Mendeleyev's Dream : The Quest For the Elements

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On the night of February 17, 1869, the Russian scientist Dmitri Mendeleyev went to bed frustrated by a puzzle he had been playing with for years: how the atomic weights of the chemical elements could be grouped in some meaningful way--and one that, with any luck, would open a window onto the hidden structure of nature. He dreamed, as he later recalled, of "a table where all the elements fell into place as required." His intuition that when the elements were listed in order of weight, their properties repeated in regular intervals, gave rise to the Periodic Table of the Elements--which, though much revised since, underlies modern chemistry.

Mendeleyev's discovery brackets Paul Strathern's learned and literate history of chemistry. He traces the origins of that science, as it is understood in the West, to the Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus, who backed up his surmises about the nature of things with evidence and used arguments "entirely within the realm of this world." From Thales's day, Strathern takes us into the studies of Arabic-speaking scientists such as Avicenna and Al-Razi, who preserved classical science and added to it their own insights; introduces us to the medieval alchemists who in turn preserved the work of Islamic scholars while questing to discover the inner secrets of matter (and perhaps make a little gold in the bargain); and leads us into the early modern world of such greats as Lavoisier, Van Helmont, and Cavendish, who added rigorous methodology and important discoveries to that quest.

Strathern relates false steps and true breakthroughs alike, and his narrative is a pleasure to read. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

In this elegant, erudite but entertaining book, Paul Strathern, the award-winning novelist and expositor of complex ideas, unravels the dramatic history of chemistry through the quest for the elements.Framing this history is the life-story of the nineteenth-century Russian Scientist Dmitri Mendeleyev, who fell asleep at his desk and awoke after conceiving the Periodic Table in a dream - the template upon which modern chemistry is founded, and the formulation of which marked chemistry's coming of age as a science.From ancient philosophy, through medieval alchemy to the splitting of the atom, this is the true story of the birth of chemistry and the role of one man's dream.AUTHORBIO: PAUL STRATHERN was born in London in 1940.He studied physics, chemistry, and maths at Trinity College, Dublin, before switching to philosophy.He is the author of several novels, including A Season in Abyssinia, which won a Somerset Maugham prize, and two highly successful series of short introductory books, Philosophers in 90 Minutes, and The Big Idea: Scientists who Changed the World.Paul Strathern lectures in philosophy and science at Kingston University.

Customer Reviews:

An Inexpert Review.......2005-11-17

As someone who loves popular science and history, but who is neither a scientist nor a historian (I'm an illustrator), I found this journey, culminating in Mendeleyev's insight, to be one of the most engrossing and eye-opening books I've read in quite some time.

Reading the other reviews above reinforces my belief that the more one knows about a subject the harsher (and more fussy) the criticism. Though some of the negative comments may be deserved, I nevertheless recommend this as an imminently readable history of the personalities who sought to uncover the secrets of the elements. I'm convinced that if science education were supplemented with the kind of engaging narrative backstory contained in Strathern's book, non-science-minded students would take a much greater interest in learning molar masses and balancing chemical equations.

Too elementary.......2004-08-21

If you are looking for a genuine history of chemistry centered on the development of the periodic table--as the title and subtitle imply--then look elsewhere. This book provides a spotty history of science emphasizing the personalities involved, with greatest coverage of ancient and medieval figures. Overall, it was quite disappointing.

Worth Re-Reading.......2004-03-07

This is an outstanding book if you are very interested in both history and science. Some earlier reviewer were disappointed in not finding more information about chemistry, but it's not a chemistry book, it's a history book. A better book about the elements, including each specific element and how each was discovered, is "A Guide to the Elements" by Stwertka.

This book is about the history of chemistry, culminating in Mendeleyev's realization of the periodic table - the "order" in the chemical world that people had been looking for. It's not a book about Mendeleyev, but about his dream, which was every Chemist's dream. Hence, the title Mendeleyev's DREAM.

Strathern has a great grasp of history and an unusual ability to condense complex historical events into just a few sentences. This helps the reader understand the context within with various events take place -- extremely important. The reader who already has a grasp of some basic world history will get more out of this book, however.

I particularly liked how Strathern describes the various characters with warts and all. It makes it so much more fascinating! They are complex people with ambitions, phobias, superstitions, arrogence and so on. The lives of these people are stories in and of themselves, and Strathern makes these stories both readable and believable. I often found myself shaking my head in amazement and/or amusement.

There were some complaints in earlier reviews about Strathern spending too much time on Medieval and Ancient times. I didn't think that was a problem at all. I found it all very interesting, then again, I'm interested Ancient and Medieval History. I think it's important to learn what went on prior to modern science, back in the days of alchemy and elixers. It makes modern science look pretty good.

After I was done with the book I found myself picking it up over and over again, re-reading various passages, still shaking my head in amazement.

Dream? More like a coma!.......2003-08-22

If Mendeleyev had the opportunity to read this... boy would he dream. It has to be the best cure for insomnia I've ever stumbled upon. There is far too much history and not enough Mendeleyev or periodic table - the reasons I bought the book in the first place. At two thirds of the way through, the only things keeping me going are sheer willpower to get to Meneleyev's cameo role and the fact I've cheated and flicked to the end so I know I'll get to it eventually. Definate thumbs down for anyone wanting to know more about the elements but fine for anyone wanting to know what inspired the research. Chemistry fascinates me... this book does not.

Loses a bit of credibility at the end........2003-05-14

I thought this was a quite engaging book until I neared the end, and the author's science started to get a little sketchy. His description of why warm Coke is fizzier than cold Coke seems to be wrong, and in the final chapter about Mendeleyev, there are a couple of mistakes, such as confusing bismuth with boron, and a bizarre confusion between uranium and indium, which looks like it needs explaining. All in all a decent book let down by these oversights.

Mendeleyev's Dream: The Quest for the Elements

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Pretty cool
History of Chemistry - and more...

Mendeleyev's Dream: The Quest for the Elements
Paul Strathern
Manufacturer: Hamish Hamilton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Customer Reviews:

Pretty cool.......2006-11-12

This was a nice book to read, although there were some pretty big words in it...so if you plan on reading it, have a dictionary on hand! Also, I learned a lot about the elements that i never knew before. If you plan on majoring in any type of science, I highly recommend this book!!

History of Chemistry - and more..........2002-12-14

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I literally couldn't put it down! It was very well-researched, fast-moving, and loaded with interesting anecdotes, some funny and some sad. "Mendeleyev's Dream" covers two millenia of the development of chemistry from art to science, including the discovery and characterization of some of the more colourful elements on the periodic table. I found one or two minor technical errors, but in all I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in science and history both.

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Initially, the role of snow and ice in the global water balance is assessed and methods of snow measurements are explained. Remote sensing is dealt with with regard to periodical snow cover mapping. Last advances and refinements refer to spatial resolution, cloud interference and separate monitoring of snow and glacier ice. Following a review of snow melt and runoff modelling, the Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM) demonstrates the merits of remote sensing in snow hydrology by using the satellite data as a direct input variable. Applications in over 100 mountain basins around the world are documented, with surface areas ranging from 0.3 km2 to 900.000 km2. Based on runoff modelling, runoff forecasts are dealt with including seasonal and short term forecasts as well as computation of hydrographs from forecasted temperatures and precipitation. The climate change is becoming a major concern of our times. The effect of various climate scenarios on the seasonal snow cover and runoff is evaluated by the updated computer program which also enable the real-time runoff forecasts to be improved. As a final note, a method is outlined to predict the decline of glaciers in the warming climate.

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Computational techniques have become indispensable tools in solving complex problems in transport phenomena. This book provides a clear, user-oriented introduction to the subject of computational transport phenomena. Each self-contained chapter includes a detailed worked example and a discussion of the problem system equations. Also included are the numerical methods used; computer code for the solution of the problem system equations; discussion of the numerical solution with emphasis on physical interpretation; and, when appropriate, a comparison of the numerical solution with an analytical solution or a discussion of how the numerical solution goes beyond what can be done analytically, especially for nonlinear problems. Intended for students and a broad range of scientists and engineers, the book includes computer code written in transportable Fortran so the reader can produce the numerical solutions and then extend them to other cases.

Customer Reviews:

The best book I've ever read.......2001-10-31

Just in general, i think this book is just soooo coool. I especially enjoyed the fourth order classical runge-kutta method. Professor Schiesser and Cesar knows what they are talking about, NO?

The essential work in this field........1999-01-09

Computational Transport Phenomena has been the single best general work I have found in my research into numerical heat and mass transfer problems. Clearly written, with excellent examples. Also includes well composed FORTRAN code samples.

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Lovely…Lofty…Loco?

As a black entertainment writer in Los Angeles, Vida Donnevan is plagued by insecurity and feelings of invisibility. The pressure of the velvet rope sends her on routine excursions to the emergency room because she's convinced that she's having a heart attack—once a week. Vida fears she won't see her thirtieth birthday, until she meets John Marques, a militant Mexican poet who breathes life into her glitterati world. He's into picket lines; she's into picket fences. They bond over poetry and a marginalized existence.

During their relationship, Vida sheds her fashionista demeanor and adopts a more radical lifestyle. But on her journey from Fendi to Fanon, a heartbreaking revelation threatens to shatter her newfound confidence and freedom.

The Resurrección of Vida crosses racial and cultural borders, and is the story of love and liberation.

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Lovely.Lofty.Loco?

As a black entertainment writer in Los Angeles, Vida Donnevan is plagued by insecurity and feelings of invisibility. The pressure of the velvet rope sends her on routine excursions to the emergency room because she's convinced that she's having a heart attack-once a week. Vida fears she won't see her thirtieth birthday, until she meets John Marques, a militant Mexican poet who breathes life into her glitterati world. He's into picket lines; she's into picket fences. They bond over poetry and a marginalized existence.

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This digital document is an article from Montalbán, published by Universidad Catolica Andrea Bello on January 1, 2000. The length of the article is 1955 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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Title: Deshielo, recepcion academica y resurreccion cientifica. II Coloquio sobre pensamiento y obra de Julio Cesar Salas (Maracaibo, noviembre de 1999). (Notas y comentarios).(etnologo )
Author: Francisco Javier Perez
Publication: Montalbán (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 2000
Publisher: Universidad Catolica Andrea Bello
Page: 285(5)

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Genghis Khan: Vida, muerte y resurreccion / Life, Death and Resurrection

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Genghis Khan: Vida, muerte y resurreccion / Life, Death and Resurrection
John Man
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La resurrección de Philip K. Dick: el creador de 'Blade Runner': veinticinco años después de su muerte, el creador de 'Blade Runner' vuelve para reivindicar ... An article from: Epoca
Érica Montenegro
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
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Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000RW3O22
Release Date: 2007-06-11

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This digital document is an article from Epoca, published by Thomson Gale on May 4, 2007. The length of the article is 1194 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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Title: La resurrección de Philip K. Dick: el creador de 'Blade Runner': veinticinco años después de su muerte, el creador de 'Blade Runner' vuelve para reivindicar su eternidad. Minotauro reedita sus mejores historias y los cines acogen otra de sus fábulas con Nicolas Cage como protagonista.(Biografía)
Author: Érica Montenegro
Publication: Epoca (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 4, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Issue: 1148 Page: 57(3)

Article Type: Biografía

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La resurrección de Valle-Inclán: primera recepción de La corte de los milagros.(novela de Ramón María del Valle-Inclán): An article from: Anales de la Literatura Española Contemporánea

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La resurrección de Valle-Inclán: primera recepción de La corte de los milagros.(novela de Ramón María del Valle-Inclán): An article from: Anales de la Literatura Española Contemporánea
Amparo de Juan Bolufer
Manufacturer: Society of Spanish and Spanish American Studies
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Binding: Digital

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This digital document is an article from Anales de la Literatura Española Contemporánea, published by Society of Spanish and Spanish American Studies on June 22, 2004. The length of the article is 28100 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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Title: La resurrección de Valle-Inclán: primera recepción de La corte de los milagros.(novela de Ramón María del Valle-Inclán)
Author: Amparo de Juan Bolufer
Publication: Anales de la Literatura Española Contemporánea (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 2004
Publisher: Society of Spanish and Spanish American Studies
Volume: 29 Issue: 3 Page: 673(64)

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La resurrección del Che. (libros sobre la vida de Ernesto 'Che' Guevara)(TT: Resurrection of Che) (TA: books about Ernesto 'Che' Guevara's life): An article from: Siempre!

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La resurrección del Che. (libros sobre la vida de Ernesto 'Che' Guevara)(TT: Resurrection of Che) (TA: books about Ernesto 'Che' Guevara's life): An article from: Siempre!
Mary Carmen Sánchez Ambriz
Manufacturer: Edicional Siempre
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B00097JID4
Release Date: 2005-07-28

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This digital document is an article from Siempre!, published by Edicional Siempre on February 26, 1998. The length of the article is 749 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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Title: La resurrección del Che. (libros sobre la vida de Ernesto 'Che' Guevara)(TT: Resurrection of Che) (TA: books about Ernesto 'Che' Guevara's life)
Author: Mary Carmen Sánchez Ambriz
Publication: Siempre! (Refereed)
Date: February 26, 1998
Publisher: Edicional Siempre
Volume: v44 Issue: n2332 Page: p65(1)

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Reencarnar en el mismo cuerpo.(evolución de la existencia del alma y la doctrina cristiana de la resurrección)(TT: To re-incarnate in one's very same body.)(TA: ... Breve)(Columna): An article from: Siempre!

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Reencarnar en el mismo cuerpo.(evolución de la existencia del alma y la doctrina cristiana de la resurrección)(TT: To re-incarnate in one's very same body.)(TA: ... Breve)(Columna): An article from: Siempre!
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Manufacturer: Edicional Siempre
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008JA8UA
Release Date: 2005-07-28

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Title: Reencarnar en el mismo cuerpo.(evolución de la existencia del alma y la doctrina cristiana de la resurrección)(TT: To re-incarnate in one's very same body.)(TA: evolution of existence of human soul and Christian doctrine of resurrection)(Artículo Breve)(Columna)
Author: Javier Sicilia
Publication: Siempre! (Refereed)
Date: December 21, 2000
Publisher: Edicional Siempre
Volume: 47 Issue: 2479 Page: 52

Article Type: Artículo Breve, Columna

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