Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe, Book 1 of 3 - Hardcover

Gray, Theodore

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1579128149 ISBN 13: 9781579128142

Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal, 2009

Synopsis

With more than 1 million copies sold worldwide, The Elements is the most entertaining, comprehensive, and visually arresting book on all 118 elements in the periodic table.

Includes a poster of Theodore Gray's iconic photographic periodic table of the elements!

Based on seven years of research and photography by Theodore Gray and Nick Mann, The Elements presents the most complete and visually arresting representation available to the naked eye of every atom in the universe. Organized sequentially by atomic number, every element is visualized by a big beautiful photograph that most closely represents it in its purest form. Several additional photographs show each element in slightly altered forms or as used in various practical ways. Also included are fascinating stories of the elements, told in Theo Grays inimitable style, as well as data on the properties of each, including atomic number, atomic symbol, atomic weight, density, atomic radius, as well as scales for electron filling order, state of matter, and an atomic emission spectrum.

This work of solid science and stunning artistic photographs is the perfect gift book for every sentient creature in the universe.
 

About this title

About the Author

Theodore Gray is the author of The Elements, Molecules, and Reactions, as well as Theodore Gray's Completely Mad Science, How Things Work, Engines, and the forthcoming Tools. He is the creator of the bestselling iPad apps "Elements" and "Molecules," which have both been named "App of the Week" by Apple and was Director of "Disney Animated" (also honored by Apple as "iPad App of the Year"). Gray appeared on stage with Steve Jobs several times in his capacity as a software creator. He also co-founded Wolfram Research, Inc., makers of the widely-used software Mathematica and the Wolfram Alpha website. He lives in Urbana, Illinois.

Nick Mann is a photographer specializing in taking beautiful photos of inanimate objects on black backgrounds. His other work includes Molecules,, Reactions,How Things Work, Engines, and the forthcoming Tools, all written by Theodore Gray. In his other life, he works in the quality and manufacturing department for a small scientific imaging company. He lives with his wife, children, and stepson in Urbana, Illinois.

Reviews

Gray, an element collector and Popular Science columnist, has created a visual homage to the periodic table of the elements. The book begins with an introduction to the arrangement of the periodic table. The first 100 of the elements are each profiled on a two-page spread. The left-hand side of the spread features a large color image of the element in its true form, when possible. The right-hand side includes various images of ways the element appears in the world and explanations of some of the compounds in which it can be found. For example, the Selenium entry includes images of selenium sulfide medicated shampoo, Brazil nuts (which are high in selenium), and a red vase that gets its color from a selenium glaze. Most of the images are items from the author�s personal collection. A column running down the right-hand page offers information on the element�s location in the periodic table and its atomic weight, density, atomic radius, and crystal structure in addition to charts portraying its electron order filling, atomic emission spectrum, and states of matter at various temperatures. Because of their instability and short half-life, or because they have not yet been discovered, elements 101 through 118 are presented in two groups of nine. The volume concludes with a brief bibliography and an index in addition to a foldout poster of the periodic table. This eye-catching book is certain to appeal to students and casual browsers alike. --Maren Ostergard

Edition details

• Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1579128149
• ISBN 13: 9781579128142
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240