The Disappearing Spoon, and Other True Tales of Rivalry, Adventure, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

The Disappearing Spoon, and Other True Tales of Rivalry, Adventure, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

Paperback (17 Oct 2019)

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Publisher's Synopsis

Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? Why did the Japanese kill Godzilla with missiles made of cadmium (Cd, 48)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why did tellurium (Te, 52) lead to the most bizarre gold rush in history?

The periodic table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, greed, betrayal, and obsession. The fascinating tales in The Disappearing Spoon follow elements on the table as they play out their parts in human history, finance, mythology, conflict, the arts, medicine, and the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them.

Adapted for a middle grade audience, the young readers edition of The Disappearing Spoon offers the material in a simple, easy-to-follow format, with approximately 20 line drawings and sidebars throughout. Students, teachers, and burgeoning science buffs will love learning about the history behind the chemistry.

Book information

ISBN: 9780316388276
Publisher: Little, Brown
Imprint: Little, Brown Young Readers
Pub date:
DEWEY: 546
DEWEY edition: 23
Language: English
Number of pages: 240
Weight: 240g
Height: 152mm
Width: 211mm
Spine width: 15mm