 | Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com | An eye-opening, original collection of gorgeous, never-before-seen photographic representations of the 118 elements in the periodic table.
The elements are what we, and everything around us, are made of. But how many elements has anyone actually seen in pure, uncombined form? The Elements provides this rare opportunity. Based on five years of research and photography, the pictures in this book make up the most complete, and visually arresting, representation available to the naked eye of every atom in the universe. Organized in order of appearance on the periodic table, each element is represented by a spread that includes a stunning, full-page, full-color photograph that most closely represents it in its purest form. For example, at -183˚C, oxygen turns from a colorless gas to a beautiful pale blue liquid.
Also included are fascinating facts, figures, and stories of the elements as well as data on the properties of each, including atomic weight, density, melting and boiling point, valence, electronegativity, and the year and location in which it was discovered. Several additional photographs show each element in slightly altered forms or as used in various practical ways. The element's position on the periodic table is pinpointed on a mini rendering of the table and an illustrated scale of the element's boiling and/or melting points appears on each page along with a density scale that runs along the bottom.
Packed with interesting information, this combination of solid science and stunning artistic photographs is the perfect gift book for every sentient creature in the universe.
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Average Customer Rating:   A beautiful book of the elements I have been looking for a book like this for a long time. The best I had been able to do was a cheap paperback which was not satisfactory. This book is printed on heavy coated paper and the illustrations are gorgeous. Many of the elements are not particularly visually striking but the author has in every case provided pictures that show some facit of the element even if it has to be shown as a part of an alloy or assemblage.
The author writes in a humerous fashion and you will get many laughs reading this book. He has accomplished something that I had wanted to do which was building a display of all of the displayable elements. He explains all of this on his website and also sells sets of elements for people who want to have their own displays.
I gave this book 5 stars because I don't see how anybody could top it. A beautiful book This could be a coffee table book but I got it for my wife who teaches at a small private school.
When it first arrived, my son (High School) grabbed it and thumbed through it, telling us about the elements he was interested in.
My wife likes that the pictures are great quality and directly relate to the elements they are listed with. There is a lot of good information about each element. Most Beautiful Book EVER This book is is truly the most beautiful book I have ever seen. The photos literally brought tears to my eyes. The photos are so lovely, it is almost like seeing the elements in person!
There is a photo for almost all of the elements, coupled with photos of some common and not-so-common items containing the element. The text is well-written and humorous, making this book one I could hardly stand to put down!
I recommend this book for everyone, whether or not you know much about the elements. You will be surprised to see the beauty that is contained in the building blocks of our world and even ourselves.
Thanks to the authors for such a beautiful book! Simply, Excellent ! Simply, an excellent book.
Congratulations to the author. This is a very good guide for teachers and students from highschool to university.
The images are superb, the text is so clear and rich with concise information. Not Just Beautiful-- It's Hilarious Chock full of beautifully done photos, as well as sharp wit. Just about every page has something silly somewhere. For example:
"Sodium is the most explosive and the best tasting of all the alkali metals"
"Disposable oxygen tanks for hobby brazing and as a refreshing pick-me-up..."
"So many important chemicals have been discovered by accident that one has to wonder what a bunch of bumblers chemists are"
"Bananas are high in potassium, thus both healthy and radioactive."
"This piece of the mineral thorite might contain an atom of francium, if you watch closely."
He's also quite informative. For example, some of you may have taken exception to his comment on sodium, which he explains on the page about cesium:
"Cesium is widely listed as the most reactive of all the alkali metals, and technically it is. When you drop a piece in a bowl of water it *instantly* explodes, sending water flying in all directions. But that doesn't mean it makes the biggest bang of the alkali metals. Sodium takes longer to explode when tossed into water but the whole time you're waiting, a plume of hydrogen gas is building up, and when all that hydrogen ignites, the explosion is much bigger than anything you can get with cesium"
Sounds like some important research there!
Or this fact that makes perfect sense, though I never really thought about it:
"Even lead will float on mercury"
Overall just an excellent, easily readable, pretty, thought-provoking book.
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