| The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe |  | Author: Theodore Gray
Creators: Nick Mann, Theodore Gray
Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $17.99
as of 9/8/2010 01:18 CDT details
New (41) Used (12) from $17.99
Seller: thebookguyz
Rating:  44 reviews
Sales Rank: 1,187
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 240
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 10.4 x 10.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 1579128149
Dewey Decimal Number: 546
EAN: 9781579128142
Publication Date: October 1, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| • | ISBN13: 9781579128142 | | • | Condition: New | | • | Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed |
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Product Description
An eye-opening, original collection of gorgeous, never-before-seen photographic representations of the 118 elements in the periodic table.
The elements are what we, and everything around us, are made of. But how many elements has anyone actually seen in pure, uncombined form? The Elements provides this rare opportunity. Based on five years of research and photography, the pictures in this book make up the most complete, and visually arresting, representation available to the naked eye of every atom in the universe. Organized in order of appearance on the periodic table, each element is represented by a spread that includes a stunning, full-page, full-color photograph that most closely represents it in its purest form. For example, at -183˚C, oxygen turns from a colorless gas to a beautiful pale blue liquid.
Also included are fascinating facts, figures, and stories of the elements as well as data on the properties of each, including atomic weight, density, melting and boiling point, valence, electronegativity, and the year and location in which it was discovered. Several additional photographs show each element in slightly altered forms or as used in various practical ways. The element's position on the periodic table is pinpointed on a mini rendering of the table and an illustrated scale of the element's boiling and/or melting points appears on each page along with a density scale that runs along the bottom.
Packed with interesting information, this combination of solid science and stunning artistic photographs is the perfect gift book for every sentient creature in the universe.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 44
I probably would have passed Chemistry... August 23, 2010
G. Saffren
This is a beautiful oversized book that will fascinate and keep you reading about a topic that can be boring to some. (If I had a text book like this when I was in school I probably would have been a much better student...)
Stunning August 8, 2010
Nico (Cherry Hill, NJ USA)
Could there be a book whose cover is strikingly more brilliantly colorful than its jacket? "The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe," by Theodore Gray and Nick Mann, is such a book. And the cover is but the beginning, as one shall see.
Author Gray's epigraph is telling, and very much surprising in that the quotation is by Lucretius, from "De Rerum Natura," in 50 B.C.: "There is not anything which returns to nothing, but all things return dissolved into their elements." And Lucretius couldn't possibly have known even the half of it.
Gray is light-hearted and approachable for the beginner, while at the same time able to be appreciated by the scientist and advanced technician. The book is good-sized. Right off the bat, Gray likeably says, "If you have a foot, please don't drop this book on it." More seriously, he adds, "This property of indivisibility is what makes an element an element."
He also presents more serious cautions as to what one might or might not try to do with certain of the elements. You wouldn't want to blow yourself up! He says that chemistry is "powerful enough to do great things in the world, but also dangerous enough to do terrible things just as easily. If you don't respect it, chemistry bites."
The book shows a sample of successive elements on the even-numbered pages, in beautifully printed 10-inch by 10-inch full-color photographs, against black backgrounds. The facing odd-numbered pages have in each instance more color photos, interesting write-ups, and technical details.
Since the elements are known in part by their abbreviations, atomic numbers, and places in the Periodic Table, Mr. Gray clearly discusses the Table on his first few pages, explaining the columns, rows, and groupings, before advancing to the left-right pairs of pages devoted to the individual elements. As a preface, he says that "we're ready to start our journey through the wild, beautiful, up-and-down, fun, and terrifying world of the elements."
He closes the book with words about his joy in collecting elements, a picture of himself with a small fraction of his collection, a helpful index, along with a full-color fold-out (actually a removable poster) of the elements and their photos. Mr. Gray is seated at his Wooden Periodic Table Table (a clever name play), which he himself crafted, since he is also a highly accomplished woodworker. His website gives access to many more photos of his collections and of his woodworking shop and projects. A most interesting fellow.
Theodore Gray's "The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe" presents the entire Periodic Table. Appropriately enough, it is far pretty enough to find a place on anyone's Coffee Table. Beyond a feast for the eyes, the book is also a feast for the mind. Mr. Gray's writing is brilliantly entertaining. The 240 or so pages are for repeated hours of turning, seeing, and reading. Enjoy. Five stars.
Gray's Anatomy of the Elements July 30, 2010
U Dream (Colton, CA United States)
I loved the pictures, but I also loved the technical info on the right margin, especially the electron orbital filling sequence. It helped explain the vertical and horizontal structure of the table of elements. I read Eric Scerri's book on The Periodic Table, but didn't understand the rare earths until reading Gray's book. I wasn't put off by the author's humor and occasional sarcasm. A picture at the back of the book of the author sitting at his Periodic Table Table suggested to me that he's quite a character. It was an easy read. I liked the format with each element described in pictures and text with each 2 page open spread (with an occasional extra spread for elements such as aluminum, titanium, iron, copper, tungsten, gold, lead, and uranium). I had a hard time putting the book down, especially because of the page-turning teaser about the "next" element. I love the fold-out pictorial periodic table at the back of the book. Truly worthy as a gift. I'm actually buying a second copy for my retired chemist big brother.
Indispensable ELEMENTS July 25, 2010
GARDEN HAIKU Recommends (California, USA)
This 239 paged encyclopedia-standard guide about the 118 elements in the priodic table is one of its kind: comprehensive, informative and innovative. Elements may seem like testing materials only but this book reminds readers that elements are what our tangible universe made of and ignites excitement in young children to learn more. THE book showcases each element with glorious full-page photographs with images that are familiar to us and with texts stunningly humorous, educational and entertaining. Within the two pages readers also get essential scientific data about the elements from its weight, density, radius, crystal structure to Electron Order Filling, Atomic Emission Spectrum and State Matter.
Our 8-year old refers to it often and it will be put into good use for many years. This book is practical and serves as his own coach that takes him by hand to explore every known atom in the world. When asked what he liked most in the book, he answered "I like Boron the most(5; p22)because it is harder than diamond and you can find it in silly potty." Mr. Gray should be happy to know that "Poor Boron- with a name like that," has finally earned some respect.
Elements Book July 4, 2010
ella
Unique book, beautiful pictures, and educational text. Very appropriate for anyone learning and/or interested in chemistry.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 44
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