Antimony, Gold, and Jupiter's Wolf: How the elements were named
Peter Wothers
Jul 2020 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Julian Elfer
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9 hr 18 min
Unabridged
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About this audiobook
The iconic Periodic Table of the Elements is now in its most satisfyingly elegant form. This is because all the 'gaps' corresponding to missing elements in the seventh row, or period, have recently been filled and the elements named. But where do these names come from? For some, usually the most recent, the origins are quite obvious, but in others-even well-known elements such as oxygen or nitrogen-the roots are less clear. Here, Peter Wothers explores the fascinating and often surprising stories behind how the chemical elements received their names. Delving back in time to explore the history and gradual development of chemistry, he sifts through medieval manuscripts for clues to the stories surrounding the discovery of the elements, showing how they were first encountered or created, and how they were used in everyday lives. While some of the origins of the names were controversial (and indeed incorrect-some saying, for instance, that oxygen might be literally taken to mean 'the son of a vinegar merchant'), they have nonetheless influenced language used around the world to this very day. Throughout, Wothers delights in dusting off the original sources, and bringing to light the astonishing, the unusual, and the downright weird origins behind the names of the elements so familiar to us today.
About the author
Peter Wothers is heavily involved in promoting chemistry to young students and members of the public, and created the popular Cambridge Chemistry Challenge competition for students in the UK. He has also authored a number of popular textbooks, including Why Chemical Reactions Happen and Chemical Structure and Reactivity.
British-born Julian Elfer is an award-winning New York City-based actor and audiobook narrator. With over 100 titles to his credit, Julian brings a unique facility for characterization in fiction and an empathy for the personalities and events of the past.
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