Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering (4th Edition) (Prentice Hall International Series in the Physical and Chemical Engineering Sciences)

Average customer rating:

Very clear about concepts

Absolutely worth buying

Excellent Book

Great Book

Excellent Book

Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering (4th Edition) (Prentice Hall International Series in the Physical and Chemical Engineering Sciences)
H. Scott Fogler
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall PTR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0130473944

Customer Reviews:

Very clear about concepts.......2007-08-17

The book was very clear in the concepts it introduced. Laid out clearly the derivations and especially appreciated the topic sentence on the side of each paragraph. Although the book is clear in the text, I wish the summaries at the end of each chapter would list the assumptions that it makes for each equation so you don't have to look back to the rest of the chapter.

Absolutely worth buying.......2004-11-26

This book is good not only as a text book because of the simple way it presents the subject, the problems, and the complementary examples on the CD. It is also a great reference, because it has every chapter sumarized by the end, with the formulas. It includes multiple examples both on the book and the Cd, and allows full use of computational tools applied on the problem solving.

Excellent Book.......2004-05-10

Best book by far that I have had as undergrad. Highly recommended. We all love it at the University of Utah.

Great Book.......2004-03-01

This has been the best chemical engineering book in my undergraduate education, BY FAR. Not only does the book rpesent concepts that are easy to understand, but they are also reinforced continually with plenty of example problems from the accompanying CD. The CD also has a few modules and "games" to help out. All in all, from the standpoint of an undergraduate dealing with this course material, the book is excellent in helping students with different learning styles learn the material. I have no knowledge whether the depth of the subject is thorough enough for real world applications, but I suspect it is.

Excellent Book.......2003-05-15

In contrast with what my fellow Ann Arbor reviewer (and most likely UM ChE student), I tended to think that Fogler's book was an excellent way by which to learn the principles of Chemical Reaction Engineering. The book is well organized and while the chapters may skip some, the principle chapters (1-6 in the sixth printing) are the recommended starting chapters. Once passing through chapters 1 - 6, the topics do deviate some, but the fundamental principles necessary to understand any of the topics in chapters 7 and beyond are well established prior to engaging the later material. While my colleague from Ann Arbor may be correct in noting that there are several different printings of the third edition text, Fogler provides adequate typo errors on the text website. In terms of POLYMATH, Fogler does rely on this computer software to show many of the examples in his book. For a good bulk of the examples and homework problems, however, the operation of POLYMATH is extremely easy. If one knows how to type equations into a table and press a 'calculate' button, one can easily run POLYMATH. Fogler provides the program on the CD that accompanies the text. It makes solving differential equations (and their solution curves) much easier than doing so by hand.

I must say that this is the best Chemical Engineering textbook I've had as a student (Geankopolis was a close second). Fogler establishes the principles of CRE well, and the language of the text is not above and beyond reading comprehension. The style Fogler uses is very algorithmic, which, after utilizing the algorithm over and over again, makes reactor design problems much easier to deal with.

Having been one of Fogler's students, I will agree that he tries very hard to relate to students. He is the only professor I've had that tries to learn each student's name. While there might be a few interesting (cheesy) examples and illustrations in the book, they do at times provide some comical relief from the rigors of Chemical Reaction Engineering. Not to mention, the additional material (Interactive Computer Modules, Real World Examples, Chaper Notes, Self Tests) that Fogler provides on the text CD an website are available to further enrich the mind of a struggling learner.

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Clinical Nutrition of the Essential Trace Elements and Minerals (Nutrition and Health)

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Essential Information

Clinical Nutrition of the Essential Trace Elements and Minerals (Nutrition and Health)

Manufacturer: Humana Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0896035980

Book Description

Despite widespread interest in nutrition and the public's appetite for fresh information from health professionals, health care providers often lack accurate, clinically relevant, and current information on topics of special concern to their patients. In Clinical Nutrition of the Essential Trace Elements and Minerals: The Guide for Health Professionals, John Bogden, PhD, Leslie Klevay, MD, and a host of recognized experts address this major gap in the literature with a comprehensive, up-to-date survey of the biological roles and clinical importance of mineral and trace element nutrients. These authoritative researchers and clinicians review the clinical relevance of trace elements and minerals such as chromium, copper, fluoride, iron, iodine, molybdenum, manganese, selenium, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus to a wide variety of medical conditions. Among the diseases treated are genetic, endocrine, skeletal, cardiovascular, kidney, gastrointestinal, infectious, surgical, and ophthalmologic disorders. The authors also discuss trace element and mineral nutrition in healthy people, with chapters on pregnancy, lactation, adolescents, and older people. Chapters on preagricultural and modern consumption patterns, epidemiology, and laboratory diagnostic tests are also included. Timely and comprehensive, Clinical Nutrition of the Essential Trace Elements and Minerals: The Guide for Health Professionals offers today's physicians, nutritionists, and dietitians an authoritative resource replete with sound dietary and medical advice suitable for daily use with their clients and patients.

Customer Reviews:

Essential Information.......2006-02-16

This book is a necessary trace element we all should read, and translate to our understanding, to learn how the trace minerals we are told are poisonous actually help us be healthier when we consume them in their proper balance.

The Periodic Table: Its Story and Its Significance

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A book that honors "one of the most powerful icons in science"
Beautiful Patterns
An instant classic
A brilliant achievement

The Periodic Table: Its Story and Its Significance
Eric R. Scerri
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0195305736

Book Description

The periodic table is one of the most potent icons in science. It lies at the core of chemistry and embodies the most fundamental principles of the field. The one definitive text on the development of the periodic table by van Spronsen (1969), has been out of print for a considerable time. The present book provides a successor to van Spronsen, but goes further in giving an evaluation of the extent to which modern physics has, or has not, explained the periodic system. The book is written in a lively style to appeal to experts and interested lay-persons alike. The Periodic Table begins with an overview of the importance of the periodic table and of the elements and it examines the manner in which the term 'element' has been interpreted by chemists and philosophers. The book then turns to a systematic account of the early developments that led to the classification of the elements including the work of Lavoisier, Boyle and Dalton and Cannizzaro. The precursors to the periodic system, like Dobereiner and Gmelin, are discussed. In chapter 3 the discovery of the periodic system by six independent scientists is examined in detail. Two chapters are devoted to the discoveries of Mendeleev, the leading discoverer, including his predictions of new elements and his accommodation of already existing elements. Chapters 6 and 7 consider the impact of physics including the discoveries of radioactivity and isotopy and successive theories of the electron including Bohr's quantum theoretical approach. Chapter 8 discusses the response to the new physical theories by chemists such as Lewis and Bury who were able to draw on detailed chemical knowledge to correct some of the early electronic configurations published by Bohr and others. Chapter 9 provides a critical analysis of the extent to which modern quantum mechanics is, or is not, able to explain the periodic system from first principles. Finally, chapter 10 considers the way that the elements evolved following the Big Bang and in the interior of stars. The book closes with an examination of further chemical aspects including lesser known trends within the periodic system such as the knight's move relationship and secondary periodicity, as well at attempts to explain such trends.

Customer Reviews:

A book that honors "one of the most powerful icons in science".......2007-04-12

XXXXX

"In spite of the central...role of the periodic table [of the elements], very few authors have felt drawn to write books on its evolution. There is no book that deals adequately with the historical, and especially the conceptual, aspects of the periodic system [that holds that there is a fundamental relationship among the elements] or its significance in chemistry and science generally. It is with the aim of injecting a more philosophical treatment to understanding the periodic system that [this book] has been undertaken...this book is not intended as a work of historical scholarship...the reader is [taken] on an interdisciplinary tour of the many areas of science that are connected with the periodic system, including physics, mathematics, computational methods, history and philosophy of science, and of course, chemistry."

The above is found in the introduction to this fascinating, extremely well researched book by Dr. Eric Scerri, a professor of chemistry and history & philosophy of science at UCLA. This book is fittingly dedicated to the 100TH anniversary of the death of Dimitri Mendeleev (1834 to 1907).

The periodic table of the elements--what is it? Simply, it is basically a two-dimensional representation of a periodic system (that is explained above). The aim of this book is to bring the story of the periodic table "up to date."

This book from my own personal perspective can roughly be divided into five parts:

(I) An overview of the periodic system. (1 chapter)
(II) The development of the periodic table. (4 chapters)
(III) The nucleus and the periodic table: radioactivity, atomic number (the number of protons contained in the nucleus of the atom of an element), and isotopy (isotopes are any of two or more forms of an element having the same number of protons but differing in the number of neutrons). (1 chapter)
(IV) Electronic explanations for the elements of the periodic table: physics versus chemistry. (3 chapters)
(V) Astrophysics, element formation, other chemical trends that defy neat explanations, and three fundamental questions regarding the periodic table. (1 chapter)

One of the key features of this book, as mentioned above, is that it is well researched. However, Scerri goes one step beyond mere information gathering. He actually questions the information he has found. Here are just three examples:

(1) "The notion that the periodic table was deduced from quantum theory by [physicist Niels] Bohr [as the historical record implies] is something of an exaggeration."
(2) "This, I submit, suggests remarkable foresight and intuition on the part of [chemical writer] Gmelin, as does the way in which he uses his system to ground the presentation of the chemistry of these elements. Yet Gmelin's contribution to the classification of the elements has not been sufficiently appreciated of chemistry, or even historians of the periodic system."
(3) Clearly [chemist Dimitri] Mendeleev was spectacularly successful in [his] predictions [of new elements] but perhaps not quite to the extent that is implied by the more selective tables of comparison that regularly appear in chemistry textbooks and even histories of chemistry."

Another feature of this book is the inclusion of the actual writings of key people involved in the development of the periodic table. I found all of these interesting.

Yet another feature is that it is jam-packed with charts, tables, diagrams, etc. so readers can see for themselves what is going on. Some of these tables, etc. are actual copies from historical documents. As well, there are black and white portraits of some of those who contributed to some aspect of the formation and understanding of the periodic table.

The majority of the chapters end with a conclusion that consolidates all the information in a particular chapter. I found these most helpful.

Finally, I feel that this book can be read by all who are interested in the periodic table. However, the author assumes some science background. Many terms are defined in the book's main narrative but many are not. Thus, it would have been helpful if an appendix explaining key terms was also included. As well, a glossary would have been most helpful. Of course, any difficulties can be resolved by referring to a good, standard dictionary or even a basic science dictionary (especially for part IV above).

In conclusion, there are elements of the periodic table that are named after admired others. Examples include Einsteinium and Mendelevium. Eric Scerri has written a comprehensive book that honors the periodic table. Perhaps when a new element is discovered it should be named "Scerrium."

(first published 2006; acknowledgements; introduction; 10 chapters; main narrative 285 pages; notes; index)

XXXXX

Beautiful Patterns.......2007-01-05

Humans are exquisitely good at finding patterns. Sometimes those patterns turn out to be illusory, such as the constellations. Sometimes they turn out to be very real, such as the patterns illustrated by the periodic table of the elements. Eric Scerri, in his book The Periodic Table, has done an excellent job of presenting a "warts and all" history of the periodic table. Instead of presenting the "heroes only" version of the history of the periodic table [speaking of illusory patterns] found in most high school and college textbooks, he gives us a full historical view with all the players, big and small, and shows how even ideas that turned out to be wrong had a positive effect on getting us to the periodic table we use today. Although scientists may someday show that the periodic table ultimately reduces to quantum mechanics, Professor Scerri shows us why we can't say that with the level of certainty with which it is often presented in chemistry classes [the next time I find chemistry among my preps at the high school where I teach, I will be much better prepared to deal with the periodic table]. The interested lay reader should find the book quite accessible, but a knowledge of high school chemistry, especially in the later chapters where electron configurations are presented [idea for the paperback - include an appendix that covers some chemistry basics like electron configurations], will help. Knowledge of the terminology used in the study of philosophy will also help the reader. This book should be of interest to folks with an interest in the history and philosophy of science, even if they don't have a specific interest in chemistry and the periodic table, especially fans of Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. I strongly suggest that The Periodic Table become required reading for all high school chemistry teachers! John Emsley is still my favorite writer on chemical topics, but Eric Scerri moves to a place not far behind.

An instant classic.......2007-01-03

The Periodic Table is one of the most iconic symbols in our culture. Every person interested in the physical world in which we live will want to read this book. It is also a masterful history of the people involved in the establishment of the periodic law of chemistry. The gradual growth in awareness of the regularities of the elements is the main theme of this work. It is already a classic in its first year in print!

A brilliant achievement.......2006-12-28

Scerri's work is a rich and fascinating account of the history, development and current significance of the Periodic Table: if you have any interest in chemistry you should read it. In his book he describes how the Period System was discovered (giving due credit to Mendeleev, but also to many others who deserve their place in the history of discovery),showing how it was received by other chemists. The most interesting part for me is in the brilliant later chapters, where the role of the Periodic System in influencing Bohr's ideas on the atom, and the nature of the relationship between quantum theory and empirical evidence is presented as clearly as you will find anywhere. Chemistry emerges not (as Dirac once claimed) entirely reduced to physics, but as a still-developing science in which quantum mechanics plays an important but not yet wholly reductive role.

Nature's Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements

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A fascinating tour de force
Fantastic
Building Blocks is a Delighful Read; fails as a solid reference
Ah, cool chem book...wish I had had it a semester ago...
Great source for Elemental Education

Nature's Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements
John Emsley
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0198503407

Book Description

A readable, informative, fascinating entry on each one of the 100-odd chemical elements, arranged alphabetically from actinium to zirconium. Each entry comprises an explanation of where the element's name comes from, followed by Body element (the role it plays in living things), Element of history (how and when it was discovered), Economic element (what it is used for), Environmental element (where it occurs, how much), Chemical element (facts, figures and narrative), and Element of surprise (an amazing, little-known fact about it). A wonderful 'dipping into' source for the family reference shelf and for students.

Customer Reviews:

A fascinating tour de force.......2007-03-14

This is an outstanding piece of work aimed at the intellectually and scientifically curious that also works as a nice reference book on the elements and the Periodic Table.

After a short introduction filled with some top ten tables (e.g., top ten elements in the earth's crust: "Oxygen 466,000" parts per million, "Silicon 277,000" p.p.m., etc.) Emsley spins out a chapter per element in alphabetical order beginning with Actinium and ending with Zirconium. Each chapter is filled with interesting and specific information about the element in question. In the chapter on carbon, for example--understandably one of the longest in the book (7 pages), since carbon is so important to us and so plentiful--there are sections entitled "COSMIC ELEMENT, HUMAN ELEMENT, FOOD ELEMENT, MEDICAL ELEMENT, ELEMENT OF HISTORY, ELEMENT OF WAR, ECONOMIC ELEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENT, CHEMICAL ELEMENT," and "ELEMENT OF SURPRISE."

The idea is to place each element in terms of its importance in these various categories as well as giving all sorts of information about its history, abundance and uses. In the ELEMENT OF SURPRISE section Emsley usually comes up with something unusual or striking about the use or the history of the element. In the case of iron, Emsley cites a research project that "fertilized" a barren part of the ocean west of the Galapagos Islands with iron sulfate with dramatic results: "Within a week this barren span of ocean bloomed and turned green with plankton, proving that it was simply lack of this metal that was limiting their growth." (p. 211)

Included in the sections are tables showing how much of the element is in the human body (in the blood, in bones and tissues), and how much is in the environment (in the crust, in the soil, in sea water, and the atmosphere). A third table gives the element's chemical symbol, its atomic number, its atomic weight, melting point, boiling point, density and oxides, if any.

There is a final chapter on the history and development of the Periodic Table, which I found interesting. One of Emsley's strengths is his ability to make the material just so fascinating to read. Part of that comes from his obvious love for his subject matter. He is so good he makes me regret that I did not study chemistry when I was young. Just reading this book has opened my eyes to some of the ideas of chemistry and has greatly improved my knowledge of what the elements are like and how they interact with one another to form various molecules as they become familiar and not so familiar substances.

Here are examples of some of the fascinating details that can be found in the book:

"Iridium is the most corrosion-resistant metal known... The standard metre bar, kept in Paris, is made of a platinum-iridium alloy (90% platinum and 10% iridium) but this was superseded as the basic unit of length in 1960 by a line in the atomic spectrum of krypton (see p. 213)."

And on page 213 we find that "The standard was changed in 1983 to one based on the speed of light in a vacuum, a metre being the distance light travelled in 1/299 793 458th of a second, as measured by a light beam from a helium-neon laser."

"Inside the body, iron, as iron(III), is strongly bound by transferrin, a protein found in serum and other secretions... Transferrin binds iron tightly and, because it does so, it acts as a powerful antibiotic simply by denying this essential metal to any invading bacteria which need iron to multiply. As soon as our body registers a bacterial invasion, it produces more transferrin to mop up any free iron in the blood stream and 'hide' it in the liver." (p. 206)

"Neodymium-iron-boron (NIB) magnets are so powerful that those handling them must wear protective glasses--they fly together with such force that they can shatter and send splinters flying in all directions. At times young people have used these industrial magnets to attach ornaments to their cheeks by putting one of the small magnets on the inside of the mouth. However, the magnet and ornament have then proved impossible to pull apart, sometimes necessitating a visit to a hospital for surgical removal." (p. 270)

I have two suggestions for the next edition: (1) provide an index; (2) give us the value of the elements in terms of current (or relative) dollars or Euros. It would be fun to compare. (I realize that in some cases, the value of an element because it is so rare or not used for anything would be just an educated guess, but that's okay.)

Another interesting book by John Emsley is The Thirteenth Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus (2000). See my review.

Fantastic .......2006-06-08

Dittos to all who gave this book 5 stars. This is a fact filled book that anyone would find interesting.

Building Blocks is a Delighful Read; fails as a solid reference.......2006-02-19

While I am greatly enjoying Nature's Building Blocks by John Emsley, I am sorely disappointed in not finding an index for this wonderful book. When trying to go back and pull out some gem or another, I find myself groping and grumbling at this editorial oversight.

Ah, cool chem book...wish I had had it a semester ago..........2005-12-16

I've been teaching chemistry for the last three semester at our local community college. Never mind the fact that my major was in neuroscience (emphasis on studying disease in the brain). I had loads of chemistry classes, so it wasn't like I was coming into these classrooms with no previous knowledge.

But I've been having problems first of all with the quality of the textbooks recommended to teach with...actually, had to beg the school to get a different book because the chem textbook they were using was very wrong in so many problems and even basic text. Not only was I finding them, but the students were finding them also.

The next problem I'm having is the overwhelming emphasis put in general chemistry on math, rather than on the science of chemistry and the elements. Yes, the students need basic algebraic constructs, but if all the teaching in chemistry is mathematically-related, I lose my students very quickly in an area which can be loads of fun to study (given a great teacher who knows how to teach it...which I luckily had two great teachers in chemistry).

So I've been looking at the books being recommended to me by Amazon.com, and this is the third book. I liked the other ones. They were fun and had some hilarious history, but first of all I want my students to become really familiar with the periodical table and all of the elements. All the math in the world, without a basic understanding of the elements is going to lead no where, especially since my students are usually going into medical fields.

This book is clean and concisely written, and I can hardly wait to use it this coming semester.

Karen Sadler
Chemistry
Community Colleg of Allegheny County

Great source for Elemental Education.......2005-10-09

I loved this book. I am teaching an introduction to chemistry course and a general chemistry course. This book has been an invaluable tool for having interesting facts about the elements at my fingertips.

Plutonium: A History of the World's Most Dangerous Element

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The Physics, Chemistry and History of Plutonium
The Ninety-Fourth Element
Why can't everybody write like Bernstein ?

Plutonium: A History of the World's Most Dangerous Element
Jeremy Bernstein
Manufacturer: Joseph Henry Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0309102960

Customer Reviews:

The Physics, Chemistry and History of Plutonium.......2007-07-24

In this excellent book, the author pulls no punches in describing the science of plutonium. Starting with some relevant history, he zeroes in on this new element: its discovery, its nuclear properties and its unexpected physical and chemical ones. What makes this book particularly fascinating is the fact that the author has personally known many of the scientists involved. Consequently, the reader is treated to an intimate glimpse of what some of these people were like - something that one would be less likely to get in a standard history book. The writing style is friendly, authoritative, engaging and extremely clear - a trademark of this author. Because of the technical nature of much of its content this book would likely be most enjoyed by serious science buffs and those with a technical/scientific background.

The Ninety-Fourth Element.......2007-06-18

Jeremy Bernstein is a prolific writer on physics and physicists, and mountaineering. These interests coincide with my own. I like reading his essays and books because he knows how to tell a story. In this work, he covers the history of nuclear physics from the discovery of the periodic table through today. particularly as the events lead to the 94th element, plutonium. He tells the story of the people who developed the theory and practice of nuclear fission eventually resulting in the use of the mass-239 isotope of plutonium in nuclear weapons. If you think that science is without politics, you have to read this history.

I have worked with accelerators and reactors to transform elements from one into another, doing modern-day alchemy. I can give you a recipe for turning lead into gold. However, I never paid particular attention to the process of nuclear fission. Why are the isotopes uranium-235 and plutonium-239 suited for nuclear fission? Now, following Bernstein's explanation, I understand why. Simply, the even numbed isotopes of these elements are more stable. They have a lower energy than the odd isotopes. The addition of a single neutron to the odd-mass isotopes lowers the total energy of the nucleus. The excess energy liberated in the process induces the nucleus to fission. Bernstein explains this in clear language as he does for all of the chemistry, atomic, and nuclear physics in the book.

Others have suggested that the real threat of nuclear proliferation lies in the use of highly-enriched uranium. Uranium bombs may be easier for the amateur to construct than plutonium bombs. Bernstein notes that you can buy a gram of uranium-235 from Oak Ridge for $57. For $2.4 million you could buy enough to make a bomb. Of course, Oak Ridge will not sell you that much. The author is concerned with the world-wide total of about 155 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium. That much plutonium can make a lot of nuclear weapons. There is very little good use that this stockpile can be put to. Some of it may be used to fuel nuclear reactors. However, the chemistry of plutonium is difficult and the economic feasibility of plutonium reactors is not clear. There is a National Academy of Sciences report that you can read on-line: Management and Disposition of Excess Weapons Plutonium: Reactor-Related Options (1995). There is no easy solution to the problem of what do to with all this plutonium.

Why can't everybody write like Bernstein ?.......2007-05-23

We've all heard about plutonium - from its use in nuclear weapons to its use in generators for satellites. But what do we know about plutonium ? Surprisingly, almost nothing. This is where this book enters. It is written in a clear, simple way. It reads like a novel. Whenever a background explanation is necessary there are at most a couple of pages with the main concepts. Why can't everybody write like Bernstein ?

The Chemistry of the Actinide and Transactinide Elements (5 Volume Set)

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The Chemistry of the Actinide and Transactinide Elements (5 Volume Set)

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1402035551

Book Description

The Chemistry of the Actinide and Transactinide Elements is a contemporary and definitive compilation of chemical properties of all of the actinide elements, especially of the technologically important elements uranium and plutonium, as well as the transactinide elements. In addition to the comprehensive treatment of the chemical properties of each element, ion, and compound from atomic number 89 (actinium) through to 109 (meitnerium), this multi-volume work has specialized and definitive chapters on electronic theory, optical and laser fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, organoactinide chemistry, thermodynamics, magnetic properties, the metals, coordination chemistry, separations, and trace analysis. Several chapters deal with environmental science, safe handling, and biological interactions of the actinide elements.

The Editors invited teams of authors, who are active practitioners and recognized experts in their specialty, to write each chapter and have endeavoured to provide a balanced and insightful treatment of these fascinating elements at the frontier of the periodic table. Because the field has expanded with new spectroscopic techniques and environmental focus, the work encompasses five volumes, each of which groups chapters on related topics. All chapters represent the current state of research in the chemistry of these elements and related fields.

Originally published by Wiley, New York, 1957/8 and Chapman & Hall, 1986

The Biological Chemistry of the Elements: The Inorganic Chemistry of Life

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Great info that desperately needs an editor!
excellent reference book
Great reference for biochemist or inorganic chemist.

The Biological Chemistry of the Elements: The Inorganic Chemistry of Life
J. J. R. Frausto da Silva , and R. J. P. Williams
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0198508484

Book Description

Twenty inorganic elements, mostly metal ions, are consistently found in living systems and are essential for living systems to function correctly. The aim of this text is to discuss, describe, and explain the functional relevance of those elements: the reasons for their selection; the processes of their uptake, transport and final localization in cells; the regulation of these processes; and the interactive network of their reactions that connects the in vivo inorganic elements to the environment and to the genome. The first seven chapters describe the physical, chemical, and biological principles of the involvement of the elements in cellular activity, stressing how inorganic and organic chemicals react differently together in different compartments. The next twelve chapters describe the uses of the individual essential inorganic elements and a section on the genetic control of each element is included. The final chapter discusses how the interaction of genes, proteins, small molecules, and inorganic elements plays an important role in evolution and the speciation of organisms. The second edition of 'The Biological Chemistry of The Elements' has been thoroughly revised in content and style. The main additions to the first edition concern the discussion of the links to the genome of the uptake and transfer of inorganic elements and the regulation of homeostasis, the functional co-operative activities of the elements, the interaction with the environment, and the evolution of usage. Recent structural and mechanistic knowledge of many biomolecules and organelles are also included. Like the higly praised first edition, this text will be the bible of bioinorganic chemistry.

Customer Reviews:

Great info that desperately needs an editor!.......2002-05-14

Wow, "really readable"? You must be kidding (directed to the reviewer from Wisconsin)! The writing is dreadful - the authors repeat themselves, write 2-page long paragraphs and paragraph-long sentences, contradict themselves, and fail to adequately explain figures. Sure, we all know that scientific writing is dense, but this is truly ridiculous. Where was the editor when this book was being writtten and published? That said, this book is packed with GREAT information that you just don't find anywhere else! It really helps chemists understand how biology uses elements (especially METALS) and is thought-provoking and useful for biologists, biochemists, and geochemists. So, buy this book but don't expect a fun and easy read.

excellent reference book.......2002-04-07

I'm a fourth year going next year to grad school in bioinorganic chemistry. This is the kind of book I wanted to have as reference for a long time. It covers the biological chemistry of each element, explaining why different metals are used in different systems. It is the first book that I found in which it is explained why only Co and Ni form organometallic bonds and not the rest of the transition metals. It is true, it is a chemistry book, but that's what I needed. The figures and the language are great, and the references at the end of each chapter are very useful. It is updated (october 2001), something very important in biochemistry. In short, a great reference!

Great reference for biochemist or inorganic chemist........1998-01-14

If you are a biochemist working on an enzyme with inorganic cofactors or an inorganic chemist with an interest in biochemistry, you'll like this book. As chemistry texts go, it's really readable, with great figures and diagrams. The authors cover chemical speciation, the possible role of evolution in cofactor incorporation, and give lots of useful references. The only down side is that this is not a book for someone with little or no background in chemistry.

The Elements of Murder: A History of Poison

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science is awesome
The Elements of Murder... and a cure for insomnia
An environment of death
A really fun and interesting history of poison
Great Reading

The Elements of Murder: A History of Poison
John Emsley
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0192806009

Book Description

This book is about elements that kill. Mercury, arsenic, antimony, lead, and thallium can be lethal, as many a poisoner knew too well. Emsley explores the gruesome history of these elements and those who have succumbed to them in a fascinating narrative that weaves together stories of true crime, enduring historical mysteries, tragic accidents, and the science behind it all. The colourful cast includes ancient alchemists, kings, leaders, a pope, several great musicians, and a motley crew of murderers. Among the intriguing accounts is that of the 17th century poet Sir Thomas Overbury, who survived four attempts to poison him with mercury but died when given the poison in enema form - under whose direction remains uncertain. Here, too, is detailed the celebrated case of Florence Maybrick, convicted of poisoning her violent husband James with arsenic, but widely believed at the time to be innocent. The question of her guilt is still disputed. Threaded through the book alongside the history is the growing understanding of chemistry, and the effects of different chemical substances on the human body. Thousands suffered the ill effects of poisonous vapours from mercury, lead, and arsenic before the dangers were realized. Hatters went mad because of mercury poisoning, and hundreds of young girls working in factories manufacturing wallpaper in the 19th century were poisoned by the arsenic-based green pigments used for the leaves of the popular floral designs. Even in the middle of the 20th century, accidental mercury poisoning caused many deaths in Minamata Bay, while leaded petrol poisoned the whole planet, and arsenic still continues to poison millions is Asia. Through vividly told stories of innocent blunders, industrial accidents, poisoners of various hues - cold, cunning, desperate - and deaths that remain a mystery, Emsley here uncovers the dark side of the Periodic Table.

Customer Reviews:

science is awesome.......2007-09-06

I'm in the middle of this book now and can't stop blurting out random tid bits about poisonous wallpaper and large numbers of alchemists accidentally huffing themselves to death on mercury vapors. In any case this book isn't really about murder despite the title, it is simply and completely about a few periodic elements that can kill (mercury, arsenic, thallium, lead and antimony). That's it. But the author thoroughly examines each chemically (in layman's terms), historically and peppered with interesting stories. It's well organized into focused chunks for easy digestion.

I'd recommend this to somewhat morbid people with a taste for interesting non fiction or possibly true crime fans, though this isn't a true crime book per se.

I'll be re-reading this one once I get it back from the three or four people that have expressed an interest in borrowing it from me.

The Elements of Murder... and a cure for insomnia.......2007-06-14

I found this book a lot less engaging than I expected from the interview I heard with the author (which is what led me to buy the book).

An environment of death.......2007-05-05

Although pitched to aficionados of true crime, John Emsley's "Elements of Murder" is just as interesting for readers curious about the environment. Thus it is both more and less than its subtitle ("A History of Poisons") suggests.

Biological poisons are not covered. The main subjects are the metals lead, mercury and thallium and the semi-metal arsenic. Deliberate homicides committed with these take up only about a third of the book. The remainder consists of an historical, industrial, medical, chemical and environmental review, and these sections touch on such currently controversial topics as the allowable limit of mercury in drinking water, autism and crib death or SIDS ("cot death" is the term used in Britain and by Emsley).

The great period of murder with metallic compounds ran from around 1750 to 1900. There may have been many successful murders with arsenic and whatnot before then, but the state of knowledge was insufficient to detect the culprit. Starting around 1750, at least in Europe, the advance of analytical chemistry made it possible to prove the presence of metal compounds. For the next century and a half, poisoners dueled with police, but after 1900 it became less and less likely that a murderer could realize the great benefit of poison -- stealth -- and murders by arsenic etc. declined.

An exception is state-sponsored murder, where stealth is not too important as long as deniability can be maintained. Saddam Hussein was partial to thallium, and earlier this year thallium was suspected in the murder of a Russian dissident in England, although that turned out to be mistaken.

Although Emsley does not explicitly mention it, his book does make plain the curious harm/help aspect of the heavy metals. While criminologists and murderers spent centuries exploring the ability of these metals to kill, physicians spent the same centuries using them to heal -- or trying to. Mercury, in the form of Salvarsan, even earned a Nobel Prize as a medication. (Deadly metals are still to be found in non-Western remedies, another good reason to avoid Indian, Chinese and Mexican therapies; Emsley mentions this problem but does not give it the attention it is due.)

Emsley is a workmanlike and thorough writer, but the proofreading of this book was very poor.

A really fun and interesting history of poison.......2007-03-20

Very well done. Fun to read. "Bite" sized chapters. Amazing that some people got away with things for so long. Interesting discussion of symptoms, and other peoples reactions to the poisoners.

Great Reading.......2006-11-27

Great book for a rainy weekend. Just enough science and chemistry to learn something new and enough creepy murder stories to keep you going. Its a reminder of how far forensic investigation has progressed since the turn of the century. Murder just isn't as easy as it used to be!!!

Trace Element Medicine and Chelation Therapy (The Royal Society of Chemistry Paperbacks)

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Trace Element Medicine and Chelation Therapy (The Royal Society of Chemistry Paperbacks)
David M. Taylor , and David R. Williams
Manufacturer: Royal Society of Chemistry
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0854045031

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