Periodic tales: The curious lives of the elements

By Mary Daniels2011-06-01T00:00:00

Mary Daniels reviews this varied and interesting guide

It must be galling to an author when someone brings out a book on the same subject a few months ahead of you. Sam Kean's The Disappearing Spoon was published last November, both books giving similar treatment to the periodic table of elements.

Nevertheless, with 2011 being the International Year of Chemistry, it should not be surprising that there were several books published on that iconic representation of chemistry - the periodic table.

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