Elemental: How the Periodic Table Can Now Explain (Nearly) Everything

With the United Nations declaring 2019 “the International Year of the Periodic Table,” this lighthearted look at the periodic table from chemist and high school science teacher James is perfect for students and newcomers to science writing. Using cartoony diagrams, pop culture references, and oddball details such as the diet of ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, which reportedly consisted entirely of grass, James delivers plenty of intriguing, often amusing observations and facts. The very first chemical reaction carried out by humankind, for example, was undoubtedly “setting fire to stuff.” Self-taught 18th- to 19th-century scientist John Dalton began his lifelong study of gases by collecting swamp gas. Science had no way to show atoms actually existed until, in 1905, Einstein revived an experiment from eight decades earlier. In choosing topics, James evinces a fondness for superlatives: the coldest place in the universe, the worst smelling compound, the most explosive substance, and even the most boring (dysprosium, “the only element you could remove from human history” without changing anything). From the composition of the stars to the elements most useful to humans, James offers a cheerful selection of short, fascinating chapters suitable for reading in any order. A wide audience can enjoy this accessible peek into the history of chemistry and the periodic table. (Apr.)