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

From New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean comes incredible stories of science, history, finance, mythology, the arts, medicine, and more, as told by the Periodic Table.

Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters?

The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. The Disappearing Spoon masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery -- from the Big Bang through the end of time.

Though solid at room temperature, gallium is a moldable metal that melts at 84 degrees Fahrenheit. A classic science prank is to mold gallium spoons, serve them with tea, and watch guests recoil as their utensils disappear.

Author: Sam Kean
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Published: 06/06/2011
Pages: 416
Weight: 0.8lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.50w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9780316051637

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 10
Point Value: 19
Interest Level: Upper Grade
Quiz #/Name: 185983 / Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Per