A True Joy To Read, 05 Jan 2008
Natures Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide To The Elements, is an outstanding book, and quite possibly the greatest science book I've ever read. It is filled with countless fascinating facts, such as why an octopus has blue blood and why some people can consume more than twice the lethal dose of Arsenic and live. It really is an excellent reference book for anyone interested in chemistry, biology, nutrition, medicine, or history, and you'll find yourself going back to it time and time again. It does get `slightly' scientific in places such as when it starts to talk about the various isotopes of an element, so some basic knowledge of chemistry is recommended. But it is not overly technical so it's not essential. The sections I enjoyed the most were the `medical elements' which I found extremely interesting. The book is very well structured and easy to follow. This is the kind of book that makes you feel smarter, a true joy to read and I recommend to all. No one could possibly be disappointed.

Excellent, 30 Jun 2007
Its been pretty thoroughly reviewed already but essentially the author takes each of the first 100 elements (those with an atomic number over 100 are lumped together in a chapter of their own) and details such things as its chemical properties, how it acquired its name and a history of its discovery, how the element is produced within stars, its role in human biology, any nutritional role, medicinal uses, military uses, its economic importance, environmental impact as well as any unusual or curious trivia e.g. Antimony pills being sold as re-usable laxatives in the middle ages!

There are also appendices on the periodic table, its development, basic atomic structure and a chronology of the discovery of the elements.

It actually makes very interesting reading and is one of those books that is equally good as a basic work of reference but can also be picked up and dipped into at any time. A welcome addition to my bookshelf!

A fascinating tour de force, 14 Mar 2007
This is an outstanding piece of work aimed at the intellectually and scientifically curious that also works as a nice reference book on the elements and the Periodic Table.

After a short introduction filled with some top ten tables (e.g., top ten elements in the earth's crust: "Oxygen 466,000" parts per million, "Silicon 277,000" p.p.m., etc.) Emsley spins out a chapter per element in alphabetical order beginning with Actinium and ending with Zirconium. Each chapter is filled with interesting and specific information about the element in question. In the chapter on carbon, for example--understandably one of the longest in the book (7 pages), since carbon is so important to us and so plentiful--there are sections entitled "COSMIC ELEMENT, HUMAN ELEMENT, FOOD ELEMENT, MEDICAL ELEMENT, ELEMENT OF HISTORY, ELEMENT OF WAR, ECONOMIC ELEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENT, CHEMICAL ELEMENT," and "ELEMENT OF SURPRISE."

The idea is to place each element in terms of its importance in these various categories as well as giving all sorts of information about its history, abundance and uses. In the ELEMENT OF SURPRISE section Emsley usually comes up with something unusual or striking about the use or the history of the element. In the case of iron, Emsley cites a research project that "fertilized" a barren part of the ocean west of the Galapagos Islands with iron sulfate with dramatic results: "Within a week this barren span of ocean bloomed and turned green with plankton, proving that it was simply lack of this metal that was limiting their growth." (p. 211)

Included in the sections are tables showing how much of the element is in the human body (in the blood, in bones and tissues), and how much is in the environment (in the crust, in the soil, in sea water, and the atmosphere). A third table gives the element's chemical symbol, its atomic number, its atomic weight, melting point, boiling point, density and oxides, if any.

There is a final chapter on the history and development of the Periodic Table, which I found interesting. One of Emsley's strengths is his ability to make the material just so fascinating to read. Part of that comes from his obvious love for his subject matter. He is so good he makes me regret that I did not study chemistry when I was young. Just reading this book has opened my eyes to some of the ideas of chemistry and has greatly improved my knowledge of what the elements are like and how they interact with one another to form various molecules as they become familiar and not so familiar substances.

Here are examples of some of the fascinating details that can be found in the book:

"Iridium is the most corrosion-resistant metal known... The standard metre bar, kept in Paris, is made of a platinum-iridium alloy (90% platinum and 10% iridium) but this was superseded as the basic unit of length in 1960 by a line in the atomic spectrum of krypton (see p. 213)."

And on page 213 we find that "The standard was changed in 1983 to one based on the speed of light in a vacuum, a metre being the distance light travelled in 1/299 793 458th of a second, as measured by a light beam from a helium-neon laser."

"Inside the body, iron, as iron(III), is strongly bound by transferrin, a protein found in serum and other secretions... Transferrin binds iron tightly and, because it does so, it acts as a powerful antibiotic simply by denying this essential metal to any invading bacteria which need iron to multiply. As soon as our body registers a bacterial invasion, it produces more transferrin to mop up any free iron in the blood stream and 'hide' it in the liver." (p. 206)

"Neodymium-iron-boron (NIB) magnets are so powerful that those handling them must wear protective glasses--they fly together with such force that they can shatter and send splinters flying in all directions. At times young people have used these industrial magnets to attach ornaments to their cheeks by putting one of the small magnets on the inside of the mouth. However, the magnet and ornament have then proved impossible to pull apart, sometimes necessitating a visit to a hospital for surgical removal." (p. 270)

I have two suggestions for the next edition: (1) provide an index; (2) give us the value of the elements in terms of current (or relative) dollars or Euros. It would be fun to compare. (I realize that in some cases, the value of an element because it is so rare or not used for anything would be just an educated guess, but that's okay.)

Another interesting book by John Emsley is The Thirteenth Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus (2000). See my review.

Is this the best science book ever written?, 02 Nov 2006
Yes quite possibly!
Brilliantly written and very readable. You can work your way a-z or just browse and turn your thinking of elements and chemistry from; "its a collection of letters and grapes on sticks" to "wow isnt science interesting". Tales of discovery and use of the elements read like any Hardy novel, woe and deception abound!
If youve never thought about 'popular science' and think its an oxymoron. Pick up this book. If you're president of the RSC and think you know everything about chemistry. Pick up this book. You'll learn alot and enjoy it whatever!
A perfect christmas present for everyone with a remote interest in the world around them from about 12+

Pure delight., 27 Dec 2003
This is a wonderful read - absolutely un-put-downable. It achieves what some may think is the impossible - a book about chemistry or physics that is also entertaining. Open it at any page and you will find something to fascinate and delight.

It will be an important addition to my reference shelf after I have finished reading it cover-to-cover for the enjoyment.

A True Joy To Read, 05 Jan 2008
Natures Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide To The Elements, is an outstanding book, and quite possibly the greatest science book I've ever read. It is filled with countless fascinating facts, such as why an octopus has blue blood and why some people can consume more than twice the lethal dose of Arsenic and live. It really is an excellent reference book for anyone interested in chemistry, biology, nutrition, medicine, or history, and you'll find yourself going back to it time and time again. It does get `slightly' scientific in places such as when it starts to talk about the various isotopes of an element, so some basic knowledge of chemistry is recommended. But it is not overly technical so it's not essential. The sections I enjoyed the most were the `medical elements' which I found extremely interesting. The book is very well structured and easy to follow. This is the kind of book that makes you feel smarter, a true joy to read and I recommend to all. No one could possibly be disappointed.

Excellent, 30 Jun 2007
Its been pretty thoroughly reviewed already but essentially the author takes each of the first 100 elements (those with an atomic number over 100 are lumped together in a chapter of their own) and details such things as its chemical properties, how it acquired its name and a history of its discovery, how the element is produced within stars, its role in human biology, any nutritional role, medicinal uses, military uses, its economic importance, environmental impact as well as any unusual or curious trivia e.g. Antimony pills being sold as re-usable laxatives in the middle ages!

There are also appendices on the periodic table, its development, basic atomic structure and a chronology of the discovery of the elements.

It actually makes very interesting reading and is one of those books that is equally good as a basic work of reference but can also be picked up and dipped into at any time. A welcome addition to my bookshelf!

A fascinating tour de force, 14 Mar 2007
This is an outstanding piece of work aimed at the intellectually and scientifically curious that also works as a nice reference book on the elements and the Periodic Table.

After a short introduction filled with some top ten tables (e.g., top ten elements in the earth's crust: "Oxygen 466,000" parts per million, "Silicon 277,000" p.p.m., etc.) Emsley spins out a chapter per element in alphabetical order beginning with Actinium and ending with Zirconium. Each chapter is filled with interesting and specific information about the element in question. In the chapter on carbon, for example--understandably one of the longest in the book (7 pages), since carbon is so important to us and so plentiful--there are sections entitled "COSMIC ELEMENT, HUMAN ELEMENT, FOOD ELEMENT, MEDICAL ELEMENT, ELEMENT OF HISTORY, ELEMENT OF WAR, ECONOMIC ELEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENT, CHEMICAL ELEMENT," and "ELEMENT OF SURPRISE."

The idea is to place each element in terms of its importance in these various categories as well as giving all sorts of information about its history, abundance and uses. In the ELEMENT OF SURPRISE section Emsley usually comes up with something unusual or striking about the use or the history of the element. In the case of iron, Emsley cites a research project that "fertilized" a barren part of the ocean west of the Galapagos Islands with iron sulfate with dramatic results: "Within a week this barren span of ocean bloomed and turned green with plankton, proving that it was simply lack of this metal that was limiting their growth." (p. 211)

Included in the sections are tables showing how much of the element is in the human body (in the blood, in bones and tissues), and how much is in the environment (in the crust, in the soil, in sea water, and the atmosphere). A third table gives the element's chemical symbol, its atomic number, its atomic weight, melting point, boiling point, density and oxides, if any.

There is a final chapter on the history and development of the Periodic Table, which I found interesting. One of Emsley's strengths is his ability to make the material just so fascinating to read. Part of that comes from his obvious love for his subject matter. He is so good he makes me regret that I did not study chemistry when I was young. Just reading this book has opened my eyes to some of the ideas of chemistry and has greatly improved my knowledge of what the elements are like and how they interact with one another to form various molecules as they become familiar and not so familiar substances.

Here are examples of some of the fascinating details that can be found in the book:

"Iridium is the most corrosion-resistant metal known... The standard metre bar, kept in Paris, is made of a platinum-iridium alloy (90% platinum and 10% iridium) but this was superseded as the basic unit of length in 1960 by a line in the atomic spectrum of krypton (see p. 213)."

And on page 213 we find that "The standard was changed in 1983 to one based on the speed of light in a vacuum, a metre being the distance light travelled in 1/299 793 458th of a second, as measured by a light beam from a helium-neon laser."

"Inside the body, iron, as iron(III), is strongly bound by transferrin, a protein found in serum and other secretions... Transferrin binds iron tightly and, because it does so, it acts as a powerful antibiotic simply by denying this essential metal to any invading bacteria which need iron to multiply. As soon as our body registers a bacterial invasion, it produces more transferrin to mop up any free iron in the blood stream and 'hide' it in the liver." (p. 206)

"Neodymium-iron-boron (NIB) magnets are so powerful that those handling them must wear protective glasses--they fly together with such force that they can shatter and send splinters flying in all directions. At times young people have used these industrial magnets to attach ornaments to their cheeks by putting one of the small magnets on the inside of the mouth. However, the magnet and ornament have then proved impossible to pull apart, sometimes necessitating a visit to a hospital for surgical removal." (p. 270)

I have two suggestions for the next edition: (1) provide an index; (2) give us the value of the elements in terms of current (or relative) dollars or Euros. It would be fun to compare. (I realize that in some cases, the value of an element because it is so rare or not used for anything would be just an educated guess, but that's okay.)

Another interesting book by John Emsley is The Thirteenth Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus (2000). See my review.

Is this the best science book ever written?, 02 Nov 2006
Yes quite possibly!
Brilliantly written and very readable. You can work your way a-z or just browse and turn your thinking of elements and chemistry from; "its a collection of letters and grapes on sticks" to "wow isnt science interesting". Tales of discovery and use of the elements read like any Hardy novel, woe and deception abound!
If youve never thought about 'popular science' and think its an oxymoron. Pick up this book. If you're president of the RSC and think you know everything about chemistry. Pick up this book. You'll learn alot and enjoy it whatever!
A perfect christmas present for everyone with a remote interest in the world around them from about 12+

Pure delight., 27 Dec 2003
This is a wonderful read - absolutely un-put-downable. It achieves what some may think is the impossible - a book about chemistry or physics that is also entertaining. Open it at any page and you will find something to fascinate and delight.

It will be an important addition to my reference shelf after I have finished reading it cover-to-cover for the enjoyment.

Bible of chemistry, 06 Nov 2007
Fantastic book, if you are doing coures such as chemistry, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. it covers everything

Best book ever, 24 Oct 2006
This book is fantastic for chemistry university undergrads. Fantastic book easy to follow and develops basic concept into more complicated ideas. Everythings in colour and has lovely pictures made by the latests graphics so that you can see the 3D structure of atoms and other stuff really easily. This book is recommended by university lecturers at manchester uni (we get a free copy yipee!)- it is one of the core texts. This book is a must have - to ease transition from A-level to degree and beyond into furthur chemistry. Also has worked answers and questions for you to try. Such a good book in every way. It makes chemistry so fun and intersting with all the really good graphics and pictures.
GET THIS BOOK - IT IS A CHEMISTRY UNDERGRAD MUST HAVE

A True Joy To Read, 05 Jan 2008
Natures Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide To The Elements, is an outstanding book, and quite possibly the greatest science book I've ever read. It is filled with countless fascinating facts, such as why an octopus has blue blood and why some people can consume more than twice the lethal dose of Arsenic and live. It really is an excellent reference book for anyone interested in chemistry, biology, nutrition, medicine, or history, and you'll find yourself going back to it time and time again. It does get `slightly' scientific in places such as when it starts to talk about the various isotopes of an element, so some basic knowledge of chemistry is recommended. But it is not overly technical so it's not essential. The sections I enjoyed the most were the `medical elements' which I found extremely interesting. The book is very well structured and easy to follow. This is the kind of book that makes you feel smarter, a true joy to read and I recommend to all. No one could possibly be disappointed.

Excellent, 30 Jun 2007
Its been pretty thoroughly reviewed already but essentially the author takes each of the first 100 elements (those with an atomic number over 100 are lumped together in a chapter of their own) and details such things as its chemical properties, how it acquired its name and a history of its discovery, how the element is produced within stars, its role in human biology, any nutritional role, medicinal uses, military uses, its economic importance, environmental impact as well as any unusual or curious trivia e.g. Antimony pills being sold as re-usable laxatives in the middle ages!

There are also appendices on the periodic table, its development, basic atomic structure and a chronology of the discovery of the elements.

It actually makes very interesting reading and is one of those books that is equally good as a basic work of reference but can also be picked up and dipped into at any time. A welcome addition to my bookshelf!

A fascinating tour de force, 14 Mar 2007
This is an outstanding piece of work aimed at the intellectually and scientifically curious that also works as a nice reference book on the elements and the Periodic Table.

After a short introduction filled with some top ten tables (e.g., top ten elements in the earth's crust: "Oxygen 466,000" parts per million, "Silicon 277,000" p.p.m., etc.) Emsley spins out a chapter per element in alphabetical order beginning with Actinium and ending with Zirconium. Each chapter is filled with interesting and specific information about the element in question. In the chapter on carbon, for example--understandably one of the longest in the book (7 pages), since carbon is so important to us and so plentiful--there are sections entitled "COSMIC ELEMENT, HUMAN ELEMENT, FOOD ELEMENT, MEDICAL ELEMENT, ELEMENT OF HISTORY, ELEMENT OF WAR, ECONOMIC ELEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENT, CHEMICAL ELEMENT," and "ELEMENT OF SURPRISE."

The idea is to place each element in terms of its importance in these various categories as well as giving all sorts of information about its history, abundance and uses. In the ELEMENT OF SURPRISE section Emsley usually comes up with something unusual or striking about the use or the history of the element. In the case of iron, Emsley cites a research project that "fertilized" a barren part of the ocean west of the Galapagos Islands with iron sulfate with dramatic results: "Within a week this barren span of ocean bloomed and turned green with plankton, proving that it was simply lack of this metal that was limiting their growth." (p. 211)

Included in the sections are tables showing how much of the element is in the human body (in the blood, in bones and tissues), and how much is in the environment (in the crust, in the soil, in sea water, and the atmosphere). A third table gives the element's chemical symbol, its atomic number, its atomic weight, melting point, boiling point, density and oxides, if any.

There is a final chapter on the history and development of the Periodic Table, which I found interesting. One of Emsley's strengths is his ability to make the material just so fascinating to read. Part of that comes from his obvious love for his subject matter. He is so good he makes me regret that I did not study chemistry when I was young. Just reading this book has opened my eyes to some of the ideas of chemistry and has greatly improved my knowledge of what the elements are like and how they interact with one another to form various molecules as they become familiar and not so familiar substances.

Here are examples of some of the fascinating details that can be found in the book:

"Iridium is the most corrosion-resistant metal known... The standard metre bar, kept in Paris, is made of a platinum-iridium alloy (90% platinum and 10% iridium) but this was superseded as the basic unit of length in 1960 by a line in the atomic spectrum of krypton (see p. 213)."

And on page 213 we find that "The standard was changed in 1983 to one based on the speed of light in a vacuum, a metre being the distance light travelled in 1/299 793 458th of a second, as measured by a light beam from a helium-neon laser."

"Inside the body, iron, as iron(III), is strongly bound by transferrin, a protein found in serum and other secretions... Transferrin binds iron tightly and, because it does so, it acts as a powerful antibiotic simply by denying this essential metal to any invading bacteria which need iron to multiply. As soon as our body registers a bacterial invasion, it produces more transferrin to mop up any free iron in the blood stream and 'hide' it in the liver." (p. 206)

"Neodymium-iron-boron (NIB) magnets are so powerful that those handling them must wear protective glasses--they fly together with such force that they can shatter and send splinters flying in all directions. At times young people have used these industrial magnets to attach ornaments to their cheeks by putting one of the small magnets on the inside of the mouth. However, the magnet and ornament have then proved impossible to pull apart, sometimes necessitating a visit to a hospital for surgical removal." (p. 270)

I have two suggestions for the next edition: (1) provide an index; (2) give us the value of the elements in terms of current (or relative) dollars or Euros. It would be fun to compare. (I realize that in some cases, the value of an element because it is so rare or not used for anything would be just an educated guess, but that's okay.)

Another interesting book by John Emsley is The Thirteenth Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus (2000). See my review.

Is this the best science book ever written?, 02 Nov 2006
Yes quite possibly!
Brilliantly written and very readable. You can work your way a-z or just browse and turn your thinking of elements and chemistry from; "its a collection of letters and grapes on sticks" to "wow isnt science interesting". Tales of discovery and use of the elements read like any Hardy novel, woe and deception abound!
If youve never thought about 'popular science' and think its an oxymoron. Pick up this book. If you're president of the RSC and think you know everything about chemistry. Pick up this book. You'll learn alot and enjoy it whatever!
A perfect christmas present for everyone with a remote interest in the world around them from about 12+

Pure delight., 27 Dec 2003
This is a wonderful read - absolutely un-put-downable. It achieves what some may think is the impossible - a book about chemistry or physics that is also entertaining. Open it at any page and you will find something to fascinate and delight.

It will be an important addition to my reference shelf after I have finished reading it cover-to-cover for the enjoyment.

Bible of chemistry, 06 Nov 2007
Fantastic book, if you are doing coures such as chemistry, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. it covers everything

Best book ever, 24 Oct 2006
This book is fantastic for chemistry university undergrads. Fantastic book easy to follow and develops basic concept into more complicated ideas. Everythings in colour and has lovely pictures made by the latests graphics so that you can see the 3D structure of atoms and other stuff really easily. This book is recommended by university lecturers at manchester uni (we get a free copy yipee!)- it is one of the core texts. This book is a must have - to ease transition from A-level to degree and beyond into furthur chemistry. Also has worked answers and questions for you to try. Such a good book in every way. It makes chemistry so fun and intersting with all the really good graphics and pictures.
GET THIS BOOK - IT IS A CHEMISTRY UNDERGRAD MUST HAVE

Excellent, 05 Dec 2008
This is an excellent text - the new edition is a big improvement on the previous. Seems to cover everything well - the new edition has been written with more clarity. A very good book!

I owned the previous edition of this book , 30 Jul 2007

Im not sure what changes are made to this book from the previous edition but the last edition was just okay for an undergraduate textbook. The Shriver and Atkins series are excellent at most fields of chemistry but falls down somewhat at Inorganic chemistry with this book in particular.

The book is very good for concepts but does not describe things as well as the Housecroft Inorganic Book does. This would be more of a reference book than a good all round book to learn from.

A True Joy To Read, 05 Jan 2008
Natures Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide To The Elements, is an outstanding book, and quite possibly the greatest science book I've ever read. It is filled with countless fascinating facts, such as why an octopus has blue blood and why some people can consume more than twice the lethal dose of Arsenic and live. It really is an excellent reference book for anyone interested in chemistry, biology, nutrition, medicine, or history, and you'll find yourself going back to it time and time again. It does get `slightly' scientific in places such as when it starts to talk about the various isotopes of an element, so some basic knowledge of chemistry is recommended. But it is not overly technical so it's not essential. The sections I enjoyed the most were the `medical elements' which I found extremely interesting. The book is very well structured and easy to follow. This is the kind of book that makes you feel smarter, a true joy to read and I recommend to all. No one could possibly be disappointed.

Excellent, 30 Jun 2007
Its been pretty thoroughly reviewed already but essentially the author takes each of the first 100 elements (those with an atomic number over 100 are lumped together in a chapter of their own) and details such things as its chemical properties, how it acquired its name and a history of its discovery, how the element is produced within stars, its role in human biology, any nutritional role, medicinal uses, military uses, its economic importance, environmental impact as well as any unusual or curious trivia e.g. Antimony pills being sold as re-usable laxatives in the middle ages!

There are also appendices on the periodic table, its development, basic atomic structure and a chronology of the discovery of the elements.

It actually makes very interesting reading and is one of those books that is equally good as a basic work of reference but can also be picked up and dipped into at any time. A welcome addition to my bookshelf!

A fascinating tour de force, 14 Mar 2007
This is an outstanding piece of work aimed at the intellectually and scientifically curious that also works as a nice reference book on the elements and the Periodic Table.

After a short introduction filled with some top ten tables (e.g., top ten elements in the earth's crust: "Oxygen 466,000" parts per million, "Silicon 277,000" p.p.m., etc.) Emsley spins out a chapter per element in alphabetical order beginning with Actinium and ending with Zirconium. Each chapter is filled with interesting and specific information about the element in question. In the chapter on carbon, for example--understandably one of the longest in the book (7 pages), since carbon is so important to us and so plentiful--there are sections entitled "COSMIC ELEMENT, HUMAN ELEMENT, FOOD ELEMENT, MEDICAL ELEMENT, ELEMENT OF HISTORY, ELEMENT OF WAR, ECONOMIC ELEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENT, CHEMICAL ELEMENT," and "ELEMENT OF SURPRISE."

The idea is to place each element in terms of its importance in these various categories as well as giving all sorts of information about its history, abundance and uses. In the ELEMENT OF SURPRISE section Emsley usually comes up with something unusual or striking about the use or the history of the element. In the case of iron, Emsley cites a research project that "fertilized" a barren part of the ocean west of the Galapagos Islands with iron sulfate with dramatic results: "Within a week this barren span of ocean bloomed and turned green with plankton, proving that it was simply lack of this metal that was limiting their growth." (p. 211)

Included in the sections are tables showing how much of the element is in the human body (in the blood, in bones and tissues), and how much is in the environment (in the crust, in the soil, in sea water, and the atmosphere). A third table gives the element's chemical symbol, its atomic number, its atomic weight, melting point, boiling point, density and oxides, if any.

There is a final chapter on the history and development of the Periodic Table, which I found interesting. One of Emsley's strengths is his ability to make the material just so fascinating to read. Part of that comes from his obvious love for his subject matter. He is so good he makes me regret that I did not study chemistry when I was young. Just reading this book has opened my eyes to some of the ideas of chemistry and has greatly improved my knowledge of what the elements are like and how they interact with one another to form various molecules as they become familiar and not so familiar substances.

Here are examples of some of the fascinating details that can be found in the book:

"Iridium is the most corrosion-resistant metal known... The standard metre bar, kept in Paris, is made of a platinum-iridium alloy (90% platinum and 10% iridium) but this was superseded as the basic unit of length in 1960 by a line in the atomic spectrum of krypton (see p. 213)."

And on page 213 we find that "The standard was changed in 1983 to one based on the speed of light in a vacuum, a metre being the distance light travelled in 1/299 793 458th of a second, as measured by a light beam from a helium-neon laser."

"Inside the body, iron, as iron(III), is strongly bound by transferrin, a protein found in serum and other secretions... Transferrin binds iron tightly and, because it does so, it acts as a powerful antibiotic simply by denying this essential metal to any invading bacteria which need iron to multiply. As soon as our body registers a bacterial invasion, it produces more transferrin to mop up any free iron in the blood stream and 'hide' it in the liver." (p. 206)

"Neodymium-iron-boron (NIB) magnets are so powerful that those handling them must wear protective glasses--they fly together with such force that they can shatter and send splinters flying in all directions. At times young people have used these industrial magnets to attach ornaments to their cheeks by putting one of the small magnets on the inside of the mouth. However, the magnet and ornament have then proved impossible to pull apart, sometimes necessitating a visit to a hospital for surgical removal." (p. 270)

I have two suggestions for the next edition: (1) provide an index; (2) give us the value of the elements in terms of current (or relative) dollars or Euros. It would be fun to compare. (I realize that in some cases, the value of an element because it is so rare or not used for anything would be just an educated guess, but that's okay.)

Another interesting book by John Emsley is The Thirteenth Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus (2000). See my review.

Is this the best science book ever written?, 02 Nov 2006
Yes quite possibly!
Brilliantly written and very readable. You can work your way a-z or just browse and turn your thinking of elements and chemistry from; "its a collection of letters and grapes on sticks" to "wow isnt science interesting". Tales of discovery and use of the elements read like any Hardy novel, woe and deception abound!
If youve never thought about 'popular science' and think its an oxymoron. Pick up this book. If you're president of the RSC and think you know everything about chemistry. Pick up this book. You'll learn alot and enjoy it whatever!
A perfect christmas present for everyone with a remote interest in the world around them from about 12+

Pure delight., 27 Dec 2003
This is a wonderful read - absolutely un-put-downable. It achieves what some may think is the impossible - a book about chemistry or physics that is also entertaining. Open it at any page and you will find something to fascinate and delight.

It will be an important addition to my reference shelf after I have finished reading it cover-to-cover for the enjoyment.

Bible of chemistry, 06 Nov 2007
Fantastic book, if you are doing coures such as chemistry, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. it covers everything

Best book ever, 24 Oct 2006
This book is fantastic for chemistry university undergrads. Fantastic book easy to follow and develops basic concept into more complicated ideas. Everythings in colour and has lovely pictures made by the latests graphics so that you can see the 3D structure of atoms and other stuff really easily. This book is recommended by university lecturers at manchester uni (we get a free copy yipee!)- it is one of the core texts. This book is a must have - to ease transition from A-level to degree and beyond into furthur chemistry. Also has worked answers and questions for you to try. Such a good book in every way. It makes chemistry so fun and intersting with all the really good graphics and pictures.
GET THIS BOOK - IT IS A CHEMISTRY UNDERGRAD MUST HAVE

Excellent, 05 Dec 2008
This is an excellent text - the new edition is a big improvement on the previous. Seems to cover everything well - the new edition has been written with more clarity. A very good book!

I owned the previous edition of this book , 30 Jul 2007

Im not sure what changes are made to this book from the previous edition but the last edition was just okay for an undergraduate textbook. The Shriver and Atkins series are excellent at most fields of chemistry but falls down somewhat at Inorganic chemistry with this book in particular.

The book is very good for concepts but does not describe things as well as the Housecroft Inorganic Book does. This would be more of a reference book than a good all round book to learn from.

why you should buy this book, 23 May 2003
This book is salvation for us poor chemists who spend hours looking in four thick chemistry text books for one snippet of information. It provides a good overview of all the topics and manages to link them all in a coherent manner. It is very well laid out and easy to use, and is cheaper than the average textbook.

Overall, despite the black and white illustrations, this book is anything but overbearing and would make an excellent introduction for any chemist or potential chemist.

A 'must read' for first year undergrads, 23 Apr 2003
This book gives an excellent explanation of the basic ideas in chemistry. It is different from most other chemistry books in that it brings together ideas from what are usually considered different areas of chemistry to give a reader friendly (thermodynamics without the maths!) explanation of, well, why chemical reactions happen. The topics covered by the authors are clearly presented with loads of diagrams and everyday examples to support the text. Emphasis is placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The book is aimed at first year undergraduates/those who are about to begin studying chemistry at university (and I would definitely recommend it as pre-university reading) however, I think it would also be of interest to a wider audience - even though I'm a chemistry graduate I found reading the book useful because it explained the basics more clearly than any other textbook I've read.

The basis for chemistry explained..., 13 Apr 2003
This book provides an excellent basis for the study of chemistry and is ideal for for those about to begin the first year of a chemistry degree. It brings together concepts from different areas of chemistry, ranging from thermodynamics to organic chemistry, to provide a comprehensive explanation of, well, why reactions happen.

I found the topics covered by the authors to be clearly presented and in a logical order, with excellent use of diagrams and examples to support the ideas discussed in the text. Emphasis is firmly placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The authors suggest that this book would be suitable for those who have just completed A-level chemistry or are first year undergraduates, however, I believe it would be of interest to a wider audience both as a teaching resource and for graduates who want to refresh their understanding of the basics. I found the book easy to read and useful as it reminded me of how I should think about the chemistry with which I am already familiar.

A True Joy To Read, 05 Jan 2008
Natures Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide To The Elements, is an outstanding book, and quite possibly the greatest science book I've ever read. It is filled with countless fascinating facts, such as why an octopus has blue blood and why some people can consume more than twice the lethal dose of Arsenic and live. It really is an excellent reference book for anyone interested in chemistry, biology, nutrition, medicine, or history, and you'll find yourself going back to it time and time again. It does get `slightly' scientific in places such as when it starts to talk about the various isotopes of an element, so some basic knowledge of chemistry is recommended. But it is not overly technical so it's not essential. The sections I enjoyed the most were the `medical elements' which I found extremely interesting. The book is very well structured and easy to follow. This is the kind of book that makes you feel smarter, a true joy to read and I recommend to all. No one could possibly be disappointed.

Excellent, 30 Jun 2007
Its been pretty thoroughly reviewed already but essentially the author takes each of the first 100 elements (those with an atomic number over 100 are lumped together in a chapter of their own) and details such things as its chemical properties, how it acquired its name and a history of its discovery, how the element is produced within stars, its role in human biology, any nutritional role, medicinal uses, military uses, its economic importance, environmental impact as well as any unusual or curious trivia e.g. Antimony pills being sold as re-usable laxatives in the middle ages!

There are also appendices on the periodic table, its development, basic atomic structure and a chronology of the discovery of the elements.

It actually makes very interesting reading and is one of those books that is equally good as a basic work of reference but can also be picked up and dipped into at any time. A welcome addition to my bookshelf!

A fascinating tour de force, 14 Mar 2007
This is an outstanding piece of work aimed at the intellectually and scientifically curious that also works as a nice reference book on the elements and the Periodic Table.

After a short introduction filled with some top ten tables (e.g., top ten elements in the earth's crust: "Oxygen 466,000" parts per million, "Silicon 277,000" p.p.m., etc.) Emsley spins out a chapter per element in alphabetical order beginning with Actinium and ending with Zirconium. Each chapter is filled with interesting and specific information about the element in question. In the chapter on carbon, for example--understandably one of the longest in the book (7 pages), since carbon is so important to us and so plentiful--there are sections entitled "COSMIC ELEMENT, HUMAN ELEMENT, FOOD ELEMENT, MEDICAL ELEMENT, ELEMENT OF HISTORY, ELEMENT OF WAR, ECONOMIC ELEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENT, CHEMICAL ELEMENT," and "ELEMENT OF SURPRISE."

The idea is to place each element in terms of its importance in these various categories as well as giving all sorts of information about its history, abundance and uses. In the ELEMENT OF SURPRISE section Emsley usually comes up with something unusual or striking about the use or the history of the element. In the case of iron, Emsley cites a research project that "fertilized" a barren part of the ocean west of the Galapagos Islands with iron sulfate with dramatic results: "Within a week this barren span of ocean bloomed and turned green with plankton, proving that it was simply lack of this metal that was limiting their growth." (p. 211)

Included in the sections are tables showing how much of the element is in the human body (in the blood, in bones and tissues), and how much is in the environment (in the crust, in the soil, in sea water, and the atmosphere). A third table gives the element's chemical symbol, its atomic number, its atomic weight, melting point, boiling point, density and oxides, if any.

There is a final chapter on the history and development of the Periodic Table, which I found interesting. One of Emsley's strengths is his ability to make the material just so fascinating to read. Part of that comes from his obvious love for his subject matter. He is so good he makes me regret that I did not study chemistry when I was young. Just reading this book has opened my eyes to some of the ideas of chemistry and has greatly improved my knowledge of what the elements are like and how they interact with one another to form various molecules as they become familiar and not so familiar substances.

Here are examples of some of the fascinating details that can be found in the book:

"Iridium is the most corrosion-resistant metal known... The standard metre bar, kept in Paris, is made of a platinum-iridium alloy (90% platinum and 10% iridium) but this was superseded as the basic unit of length in 1960 by a line in the atomic spectrum of krypton (see p. 213)."

And on page 213 we find that "The standard was changed in 1983 to one based on the speed of light in a vacuum, a metre being the distance light travelled in 1/299 793 458th of a second, as measured by a light beam from a helium-neon laser."

"Inside the body, iron, as iron(III), is strongly bound by transferrin, a protein found in serum and other secretions... Transferrin binds iron tightly and, because it does so, it acts as a powerful antibiotic simply by denying this essential metal to any invading bacteria which need iron to multiply. As soon as our body registers a bacterial invasion, it produces more transferrin to mop up any free iron in the blood stream and 'hide' it in the liver." (p. 206)

"Neodymium-iron-boron (NIB) magnets are so powerful that those handling them must wear protective glasses--they fly together with such force that they can shatter and send splinters flying in all directions. At times young people have used these industrial magnets to attach ornaments to their cheeks by putting one of the small magnets on the inside of the mouth. However, the magnet and ornament have then proved impossible to pull apart, sometimes necessitating a visit to a hospital for surgical removal." (p. 270)

I have two suggestions for the next edition: (1) provide an index; (2) give us the value of the elements in terms of current (or relative) dollars or Euros. It would be fun to compare. (I realize that in some cases, the value of an element because it is so rare or not used for anything would be just an educated guess, but that's okay.)

Another interesting book by John Emsley is The Thirteenth Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus (2000). See my review.

Is this the best science book ever written?, 02 Nov 2006
Yes quite possibly!
Brilliantly written and very readable. You can work your way a-z or just browse and turn your thinking of elements and chemistry from; "its a collection of letters and grapes on sticks" to "wow isnt science interesting". Tales of discovery and use of the elements read like any Hardy novel, woe and deception abound!
If youve never thought about 'popular science' and think its an oxymoron. Pick up this book. If you're president of the RSC and think you know everything about chemistry. Pick up this book. You'll learn alot and enjoy it whatever!
A perfect christmas present for everyone with a remote interest in the world around them from about 12+

Pure delight., 27 Dec 2003
This is a wonderful read - absolutely un-put-downable. It achieves what some may think is the impossible - a book about chemistry or physics that is also entertaining. Open it at any page and you will find something to fascinate and delight.

It will be an important addition to my reference shelf after I have finished reading it cover-to-cover for the enjoyment.

Bible of chemistry, 06 Nov 2007
Fantastic book, if you are doing coures such as chemistry, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. it covers everything

Best book ever, 24 Oct 2006
This book is fantastic for chemistry university undergrads. Fantastic book easy to follow and develops basic concept into more complicated ideas. Everythings in colour and has lovely pictures made by the latests graphics so that you can see the 3D structure of atoms and other stuff really easily. This book is recommended by university lecturers at manchester uni (we get a free copy yipee!)- it is one of the core texts. This book is a must have - to ease transition from A-level to degree and beyond into furthur chemistry. Also has worked answers and questions for you to try. Such a good book in every way. It makes chemistry so fun and intersting with all the really good graphics and pictures.
GET THIS BOOK - IT IS A CHEMISTRY UNDERGRAD MUST HAVE

Excellent, 05 Dec 2008
This is an excellent text - the new edition is a big improvement on the previous. Seems to cover everything well - the new edition has been written with more clarity. A very good book!

I owned the previous edition of this book , 30 Jul 2007

Im not sure what changes are made to this book from the previous edition but the last edition was just okay for an undergraduate textbook. The Shriver and Atkins series are excellent at most fields of chemistry but falls down somewhat at Inorganic chemistry with this book in particular.

The book is very good for concepts but does not describe things as well as the Housecroft Inorganic Book does. This would be more of a reference book than a good all round book to learn from.

why you should buy this book, 23 May 2003
This book is salvation for us poor chemists who spend hours looking in four thick chemistry text books for one snippet of information. It provides a good overview of all the topics and manages to link them all in a coherent manner. It is very well laid out and easy to use, and is cheaper than the average textbook.

Overall, despite the black and white illustrations, this book is anything but overbearing and would make an excellent introduction for any chemist or potential chemist.

A 'must read' for first year undergrads, 23 Apr 2003
This book gives an excellent explanation of the basic ideas in chemistry. It is different from most other chemistry books in that it brings together ideas from what are usually considered different areas of chemistry to give a reader friendly (thermodynamics without the maths!) explanation of, well, why chemical reactions happen. The topics covered by the authors are clearly presented with loads of diagrams and everyday examples to support the text. Emphasis is placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The book is aimed at first year undergraduates/those who are about to begin studying chemistry at university (and I would definitely recommend it as pre-university reading) however, I think it would also be of interest to a wider audience - even though I'm a chemistry graduate I found reading the book useful because it explained the basics more clearly than any other textbook I've read.

The basis for chemistry explained..., 13 Apr 2003
This book provides an excellent basis for the study of chemistry and is ideal for for those about to begin the first year of a chemistry degree. It brings together concepts from different areas of chemistry, ranging from thermodynamics to organic chemistry, to provide a comprehensive explanation of, well, why reactions happen.

I found the topics covered by the authors to be clearly presented and in a logical order, with excellent use of diagrams and examples to support the ideas discussed in the text. Emphasis is firmly placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The authors suggest that this book would be suitable for those who have just completed A-level chemistry or are first year undergraduates, however, I believe it would be of interest to a wider audience both as a teaching resource and for graduates who want to refresh their understanding of the basics. I found the book easy to read and useful as it reminded me of how I should think about the chemistry with which I am already familiar.

excellent to get you through a chemistry degree, 22 Oct 2003
i'm so impressed by the organisation of this book. All of the theory is well covered and explained, with additional information that gives an excellent oppurtunity to read around your degree. i would certainly recommend it to any chemists starting their degree. it'll see you through to the end of your course. excellent!

A True Joy To Read, 05 Jan 2008
Natures Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide To The Elements, is an outstanding book, and quite possibly the greatest science book I've ever read. It is filled with countless fascinating facts, such as why an octopus has blue blood and why some people can consume more than twice the lethal dose of Arsenic and live. It really is an excellent reference book for anyone interested in chemistry, biology, nutrition, medicine, or history, and you'll find yourself going back to it time and time again. It does get `slightly' scientific in places such as when it starts to talk about the various isotopes of an element, so some basic knowledge of chemistry is recommended. But it is not overly technical so it's not essential. The sections I enjoyed the most were the `medical elements' which I found extremely interesting. The book is very well structured and easy to follow. This is the kind of book that makes you feel smarter, a true joy to read and I recommend to all. No one could possibly be disappointed.

Excellent, 30 Jun 2007
Its been pretty thoroughly reviewed already but essentially the author takes each of the first 100 elements (those with an atomic number over 100 are lumped together in a chapter of their own) and details such things as its chemical properties, how it acquired its name and a history of its discovery, how the element is produced within stars, its role in human biology, any nutritional role, medicinal uses, military uses, its economic importance, environmental impact as well as any unusual or curious trivia e.g. Antimony pills being sold as re-usable laxatives in the middle ages!

There are also appendices on the periodic table, its development, basic atomic structure and a chronology of the discovery of the elements.

It actually makes very interesting reading and is one of those books that is equally good as a basic work of reference but can also be picked up and dipped into at any time. A welcome addition to my bookshelf!

A fascinating tour de force, 14 Mar 2007
This is an outstanding piece of work aimed at the intellectually and scientifically curious that also works as a nice reference book on the elements and the Periodic Table.

After a short introduction filled with some top ten tables (e.g., top ten elements in the earth's crust: "Oxygen 466,000" parts per million, "Silicon 277,000" p.p.m., etc.) Emsley spins out a chapter per element in alphabetical order beginning with Actinium and ending with Zirconium. Each chapter is filled with interesting and specific information about the element in question. In the chapter on carbon, for example--understandably one of the longest in the book (7 pages), since carbon is so important to us and so plentiful--there are sections entitled "COSMIC ELEMENT, HUMAN ELEMENT, FOOD ELEMENT, MEDICAL ELEMENT, ELEMENT OF HISTORY, ELEMENT OF WAR, ECONOMIC ELEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENT, CHEMICAL ELEMENT," and "ELEMENT OF SURPRISE."

The idea is to place each element in terms of its importance in these various categories as well as giving all sorts of information about its history, abundance and uses. In the ELEMENT OF SURPRISE section Emsley usually comes up with something unusual or striking about the use or the history of the element. In the case of iron, Emsley cites a research project that "fertilized" a barren part of the ocean west of the Galapagos Islands with iron sulfate with dramatic results: "Within a week this barren span of ocean bloomed and turned green with plankton, proving that it was simply lack of this metal that was limiting their growth." (p. 211)

Included in the sections are tables showing how much of the element is in the human body (in the blood, in bones and tissues), and how much is in the environment (in the crust, in the soil, in sea water, and the atmosphere). A third table gives the element's chemical symbol, its atomic number, its atomic weight, melting point, boiling point, density and oxides, if any.

There is a final chapter on the history and development of the Periodic Table, which I found interesting. One of Emsley's strengths is his ability to make the material just so fascinating to read. Part of that comes from his obvious love for his subject matter. He is so good he makes me regret that I did not study chemistry when I was young. Just reading this book has opened my eyes to some of the ideas of chemistry and has greatly improved my knowledge of what the elements are like and how they interact with one another to form various molecules as they become familiar and not so familiar substances.

Here are examples of some of the fascinating details that can be found in the book:

"Iridium is the most corrosion-resistant metal known... The standard metre bar, kept in Paris, is made of a platinum-iridium alloy (90% platinum and 10% iridium) but this was superseded as the basic unit of length in 1960 by a line in the atomic spectrum of krypton (see p. 213)."

And on page 213 we find that "The standard was changed in 1983 to one based on the speed of light in a vacuum, a metre being the distance light travelled in 1/299 793 458th of a second, as measured by a light beam from a helium-neon laser."

"Inside the body, iron, as iron(III), is strongly bound by transferrin, a protein found in serum and other secretions... Transferrin binds iron tightly and, because it does so, it acts as a powerful antibiotic simply by denying this essential metal to any invading bacteria which need iron to multiply. As soon as our body registers a bacterial invasion, it produces more transferrin to mop up any free iron in the blood stream and 'hide' it in the liver." (p. 206)

"Neodymium-iron-boron (NIB) magnets are so powerful that those handling them must wear protective glasses--they fly together with such force that they can shatter and send splinters flying in all directions. At times young people have used these industrial magnets to attach ornaments to their cheeks by putting one of the small magnets on the inside of the mouth. However, the magnet and ornament have then proved impossible to pull apart, sometimes necessitating a visit to a hospital for surgical removal." (p. 270)

I have two suggestions for the next edition: (1) provide an index; (2) give us the value of the elements in terms of current (or relative) dollars or Euros. It would be fun to compare. (I realize that in some cases, the value of an element because it is so rare or not used for anything would be just an educated guess, but that's okay.)

Another interesting book by John Emsley is The Thirteenth Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus (2000). See my review.

Is this the best science book ever written?, 02 Nov 2006
Yes quite possibly!
Brilliantly written and very readable. You can work your way a-z or just browse and turn your thinking of elements and chemistry from; "its a collection of letters and grapes on sticks" to "wow isnt science interesting". Tales of discovery and use of the elements read like any Hardy novel, woe and deception abound!
If youve never thought about 'popular science' and think its an oxymoron. Pick up this book. If you're president of the RSC and think you know everything about chemistry. Pick up this book. You'll learn alot and enjoy it whatever!
A perfect christmas present for everyone with a remote interest in the world around them from about 12+

Pure delight., 27 Dec 2003
This is a wonderful read - absolutely un-put-downable. It achieves what some may think is the impossible - a book about chemistry or physics that is also entertaining. Open it at any page and you will find something to fascinate and delight.

It will be an important addition to my reference shelf after I have finished reading it cover-to-cover for the enjoyment.

Bible of chemistry, 06 Nov 2007
Fantastic book, if you are doing coures such as chemistry, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. it covers everything

Best book ever, 24 Oct 2006
This book is fantastic for chemistry university undergrads. Fantastic book easy to follow and develops basic concept into more complicated ideas. Everythings in colour and has lovely pictures made by the latests graphics so that you can see the 3D structure of atoms and other stuff really easily. This book is recommended by university lecturers at manchester uni (we get a free copy yipee!)- it is one of the core texts. This book is a must have - to ease transition from A-level to degree and beyond into furthur chemistry. Also has worked answers and questions for you to try. Such a good book in every way. It makes chemistry so fun and intersting with all the really good graphics and pictures.
GET THIS BOOK - IT IS A CHEMISTRY UNDERGRAD MUST HAVE

Excellent, 05 Dec 2008
This is an excellent text - the new edition is a big improvement on the previous. Seems to cover everything well - the new edition has been written with more clarity. A very good book!

I owned the previous edition of this book , 30 Jul 2007

Im not sure what changes are made to this book from the previous edition but the last edition was just okay for an undergraduate textbook. The Shriver and Atkins series are excellent at most fields of chemistry but falls down somewhat at Inorganic chemistry with this book in particular.

The book is very good for concepts but does not describe things as well as the Housecroft Inorganic Book does. This would be more of a reference book than a good all round book to learn from.

why you should buy this book, 23 May 2003
This book is salvation for us poor chemists who spend hours looking in four thick chemistry text books for one snippet of information. It provides a good overview of all the topics and manages to link them all in a coherent manner. It is very well laid out and easy to use, and is cheaper than the average textbook.

Overall, despite the black and white illustrations, this book is anything but overbearing and would make an excellent introduction for any chemist or potential chemist.

A 'must read' for first year undergrads, 23 Apr 2003
This book gives an excellent explanation of the basic ideas in chemistry. It is different from most other chemistry books in that it brings together ideas from what are usually considered different areas of chemistry to give a reader friendly (thermodynamics without the maths!) explanation of, well, why chemical reactions happen. The topics covered by the authors are clearly presented with loads of diagrams and everyday examples to support the text. Emphasis is placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The book is aimed at first year undergraduates/those who are about to begin studying chemistry at university (and I would definitely recommend it as pre-university reading) however, I think it would also be of interest to a wider audience - even though I'm a chemistry graduate I found reading the book useful because it explained the basics more clearly than any other textbook I've read.

The basis for chemistry explained..., 13 Apr 2003
This book provides an excellent basis for the study of chemistry and is ideal for for those about to begin the first year of a chemistry degree. It brings together concepts from different areas of chemistry, ranging from thermodynamics to organic chemistry, to provide a comprehensive explanation of, well, why reactions happen.

I found the topics covered by the authors to be clearly presented and in a logical order, with excellent use of diagrams and examples to support the ideas discussed in the text. Emphasis is firmly placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The authors suggest that this book would be suitable for those who have just completed A-level chemistry or are first year undergraduates, however, I believe it would be of interest to a wider audience both as a teaching resource and for graduates who want to refresh their understanding of the basics. I found the book easy to read and useful as it reminded me of how I should think about the chemistry with which I am already familiar.

excellent to get you through a chemistry degree, 22 Oct 2003
i'm so impressed by the organisation of this book. All of the theory is well covered and explained, with additional information that gives an excellent oppurtunity to read around your degree. i would certainly recommend it to any chemists starting their degree. it'll see you through to the end of your course. excellent!

A Very Good Introduction, 19 Nov 2006
It's great to read a science book by someone who can see beyond his own little world. The elements? Let's start with the ancients, Greeks and the like, and work from there. Fantastic! I've ordered the sequel (Molecules) already.

The elements of elements, 02 Oct 2005
If you are familiar with this series, you will not be surprised to learn that this book is not a conventional tour of the periodic table. In fact, the table does not make an appearance until half way through. Part of what the author does is to illustrate the impact of Earth's elements on human history. The stories of oxygen and gold are singled out for particular attention. This is not the book you need for a first chemistry course. It is what you need to get you enthused about the subject, to help you appreciate what an exciting and significant discipline it can be.

This fine series is slightly marred by a tendency to typographic error. This book is no exception, and you will struggle to make sense of figure 15(b). Oddly, in the list of figures at the front, there is a request that readers notify the publishers of errors in the list. I don't think I've seen anything quite like that in any book before. It suggests that they realize they have a proofreading problem. Instead of asking readers to be on the alert, wouldn't it be better just to have a word with the printer?

At 179 pages, this is one of the longer entries in the series, and every page glows with the author's enthusiasm for his subject. It adopts a rambling, somewhat unstructured approach but is packed full of fascinating historical and scientific detail. And yes, when the author does finally get around to the periodic table, he gives as good an explanation of it as you will find anywhere.

A True Joy To Read, 05 Jan 2008
Natures Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide To The Elements, is an outstanding book, and quite possibly the greatest science book I've ever read. It is filled with countless fascinating facts, such as why an octopus has blue blood and why some people can consume more than twice the lethal dose of Arsenic and live. It really is an excellent reference book for anyone interested in chemistry, biology, nutrition, medicine, or history, and you'll find yourself going back to it time and time again. It does get `slightly' scientific in places such as when it starts to talk about the various isotopes of an element, so some basic knowledge of chemistry is recommended. But it is not overly technical so it's not essential. The sections I enjoyed the most were the `medical elements' which I found extremely interesting. The book is very well structured and easy to follow. This is the kind of book that makes you feel smarter, a true joy to read and I recommend to all. No one could possibly be disappointed.

Excellent, 30 Jun 2007
Its been pretty thoroughly reviewed already but essentially the author takes each of the first 100 elements (those with an atomic number over 100 are lumped together in a chapter of their own) and details such things as its chemical properties, how it acquired its name and a history of its discovery, how the element is produced within stars, its role in human biology, any nutritional role, medicinal uses, military uses, its economic importance, environmental impact as well as any unusual or curious trivia e.g. Antimony pills being sold as re-usable laxatives in the middle ages!

There are also appendices on the periodic table, its development, basic atomic structure and a chronology of the discovery of the elements.

It actually makes very interesting reading and is one of those books that is equally good as a basic work of reference but can also be picked up and dipped into at any time. A welcome addition to my bookshelf!

A fascinating tour de force, 14 Mar 2007
This is an outstanding piece of work aimed at the intellectually and scientifically curious that also works as a nice reference book on the elements and the Periodic Table.

After a short introduction filled with some top ten tables (e.g., top ten elements in the earth's crust: "Oxygen 466,000" parts per million, "Silicon 277,000" p.p.m., etc.) Emsley spins out a chapter per element in alphabetical order beginning with Actinium and ending with Zirconium. Each chapter is filled with interesting and specific information about the element in question. In the chapter on carbon, for example--understandably one of the longest in the book (7 pages), since carbon is so important to us and so plentiful--there are sections entitled "COSMIC ELEMENT, HUMAN ELEMENT, FOOD ELEMENT, MEDICAL ELEMENT, ELEMENT OF HISTORY, ELEMENT OF WAR, ECONOMIC ELEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENT, CHEMICAL ELEMENT," and "ELEMENT OF SURPRISE."

The idea is to place each element in terms of its importance in these various categories as well as giving all sorts of information about its history, abundance and uses. In the ELEMENT OF SURPRISE section Emsley usually comes up with something unusual or striking about the use or the history of the element. In the case of iron, Emsley cites a research project that "fertilized" a barren part of the ocean west of the Galapagos Islands with iron sulfate with dramatic results: "Within a week this barren span of ocean bloomed and turned green with plankton, proving that it was simply lack of this metal that was limiting their growth." (p. 211)

Included in the sections are tables showing how much of the element is in the human body (in the blood, in bones and tissues), and how much is in the environment (in the crust, in the soil, in sea water, and the atmosphere). A third table gives the element's chemical symbol, its atomic number, its atomic weight, melting point, boiling point, density and oxides, if any.

There is a final chapter on the history and development of the Periodic Table, which I found interesting. One of Emsley's strengths is his ability to make the material just so fascinating to read. Part of that comes from his obvious love for his subject matter. He is so good he makes me regret that I did not study chemistry when I was young. Just reading this book has opened my eyes to some of the ideas of chemistry and has greatly improved my knowledge of what the elements are like and how they interact with one another to form various molecules as they become familiar and not so familiar substances.

Here are examples of some of the fascinating details that can be found in the book:

"Iridium is the most corrosion-resistant metal known... The standard metre bar, kept in Paris, is made of a platinum-iridium alloy (90% platinum and 10% iridium) but this was superseded as the basic unit of length in 1960 by a line in the atomic spectrum of krypton (see p. 213)."

And on page 213 we find that "The standard was changed in 1983 to one based on the speed of light in a vacuum, a metre being the distance light travelled in 1/299 793 458th of a second, as measured by a light beam from a helium-neon laser."

"Inside the body, iron, as iron(III), is strongly bound by transferrin, a protein found in serum and other secretions... Transferrin binds iron tightly and, because it does so, it acts as a powerful antibiotic simply by denying this essential metal to any invading bacteria which need iron to multiply. As soon as our body registers a bacterial invasion, it produces more transferrin to mop up any free iron in the blood stream and 'hide' it in the liver." (p. 206)

"Neodymium-iron-boron (NIB) magnets are so powerful that those handling them must wear protective glasses--they fly together with such force that they can shatter and send splinters flying in all directions. At times young people have used these industrial magnets to attach ornaments to their cheeks by putting one of the small magnets on the inside of the mouth. However, the magnet and ornament have then proved impossible to pull apart, sometimes necessitating a visit to a hospital for surgical removal." (p. 270)

I have two suggestions for the next edition: (1) provide an index; (2) give us the value of the elements in terms of current (or relative) dollars or Euros. It would be fun to compare. (I realize that in some cases, the value of an element because it is so rare or not used for anything would be just an educated guess, but that's okay.)

Another interesting book by John Emsley is The Thirteenth Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus (2000). See my review.

Is this the best science book ever written?, 02 Nov 2006
Yes quite possibly!
Brilliantly written and very readable. You can work your way a-z or just browse and turn your thinking of elements and chemistry from; "its a collection of letters and grapes on sticks" to "wow isnt science interesting". Tales of discovery and use of the elements read like any Hardy novel, woe and deception abound!
If youve never thought about 'popular science' and think its an oxymoron. Pick up this book. If you're president of the RSC and think you know everything about chemistry. Pick up this book. You'll learn alot and enjoy it whatever!
A perfect christmas present for everyone with a remote interest in the world around them from about 12+

Pure delight., 27 Dec 2003
This is a wonderful read - absolutely un-put-downable. It achieves what some may think is the impossible - a book about chemistry or physics that is also entertaining. Open it at any page and you will find something to fascinate and delight.

It will be an important addition to my reference shelf after I have finished reading it cover-to-cover for the enjoyment.

Bible of chemistry, 06 Nov 2007
Fantastic book, if you are doing coures such as chemistry, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. it covers everything

Best book ever, 24 Oct 2006
This book is fantastic for chemistry university undergrads. Fantastic book easy to follow and develops basic concept into more complicated ideas. Everythings in colour and has lovely pictures made by the latests graphics so that you can see the 3D structure of atoms and other stuff really easily. This book is recommended by university lecturers at manchester uni (we get a free copy yipee!)- it is one of the core texts. This book is a must have - to ease transition from A-level to degree and beyond into furthur chemistry. Also has worked answers and questions for you to try. Such a good book in every way. It makes chemistry so fun and intersting with all the really good graphics and pictures.
GET THIS BOOK - IT IS A CHEMISTRY UNDERGRAD MUST HAVE

Excellent, 05 Dec 2008
This is an excellent text - the new edition is a big improvement on the previous. Seems to cover everything well - the new edition has been written with more clarity. A very good book!

I owned the previous edition of this book , 30 Jul 2007

Im not sure what changes are made to this book from the previous edition but the last edition was just okay for an undergraduate textbook. The Shriver and Atkins series are excellent at most fields of chemistry but falls down somewhat at Inorganic chemistry with this book in particular.

The book is very good for concepts but does not describe things as well as the Housecroft Inorganic Book does. This would be more of a reference book than a good all round book to learn from.

why you should buy this book, 23 May 2003
This book is salvation for us poor chemists who spend hours looking in four thick chemistry text books for one snippet of information. It provides a good overview of all the topics and manages to link them all in a coherent manner. It is very well laid out and easy to use, and is cheaper than the average textbook.

Overall, despite the black and white illustrations, this book is anything but overbearing and would make an excellent introduction for any chemist or potential chemist.

A 'must read' for first year undergrads, 23 Apr 2003
This book gives an excellent explanation of the basic ideas in chemistry. It is different from most other chemistry books in that it brings together ideas from what are usually considered different areas of chemistry to give a reader friendly (thermodynamics without the maths!) explanation of, well, why chemical reactions happen. The topics covered by the authors are clearly presented with loads of diagrams and everyday examples to support the text. Emphasis is placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The book is aimed at first year undergraduates/those who are about to begin studying chemistry at university (and I would definitely recommend it as pre-university reading) however, I think it would also be of interest to a wider audience - even though I'm a chemistry graduate I found reading the book useful because it explained the basics more clearly than any other textbook I've read.

The basis for chemistry explained..., 13 Apr 2003
This book provides an excellent basis for the study of chemistry and is ideal for for those about to begin the first year of a chemistry degree. It brings together concepts from different areas of chemistry, ranging from thermodynamics to organic chemistry, to provide a comprehensive explanation of, well, why reactions happen.

I found the topics covered by the authors to be clearly presented and in a logical order, with excellent use of diagrams and examples to support the ideas discussed in the text. Emphasis is firmly placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The authors suggest that this book would be suitable for those who have just completed A-level chemistry or are first year undergraduates, however, I believe it would be of interest to a wider audience both as a teaching resource and for graduates who want to refresh their understanding of the basics. I found the book easy to read and useful as it reminded me of how I should think about the chemistry with which I am already familiar.

excellent to get you through a chemistry degree, 22 Oct 2003
i'm so impressed by the organisation of this book. All of the theory is well covered and explained, with additional information that gives an excellent oppurtunity to read around your degree. i would certainly recommend it to any chemists starting their degree. it'll see you through to the end of your course. excellent!

A Very Good Introduction, 19 Nov 2006
It's great to read a science book by someone who can see beyond his own little world. The elements? Let's start with the ancients, Greeks and the like, and work from there. Fantastic! I've ordered the sequel (Molecules) already.

The elements of elements, 02 Oct 2005
If you are familiar with this series, you will not be surprised to learn that this book is not a conventional tour of the periodic table. In fact, the table does not make an appearance until half way through. Part of what the author does is to illustrate the impact of Earth's elements on human history. The stories of oxygen and gold are singled out for particular attention. This is not the book you need for a first chemistry course. It is what you need to get you enthused about the subject, to help you appreciate what an exciting and significant discipline it can be.

This fine series is slightly marred by a tendency to typographic error. This book is no exception, and you will struggle to make sense of figure 15(b). Oddly, in the list of figures at the front, there is a request that readers notify the publishers of errors in the list. I don't think I've seen anything quite like that in any book before. It suggests that they realize they have a proofreading problem. Instead of asking readers to be on the alert, wouldn't it be better just to have a word with the printer?

At 179 pages, this is one of the longer entries in the series, and every page glows with the author's enthusiasm for his subject. It adopts a rambling, somewhat unstructured approach but is packed full of fascinating historical and scientific detail. And yes, when the author does finally get around to the periodic table, he gives as good an explanation of it as you will find anywhere.

An excellent book, 15 Jun 2007
An asset to undergraduates and even postgraduates who need a refreshing short book on the basic NMR principles. The book is of course good for how NMR is used for ascertaining inorganic processes/stuctures i.e. fluxionality and isomerism. The book is also just as useful to organic chemists.

For a primer, the book covers a lot of good information on the actual physical theory made use of in attaining an NMR spectrum, which is more important than an UG might appreciate, and they should make an effort to understand these things if the are to fully use NMR at the research level.

Content summary: 1) fundementals - does talk about coupling and relaxation mechanisms in good detail 2) structure determination 3) solid state.

A True Joy To Read, 05 Jan 2008
Natures Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide To The Elements, is an outstanding book, and quite possibly the greatest science book I've ever read. It is filled with countless fascinating facts, such as why an octopus has blue blood and why some people can consume more than twice the lethal dose of Arsenic and live. It really is an excellent reference book for anyone interested in chemistry, biology, nutrition, medicine, or history, and you'll find yourself going back to it time and time again. It does get `slightly' scientific in places such as when it starts to talk about the various isotopes of an element, so some basic knowledge of chemistry is recommended. But it is not overly technical so it's not essential. The sections I enjoyed the most were the `medical elements' which I found extremely interesting. The book is very well structured and easy to follow. This is the kind of book that makes you feel smarter, a true joy to read and I recommend to all. No one could possibly be disappointed.

Excellent, 30 Jun 2007
Its been pretty thoroughly reviewed already but essentially the author takes each of the first 100 elements (those with an atomic number over 100 are lumped together in a chapter of their own) and details such things as its chemical properties, how it acquired its name and a history of its discovery, how the element is produced within stars, its role in human biology, any nutritional role, medicinal uses, military uses, its economic importance, environmental impact as well as any unusual or curious trivia e.g. Antimony pills being sold as re-usable laxatives in the middle ages!

There are also appendices on the periodic table, its development, basic atomic structure and a chronology of the discovery of the elements.

It actually makes very interesting reading and is one of those books that is equally good as a basic work of reference but can also be picked up and dipped into at any time. A welcome addition to my bookshelf!

A fascinating tour de force, 14 Mar 2007
This is an outstanding piece of work aimed at the intellectually and scientifically curious that also works as a nice reference book on the elements and the Periodic Table.

After a short introduction filled with some top ten tables (e.g., top ten elements in the earth's crust: "Oxygen 466,000" parts per million, "Silicon 277,000" p.p.m., etc.) Emsley spins out a chapter per element in alphabetical order beginning with Actinium and ending with Zirconium. Each chapter is filled with interesting and specific information about the element in question. In the chapter on carbon, for example--understandably one of the longest in the book (7 pages), since carbon is so important to us and so plentiful--there are sections entitled "COSMIC ELEMENT, HUMAN ELEMENT, FOOD ELEMENT, MEDICAL ELEMENT, ELEMENT OF HISTORY, ELEMENT OF WAR, ECONOMIC ELEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENT, CHEMICAL ELEMENT," and "ELEMENT OF SURPRISE."

The idea is to place each element in terms of its importance in these various categories as well as giving all sorts of information about its history, abundance and uses. In the ELEMENT OF SURPRISE section Emsley usually comes up with something unusual or striking about the use or the history of the element. In the case of iron, Emsley cites a research project that "fertilized" a barren part of the ocean west of the Galapagos Islands with iron sulfate with dramatic results: "Within a week this barren span of ocean bloomed and turned green with plankton, proving that it was simply lack of this metal that was limiting their growth." (p. 211)

Included in the sections are tables showing how much of the element is in the human body (in the blood, in bones and tissues), and how much is in the environment (in the crust, in the soil, in sea water, and the atmosphere). A third table gives the element's chemical symbol, its atomic number, its atomic weight, melting point, boiling point, density and oxides, if any.

There is a final chapter on the history and development of the Periodic Table, which I found interesting. One of Emsley's strengths is his ability to make the material just so fascinating to read. Part of that comes from his obvious love for his subject matter. He is so good he makes me regret that I did not study chemistry when I was young. Just reading this book has opened my eyes to some of the ideas of chemistry and has greatly improved my knowledge of what the elements are like and how they interact with one another to form various molecules as they become familiar and not so familiar substances.

Here are examples of some of the fascinating details that can be found in the book:

"Iridium is the most corrosion-resistant metal known... The standard metre bar, kept in Paris, is made of a platinum-iridium alloy (90% platinum and 10% iridium) but this was superseded as the basic unit of length in 1960 by a line in the atomic spectrum of krypton (see p. 213)."

And on page 213 we find that "The standard was changed in 1983 to one based on the speed of light in a vacuum, a metre being the distance light travelled in 1/299 793 458th of a second, as measured by a light beam from a helium-neon laser."

"Inside the body, iron, as iron(III), is strongly bound by transferrin, a protein found in serum and other secretions... Transferrin binds iron tightly and, because it does so, it acts as a powerful antibiotic simply by denying this essential metal to any invading bacteria which need iron to multiply. As soon as our body registers a bacterial invasion, it produces more transferrin to mop up any free iron in the blood stream and 'hide' it in the liver." (p. 206)

"Neodymium-iron-boron (NIB) magnets are so powerful that those handling them must wear protective glasses--they fly together with such force that they can shatter and send splinters flying in all directions. At times young people have used these industrial magnets to attach ornaments to their cheeks by putting one of the small magnets on the inside of the mouth. However, the magnet and ornament have then proved impossible to pull apart, sometimes necessitating a visit to a hospital for surgical removal." (p. 270)

I have two suggestions for the next edition: (1) provide an index; (2) give us the value of the elements in terms of current (or relative) dollars or Euros. It would be fun to compare. (I realize that in some cases, the value of an element because it is so rare or not used for anything would be just an educated guess, but that's okay.)

Another interesting book by John Emsley is The Thirteenth Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus (2000). See my review.

Is this the best science book ever written?, 02 Nov 2006
Yes quite possibly!
Brilliantly written and very readable. You can work your way a-z or just browse and turn your thinking of elements and chemistry from; "its a collection of letters and grapes on sticks" to "wow isnt science interesting". Tales of discovery and use of the elements read like any Hardy novel, woe and deception abound!
If youve never thought about 'popular science' and think its an oxymoron. Pick up this book. If you're president of the RSC and think you know everything about chemistry. Pick up this book. You'll learn alot and enjoy it whatever!
A perfect christmas present for everyone with a remote interest in the world around them from about 12+

Pure delight., 27 Dec 2003
This is a wonderful read - absolutely un-put-downable. It achieves what some may think is the impossible - a book about chemistry or physics that is also entertaining. Open it at any page and you will find something to fascinate and delight.

It will be an important addition to my reference shelf after I have finished reading it cover-to-cover for the enjoyment.

Bible of chemistry, 06 Nov 2007
Fantastic book, if you are doing coures such as chemistry, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. it covers everything

Best book ever, 24 Oct 2006
This book is fantastic for chemistry university undergrads. Fantastic book easy to follow and develops basic concept into more complicated ideas. Everythings in colour and has lovely pictures made by the latests graphics so that you can see the 3D structure of atoms and other stuff really easily. This book is recommended by university lecturers at manchester uni (we get a free copy yipee!)- it is one of the core texts. This book is a must have - to ease transition from A-level to degree and beyond into furthur chemistry. Also has worked answers and questions for you to try. Such a good book in every way. It makes chemistry so fun and intersting with all the really good graphics and pictures.
GET THIS BOOK - IT IS A CHEMISTRY UNDERGRAD MUST HAVE

Excellent, 05 Dec 2008
This is an excellent text - the new edition is a big improvement on the previous. Seems to cover everything well - the new edition has been written with more clarity. A very good book!

I owned the previous edition of this book , 30 Jul 2007

Im not sure what changes are made to this book from the previous edition but the last edition was just okay for an undergraduate textbook. The Shriver and Atkins series are excellent at most fields of chemistry but falls down somewhat at Inorganic chemistry with this book in particular.

The book is very good for concepts but does not describe things as well as the Housecroft Inorganic Book does. This would be more of a reference book than a good all round book to learn from.

why you should buy this book, 23 May 2003
This book is salvation for us poor chemists who spend hours looking in four thick chemistry text books for one snippet of information. It provides a good overview of all the topics and manages to link them all in a coherent manner. It is very well laid out and easy to use, and is cheaper than the average textbook.

Overall, despite the black and white illustrations, this book is anything but overbearing and would make an excellent introduction for any chemist or potential chemist.

A 'must read' for first year undergrads, 23 Apr 2003
This book gives an excellent explanation of the basic ideas in chemistry. It is different from most other chemistry books in that it brings together ideas from what are usually considered different areas of chemistry to give a reader friendly (thermodynamics without the maths!) explanation of, well, why chemical reactions happen. The topics covered by the authors are clearly presented with loads of diagrams and everyday examples to support the text. Emphasis is placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The book is aimed at first year undergraduates/those who are about to begin studying chemistry at university (and I would definitely recommend it as pre-university reading) however, I think it would also be of interest to a wider audience - even though I'm a chemistry graduate I found reading the book useful because it explained the basics more clearly than any other textbook I'