The History Book Club discussion

This is the thread dedicated to the history and discussion of Chemistry. Please feel free to discuss any aspect of Chemistry and any books either non fiction or historical fiction which deal with this focus.

Here is one:

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

Sam Kean

Publisher's Synopsis:

The infectious tales and astounding details in The Disappearing Spoon follow carbon, neon, silicon, and gold as they play out their parts in human history, finance, mythology, war, the arts, poison, and the lives of the frequently mad scientists who discovered them.

Awards:

Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for History and Biography (2010)

Highly-rated biography of an amazing woman who won Nobel Prizes for both Physics and Chemistry, Marie Curie.

Marie Curie: A Life

Goodreads blurb:

One hundred years ago, Marie Curie discovered radioactivity, for which she won the Nobel Prize in physics. In 1911 she won an unprecedented second Nobel Prize, this time in chemistry, for isolating new radioactive elements. Despite these achievements, or perhaps because of her fame, she has remained a saintly, unapproachable genius. From family documents and a private journal only recently made available, Susan Quinn at last tells the full human story. From the stubborn sixteen-year-old studying science at night while working as a governess, to her romance and scientific partnership with Pierre Curie—an extraordinary marriage of equals—we feel her defeats as well as her successes: her rejection by the French Academy, her unbearable grief at Pierre’s untimely and gruesome death, and her retreat into a love affair with a married fellow scientist, causing a scandal which almost cost her the second Nobel Prize. In Susan Quinn’s fully dimensional portrait, we come at last to know this complicated, passionate, brilliant woman.

by Susan Quinn (no photo)

Here's a look at the seemingly innocent agents - in cosmetics, pills, toys and more - that could kill you.

by M. Alice Ottoboni

Synopsis

This new edition of a widely-read and highly-acclaimed book broadens the scope of its predecessors from a heavy focus on industrial chemicals as toxicants to include drugs, food additives, cosmetics and other types of compounds that people are exposed to daily. Also new to the 3rd edition are newer issues-of-the-day such as nanoparticulate toxicants, second hand smoke, food contamination, lead in toys, and others. As such, the book provides the basics of toxicology in easy-to-understand language as well as a fuller understanding of the daily insults to which our bodies are subjected

Thank you Jill for the add.

Looks kind of fun:

Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History
by Penny Lecouteur
Synopsis
Napoleon's Buttons is the fascinating account of seventeen groups of molecules that have greatly influenced the course of history. These molecules provided the impetus for early exploration, and made possible the voyages of discovery that ensued. The molecules resulted in grand feats of engineering and spurred advances in medicine and law; they determined what we now eat, drink, and wear. A change as small as the position of an atom can lead to enormous alterations in the properties of a substance-which, in turn, can result in great historical shifts.

With lively prose and an eye for colorful and unusual details, Le Couteur and Burreson offer a novel way to understand the shaping of civilization and the workings of our contemporary world.

This sounds both informative and a little scarry:

Why There's Antifreeze in Your Toothpaste: The Chemistry of Household Ingredients
by Simon Quellen Field
Synopsis
Explaining why antifreeze is a component of toothpaste and how salt works in shampoo, this fascinating handbook delves into the chemistry of everyday household products. Decoding more than 150 cryptic ingredients, the guide explains each component's structural formula, offers synonymous names, and describes its common uses. This informative resource can serve curious readers as a basic primer to commercial chemistry or as an indexed reference for specific compounds found on a product label. Grouped according to type, these chemical descriptions will dissolve common misunderstandings and help make consumers more product savvy.

Well that is creepy.

Thank you Kathy.

Thank you so much Kathy for the adds.

Kathy wrote: "Cathedrals of Science: The Personalities and Rivalries That Made Modern Chemistry
"

Thank you Kathy. I am very much interested in history of science and technology. This looks an interestring book to me and I put it on my to read list.

Great adds Kathy.

The Chemistry of Alchemy: From Dragon's Blood to Donkey Dung, How Chemistry Was Forged

by Cathy Cobb (no photo)

Synopsis:

In this exploration of the ancient art of alchemy, three veteran chemists show that the alchemists' quest involved real science and they recount fascinating stories of the sages who performed these strange experiments.

Why waste more words on this weird deviation in the evolution of chemistry? As the authors show, the writings of medieval alchemists may seem like the ravings of brain-addled fools, but there is more to the story than that.

Recent scholarship has shown that some seemingly nonsensical mysticism is, in fact, decipherable code, and Western European alchemists functioned from a firmer theoretical foundation than previously thought. They had a guiding principle, based on experience: separate and purify materials by fire and reconstitute them into products, including, of course, gold and the universal elixir, the Philosophers' stone.

Their efforts were not in vain: by trial, by error, by design, and by persistence, the alchemists discovered acids, alkalis, alcohols, salts, and exquisite, powerful, and vibrant reactions--which can be reproduced using common products, minerals, metals, and salts.

I missed it myself (smile)

Fun Kathy

Chemistry

by Steven S. Zumdahl (no photo) and Susan Zumdahl (no photo)

Synopsis:

Authors Steven and Susan Zumdahl offer all the elements instructors need for their general chemistry course. They bring a conceptual approach to chemistry and integrate problem-solving skills throughout, helping students transition from theory to practice. A strong emphasis on models, real-world applications, and visual learning prevails throughout the text. The Seventh Edition seamlessly integrates the strengths of the Zumdahl approach through a comprehensive and interwoven print and technology program. Enhanced Sample Exercises, online homework problems, and Classroom Response System content help instructors assess conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills, while new animations and images support visual learning. In addition, Houghton Mifflin offers implementation services through our TeamUP program to help instructors and students get the most out of the text and its supplements.

The Story of Alchemy and the Beginnings of Chemistry

by M Pattison Muir (no photo)

Synopsis:

The quest to turn base metals into gold captured the imagination of some of the finest minds of the enlightenment, this exciting book looks at the experiments carried out in dark basements away from the eye's of the public and the church. Little did these pioneers realise they were setting the foundation for one of the most fundamental sciences. Matthew Moncrieff Pattison Muir (1848 1931) was a chemist and author. He taught chemistry at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and was head of the Caius Laboratory there. Although he published some research on bismuth compounds. He became better known as a writer than researcher though, through his numerous textbooks and history of chemistry treatises.

The Matter Factory: A History of the Chemistry Laboratory

by Peter J. T. Morris (no photo)

Synopsis:

White coats, Bunsen burners, beakers, flasks, and pipettes—the furnishings of the chemistry laboratory are familiar to most of us from our school days, but just how did these items come to be the crucial tools of science? Examining the history of the laboratory, Peter J. T. Morris offers a unique way to look at the history of chemistry itself, showing how the development of the laboratory helped shape modern chemistry.

Chemists, Morris shows, are one of the leading drivers of innovation in laboratory design and technology. He tells of fascinating lineages of invention and innovation, for instance, how the introduction of coal gas into Robert Wilhelm Bunsen’s laboratory led to the eponymous burner, which in turn led to the development of atomic spectroscopy. Comparing laboratories across eras, from the furnace-centered labs that survived until the late eighteenth century to the cleanrooms of today, he shows how the overlooked aspects of science—the architectural design and innovative tools that have facilitated its practice—have had a profound impact on what science has been able to do and, ultimately, what we have been able to understand.

Thank you Jerome and Francie

Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout

by Lauren Redniss (no photo)

Synopsis:

In 1891, 24 year old Marie, née Marya Sklodowska, moved from Warsaw to Paris, where she found work in the laboratory of Pierre Curie, a scientist engaged in research on heat and magnetism. They fell in love. They took their honeymoon on bicycles. They expanded the periodic table, discovering two new elements with startling properties, radium and polonium. They recognized radioactivity as an atomic property, heralding the dawn of a new scientific era. They won the Nobel Prize. Newspapers mythologized the couple's romance, beginning articles on the Curies with "Once upon a time . . . " Then, in 1906, Pierre was killed in a freak accident. Marie continued their work alone. She won a second Nobel Prize in 1911, and fell in love again, this time with the married physicist Paul Langevin. Scandal ensued. Duels were fought.

In the century since the Curies began their work, we've struggled with nuclear weapons proliferation, debated the role of radiation in medical treatment, and pondered nuclear energy as a solution to climate change. In Radioactive, Lauren Redniss links these contentious questions to a love story in 19th Century Paris.

Radioactive draws on Redniss's original reporting in Asia, Europe and the United States, her interviews with scientists, engineers, weapons specialists, atomic bomb survivors, and Marie and Pierre Curie's own granddaughter.

Whether young or old, scientific novice or expert, no one will fail to be moved by Lauren Redniss's eerie and wondrous evocation of one of history's most intriguing figures.

Thank you for the wonderful adds Francie

Thank you for being so patient with me.

That is never a problem for someone as great a community contributor as you are.

The Miracle Molecule: Explaining The Biological Importance Of Water

by Jonathan Clark (no photo)

Synopsis:

Without it, life would not exist on this planet. It is essential to all living things. It is an extraordinary molecule with extraordinary properties. This is the only planet in the Solar System where its liquid form has been found. All of us humans are made up of around two thirds of it…

I am talking of course about: water - the miracle molecule.

What I aim to do in this book is explain the biological importance of water, in terms of water’s unique chemical properties.

The Chemistry Book: From Gunpowder to Graphene, 250 Milestones in the History of Chemistry

by Derek B. Lowe (no photo)

Synopsis:

From atoms and fluorescent pigments to sulfa drug synthesis and buckyballs, this lush and authoritative chronology presents 250 milestones in the world of chemistry. As the "central science" that bridges biology and physics, chemistry plays an important role in countless medical and technological advances. Covering entertaining stories and unexpected applications, chemist and journalist Derek B. Lowe traces the most important—and surprising—chemical discoveries.

Chemistry: The Central Science

by Theodore L. Brown (no photo)

Synopsis:

"The trusted, innovative, calibrated leader-now tightly-integrated with MasteringChemistry(R)"

Unrivaled problems, notable scientific accuracy and currency, and remarkable clarity have made "Chemistry: The Central Science" the leading general chemistry text for more than a decade.

Trusted, innovative, and calibrated, the text increases conceptual understanding and student success in general chemistry by building on the expertise of the dynamic author team of leading researchers and award-winning professors.

The new Thirteenth Edition builds on the Twelfth Edition's major revision, in which every word and piece of art was scrutinized by all the authors to increase its effectiveness. Placing a greater emphasis on research, this edition is more tightly integrated with MasteringChemistry, the leading online homework, tutorial, and assessment program"--" resulting in an unparalleled teaching and learning package that personalizes learning and coaches students toward understanding and mastery of tough chemistry topics.

This program presents a better teaching and learning experience--for you and your students. It provides: Superior support beyond the classroom with MasteringChemistry: Students benefit from personalized, interactive learning through MasteringChemistry's self-paced tutorials that guide them through the text's most challenging topics; provide immediate, specific feedback; and keep students engaged and on track.

Enhanced learning from a dynamic author team of leading researchers and award-winning professors Each member of this well-respected author team brings their expertise in a wide range of areas to the pages of this popular text.

All authors have been active researchers and have taught general chemistry for many years.

Improved conceptual understanding through stepped up, relevant pedagogy Students get numerous opportunities to test their knowledge through Give It Some Thought (GIST) exercises, Go Figure questions, and A Closer Look essays, now integrated with clicker questions and in MasteringChemistry.Invaluable aids that ensure problem-solving success: By using a consistent process, a unique Analyze/Plan/Solve/Check format, dual-column problem-solving approach in certain areas, a new practice exercise following each worked example, and the Strategies in Chemistry feature, students are placed on the right path from the very start to excel at problem solving and comprehension.

Clarity through visualization from a variety of perspectives, including macroscopic, microscopic, and symbolic: Included are Visualizing Concepts exercises, with models, graphs, and other visual materials; sample exercises with molecular illustrations; and conceptual questions in the end-of-chapter questions.

Note: You are purchasing a standalone product; MasteringChemistry does not come packaged with this content.

If you would like to purchase "both "the physical text and MasteringChemistry search for ISBN-10: 0321864409/ISBN-13: 9780321864406.

That package includes ISBN-10: 0321910419/ISBN-13: 9780321910417 and ISBN-10: 0321934245/ISBN-13: 9780321934246.

MasteringChemistry is not a self-paced technology and should only be purchased when required by an instructor.