Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe - Theodore Gray

The Elements has become an international sensation, with over one million copies in-print worldwide. 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 seven 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.Includes a tear-out poster of Theodore Gray's iconic Photographic Periodic Table!

Published: 2009-10-01 (Black Dog & Leventhal)

ISBN: 9781579128142

Language: English

Format: Hardcover, 240 pages

Goodreads' rating: -

Genres

Science Chemistry Nonfiction Reference

Reviews

Katerina rated it

This book apparently took me two and a half years to read. Of course, it didn't really. But I started looking at it when I first saw it in our bookshop and I read a page or two. Then I gave a copy to my father for Christmas, after which I borrowed it from him for a while, but you know what it's like when you borrow a book from a friend or relative - it sits practically untouched because you know there's no hurry to get it back to them and there are so many library books that you have to get read before they start charging you overdue fees, so I gave it back to Dad. I left it on my 'currently reading' shelf because I was absolutely determined to keep reading it, but I never got around to it until a month ago when I almost changed it from 'currently reading' to 'didn't finish'. I gave myself one last chance, however, and ordered a copy from the library. Smart move!This book is beautiful. It's also fascinating, in a way that science never was for me at school. And I do enjoy the author's sense of humour. I need say no more - it does exactly what its title says it will, and it does it in just the right way.

Kimmi rated it

My cousin had shown this to me when I was over at her house one day (she's a big science and book nerd, so of course she had this) and I ended up borrowing it for a week to finish it. This book is so easy to follow and it still has so much information packed into it. If you are interested in learning about the elements, this is a great book for you to start out with. In fact, it might be the only book you need to get to learn everything you'd need to know.

Brit rated it

"Coffee Table" style book that's easy to pick up, hard to put down.

Donielle rated it

I did not particularly enjoy chemistry, nor do I remember it very well, apparently! There have been some elements added to the periodic table since I was in school, but not as many as I thought. My 9-year-old son chose this at his school book fair and we have read it from cover to cover. He enjoys quizzing me and there are SO many that Im convinced are new! Ha! Nope. This book is informative and visually interesting. Packed with photo examples of elements in everyday objects and pieces from the authors collection, as well as lots of important information (atomic weight, radius, density,etc) and interesting facts. Making science fun!

Lennie rated it

Great pictures of the elements, brief description of the importance of each element, plus a bit of scientific information for the geek. If you go the the website at www.periodictable.com, you can order customized posters. For example, the poster of my name has carbon (C), iodine (I), neodymium (Nd), and yttrium (y). Carbon is represented by diamond and the iodine was heated on a white plate and has a nice purple fume. It is a very cool poster. It hangs in my office at work, where most of my coworkers are scientists and engineers. Several of them looked at the poster many times before they realized it spelled my name.