a mixture of everyday materials and obscure elements. The book is beautifully illustrated, but unless you are confident and a little crazy you won't be trying most of these at home - the copious frank safety warnings tell you why to steer clear.
Each experiment is only a few hundred words, so the coverage is naturally shallow. The writing style is engaging and enjoyable, and the selection of topics is diverse and interesting. The overall result is enjoyable but not compelling, and left me wanting a bit more depth.
Each experiment is only a few hundred words, so the coverage is naturally shallow. The writing style is engaging and enjoyable, and the selection of topics is diverse and interesting. The overall result is enjoyable but not compelling, and left me wanting a bit more depth.
June 19, 2010
I've been waiting to get my hands on this one. Theo Gray has the temerity to show you how to do some experiments that must have given the publisher's lawyers fits.
Making salt? Sure. Sugar rockets? Check. Thermite?!? You betcha.
I'm really liking this movement back to giving readers a bit of credit. We're capable of thinking for ourselves and following directions and it's refreshing to be treated like an adult.
Making salt? Sure. Sugar rockets? Check. Thermite?!? You betcha.
I'm really liking this movement back to giving readers a bit of credit. We're capable of thinking for ourselves and following directions and it's refreshing to be treated like an adult.
August 23, 2009
Such a neat concept with lots of awesome experiments, cool results, and info about the elements. The only downside is that many of the experiments require very specialized equipment. Still, definitely fun for the armchair scientist.
August 30, 2016
It read much more like an actual book compared to "Elements" and "Molecules". This one is not jam packed of gorgeous photos. I have really enjoyed reading about the variety of reactions, some simple and some complex.
May 31, 2010
So many cool ways to burn off eyebrows and/or separate fingers from hands
September 14, 2015
Mad Science Experiments was o.k. In looking for things I could and might try, this book wasn't too helpful. However, some of the experiments were very creative and interesting.
January 22, 2016
Fun to read but I wouldn't recommend trying many if any of the experiment that are shows. Most of them are dangerous to very dangerous. But fun to read.
March 28, 2016
Interesting book....but there is NO way anyone could perform these at home.
February 10, 2022
This book is very entertaining, but I wish more emphasis was put on the "Experiments You Can Do At Home" rather than the "Probably Shouldn't" because I felt like I didn't get much out of this book. It doesn't go into enough detail to really learn anything about the reactions, and it's impractical or unreasonable to try nearly any of these experiments myself, so it felt more like tabloid science meant just to entertain. Even so, it's nice to tell my friends that I know how to melt steel with bacon. If you're looking for something more in-depth, I'd recommend his Elements series, which covers a lot of chemistry in moderate detail.
April 10, 2025
While nifty, informative, and occasionally entertaining, this is a coffee table book and should be treated as one. It's a collection of short form magazine articles. I don't recommend reading it straight through. Nor do I even recommend reading it word for word. The instruction pages are simply a summary of the description pages usually. it's like half the book was put into sidebars, so there's no point in rereading them unless you're trying to do the demonstration yourself.
That's the main problem for me with this book, probably. I never had any intention of trying anything in it.
That's the main problem for me with this book, probably. I never had any intention of trying anything in it.
June 21, 2025
A fabulous cult classic among home tinkerers who like to see first then ask questions later, perfect for visual learners,
and for those who believe that science is not just for those in ivory towers.
a perfect partner to any periodic table book with hands on experiments that have that wow factor and spark joy .
the nitrogen ice cream is a favorite.
a must own for any backyard scientist.
and for those who believe that science is not just for those in ivory towers.
a perfect partner to any periodic table book with hands on experiments that have that wow factor and spark joy .
the nitrogen ice cream is a favorite.
a must own for any backyard scientist.
September 8, 2023
This book is so full of dangerous knowledge that it’s thrilling just to read about the peril these experiments create. Recommended for people wise enough to know better than to try any of this—the very first experiment warns that the materials can kill you and it’ll hurt the whole time.
April 3, 2019
Barely any information is provided on how to do the experiments. Don't understand the point of this book.
February 14, 2022
A delightful book that will teach you about the materials we hear about and use every day.
December 21, 2019
Theodore Gray's chemistry books:
Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe
Photos of Gray's collection of objects made of pure or nearly-pure chemical elements. Comparing this book to Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything drives home the fact that it's only in combining with other elements that the chemical elements become interesting.
Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything
Takes some of the mystery out of organic chemistry by showing the simple ways carbon combines with hydrogen and other atoms. Shows the "dictionary" of amino-acid codons genes are written in. This is much the most interesting of Gray's chemistry books (unless you intend to actually blow stuff up). In this book Gray chose his subjects for their chemically interesting properties he wanted to share. He laments that he ended up with a book of pictures of white powders.
Reactions: An Illustrated Exploration of Elements, Molecules, and Change in the Universe
Here Gray gives us colorful pictures and words. I didn't find the chemistry as interesting as in Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything.
Theodore Gray's Completely Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do At Home, But Probably Shouldn't , The Complete and Updated Edition
Crazy dangerous demonstrations, up to and including salting popcorn by reacting pure chlorine with pure sodium. Some of them are less life-threatening than that. Combines Theo Gray's Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do at Home - But Probably Shouldn't and Mad Science 2: Experiments You Can Do At Home, But STILL Probably Shouldn't.
Some insights Gray shares:
https://www.goodreads.com/trivia/auth...
Gray's Mathematica books: This is his day job. His boss, Stephen Wolfram, has praised Gray's ability to find simple ways to do the seemingly computationally impossible.
https://www.wolfram.com/books/search....
Exploring Mathematics with Mathematica: Dialogs Concerning Computers and Mathematics
The Beginner's Guide to Mathematica (R) Version 3
By the way, there's a version of Mathematica free online, Wolfram Alpha:
http://www.wolframalpha.com/
It can solve and plot. Astounding what it can do.
Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe
Photos of Gray's collection of objects made of pure or nearly-pure chemical elements. Comparing this book to Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything drives home the fact that it's only in combining with other elements that the chemical elements become interesting.
Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything
Takes some of the mystery out of organic chemistry by showing the simple ways carbon combines with hydrogen and other atoms. Shows the "dictionary" of amino-acid codons genes are written in. This is much the most interesting of Gray's chemistry books (unless you intend to actually blow stuff up). In this book Gray chose his subjects for their chemically interesting properties he wanted to share. He laments that he ended up with a book of pictures of white powders.
Reactions: An Illustrated Exploration of Elements, Molecules, and Change in the Universe
Here Gray gives us colorful pictures and words. I didn't find the chemistry as interesting as in Molecules: The Elements and the Architecture of Everything.
Theodore Gray's Completely Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do At Home, But Probably Shouldn't , The Complete and Updated Edition
Crazy dangerous demonstrations, up to and including salting popcorn by reacting pure chlorine with pure sodium. Some of them are less life-threatening than that. Combines Theo Gray's Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do at Home - But Probably Shouldn't and Mad Science 2: Experiments You Can Do At Home, But STILL Probably Shouldn't.
Some insights Gray shares:
https://www.goodreads.com/trivia/auth...
Gray's Mathematica books: This is his day job. His boss, Stephen Wolfram, has praised Gray's ability to find simple ways to do the seemingly computationally impossible.
https://www.wolfram.com/books/search....
Exploring Mathematics with Mathematica: Dialogs Concerning Computers and Mathematics
The Beginner's Guide to Mathematica (R) Version 3
By the way, there's a version of Mathematica free online, Wolfram Alpha:
http://www.wolframalpha.com/
It can solve and plot. Astounding what it can do.
December 19, 2016
I won a copy of this book and it has taken me a while to get to it. My 16 year old son got to it first and is adding things to his Christmas list so he can do some of the experiments himself. There are lots of very cool things in the book and some of them definitely fall into the "not in my house" category. Others I will enjoy performing with my 2 teen-aged boys. This definitely gets the creative juices flowing and is fostering an interest in science in our home.
April 17, 2011
Okay. I know. I just picked this book up today, how could I have read it that quickly? Then answer is simple. I haven't. It's a DIY book full of projects you can do all on your own with detailed instructions on how to do it and a bunch of fluff to fill it out. This book is impressive. There are few projects in here that are elementary to Jr. high level, while others are freakin hardcore bordering on the insane. I have already made a list of all the projects in this book that I plan on busting out with a second list for the not so impressive ones that looked fun to try out when I'm bored. This book is solid and spot on. There is however one thing that puts a bit of a damper on things with this book. The binding is hard back and doesn't lay flat. It's gonna be hard to work with the book right in front of you on your work bench unless you have a book easel or something similar. That's it though. The only draw back and it's a pretty small one if you ask this hillbilly DIY'er. It's worth the money and the time. Right when I thought it couldn't get any better than backyard ballistics this book comes waltzing into my life with a crescendo of mayhem in it. Look out world I aint done breaking things yet.
October 18, 2013
Another great book from Theo Gray. I don't think I liked it as much as his The Elements, but still a good read. I was expected it to contain more experiments that you could actually (practically and safely) do at home in hopes of using them in my chemistry classroom, but it was more of an FYI kind of read. There were a few that I think I could pull off, but most are too dangerous or too expensive. However, the pictures and explanations and history are FANTASTIC as always, and I will certainly read Mad Science 2.
October 23, 2013
This was better than the second edition of the book. I especially liked the description of what happens when you combine sodium metal and chlorine gas: "Combining them borders on lunacy". I also enjoyed his description of how to handle gold leaf: "Brushes known as gliders' tips, made of red squirrel hair (none of that gray squirrel crap mind you) are used to pick up the sheets by static electricity." Unfortunately none of the experiments he describes are way beyond what us ordinary people are able to carry out in our kitchens, porches or garages.
Want to read
July 23, 2009As seen in
Chemical & Engineering News
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June 5, 2011
good reading
February 21, 2013
Awesome book. Very cool exp.
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