Sam Kean

The Disappearing Spoon

1. IDEA 1

   The periodic table tells stories

   Kean argues that the periodic table is full of stories about people, wars and discoveries. Each element has a history beyond its chemical properties. Kean tells them with humour. Each chapter is lively.

2. IDEA 2

   A spoon can melt in tea

   Kean describes gallium, a metal that melts at a low temperature. A spoon made of it would disappear in hot tea, a favourite trick of chemists. It is a classic practical joke.

3. IDEA 3

   Mendeleev saw the pattern

   Kean describes Dmitri Mendeleev's creation of the periodic table and his bold predictions of missing elements. His success made the table a powerful tool. Gaps in his table were later filled.

All 8 ideas from The Disappearing Spoon →