The Secret Life of the Periodic Table

The Secret Life of the Periodic Table uncovers the fascinating stories behind the formulation of the table. It describes how and who discovered the 118 elements, and the competition and cooperation behind scientific advances. The character of the elements is brought to life in a bright and engaging way, making The Secret Life of the Periodic Table ideal for students and general readers. Spared the monotony of a school text, they can gain a basic understanding of the fundamentals of atomic science.

The book covers all 118 elements in 14 chapters. They are:

A brief guide to atomic physics Igor Mendeleev, arguably the most important formulator of the table, and significant others Hydrogen Alkali metals Alkaline Earth metal Transition metals Post-transition metals Metalloids Other non-metals Halogens Noble gases Lanthanoids Actinoids Transuranium elements. Each element description includes a fact box showing atomic number, atomic weight, radius, melting point, boiling point, density, and the year of its discovery and by whom. There are many sidebars, boxes and extended captions covering topics of interest, like Ernest Lawrence's 1931 cyclotron, early precursor to the 10-km radius Large Hydron Collider that he could not possibly have imagined.

There is also fascinating trivia about the elements. For example, phosphorus was first isolated by an alchemist's search for gold in urine and in the 1920s, there was a fad for lethal radium cocktails.

The Secret Life of the Periodic Table is accurate and entertaining, making it a helpful adjunct to student studies. General readers will find it an enjoyable trip into the world of chemistry and atomic science. It is an ideal purchase for science, middle school and general collections.

Dr Ben Still is a Physicist at the University of London. Alongside his research career Ben has been an advocate of new methods of communicating physics. He has worked with artists, designers, and illustrators to show complex physics research topics in a new light. Ben also teaches Science in schools and develops innovative methods of classroom teaching. For his contribution to science communication Ben has been presented with multiple national awards. Following a childhood interest Ben went to Leicester to read for a masters in Physics with Space Science and Technology. During the course his attention was instead drawn to the world of particle physics. Ben went on to the University of Sheffield where he gained a PhD in experimental particle physics. Ben then continued his career as a physicist as a Research Associate at Queen Mary University of London where he is now an Honorary Research Fellow.