Such a fun chemistry story
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Book Introduction
The author of "Fun Chemistry Stories You'll Read All Night" returns to world history!
The World's Most Interesting Chemistry Book: A History-Reading Guide
What was humanity's first experience worthy of being called "chemistry"? The discovery of fire.
Fire is a violent phenomenon resulting from a chemical reaction called 'combustion'.
Fire was used not only for cooking and heating, but also for refining and metalworking, such as baking bricks and extracting metal from ore.
In particular, advances in smelting technology made possible the use of a new metal called iron.
It is the most important substance and material that maintains human civilization, to the extent that it can be seen as an extension of the Iron Age civilization even now.
There are countless examples in world history of countries and peoples that first mastered the technology of making iron subduing those that did not.
In this way, mankind used chemical knowledge as a stepping stone to create tools, fire (energy), clothing, houses, buildings, roads, bridges, railroads, ships, bicycles, etc., and borrowed the power of agriculture and industry to expand across the world.
The substances and materials brought about by the advancement and achievements of the discipline called 'chemistry' have become the foundation of human civilization.
Furthermore, mankind has created substances that do not exist in nature using chemical knowledge and technology.
"This Interesting Story of Chemistry" is a book that can be said to be a meeting of chemistry and world history. It introduces both the light and dark sides of the advancement of the discipline of chemistry and the impact its achievements have had on human history.
Looking at it chapter by chapter, Chapters 1 through 3 introduce how natural science and chemistry emerged during the ancient Greek era, when art, thought, and learning flourished dazzlingly. They also explain the background of the emergence of basic concepts of chemistry, atomic theory, elements, and the periodic table, along with the stories of various genius chemists.
Chapters 4 through 18 guide us through the amazing world history of chemistry, from fire, food, alcohol, ceramics, glass, metals, gold and silver, dyes, the development of new drugs, narcotics, explosives, chemical weapons, and nuclear weapons.
The World's Most Interesting Chemistry Book: A History-Reading Guide
What was humanity's first experience worthy of being called "chemistry"? The discovery of fire.
Fire is a violent phenomenon resulting from a chemical reaction called 'combustion'.
Fire was used not only for cooking and heating, but also for refining and metalworking, such as baking bricks and extracting metal from ore.
In particular, advances in smelting technology made possible the use of a new metal called iron.
It is the most important substance and material that maintains human civilization, to the extent that it can be seen as an extension of the Iron Age civilization even now.
There are countless examples in world history of countries and peoples that first mastered the technology of making iron subduing those that did not.
In this way, mankind used chemical knowledge as a stepping stone to create tools, fire (energy), clothing, houses, buildings, roads, bridges, railroads, ships, bicycles, etc., and borrowed the power of agriculture and industry to expand across the world.
The substances and materials brought about by the advancement and achievements of the discipline called 'chemistry' have become the foundation of human civilization.
Furthermore, mankind has created substances that do not exist in nature using chemical knowledge and technology.
"This Interesting Story of Chemistry" is a book that can be said to be a meeting of chemistry and world history. It introduces both the light and dark sides of the advancement of the discipline of chemistry and the impact its achievements have had on human history.
Looking at it chapter by chapter, Chapters 1 through 3 introduce how natural science and chemistry emerged during the ancient Greek era, when art, thought, and learning flourished dazzlingly. They also explain the background of the emergence of basic concepts of chemistry, atomic theory, elements, and the periodic table, along with the stories of various genius chemists.
Chapters 4 through 18 guide us through the amazing world history of chemistry, from fire, food, alcohol, ceramics, glass, metals, gold and silver, dyes, the development of new drugs, narcotics, explosives, chemical weapons, and nuclear weapons.
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Preview
index
Introduction
Chapter 1: What is matter made of?
Chapter 2: Democritus and Einstein Both Focused on Atoms
Chapter 3: The Elements That Make Up All Things and the Periodic Table
Chapter 4: The Discovery of Fire and the Energy Revolution
Chapter 5: The World's Scariest Chemicals
Chapter 6: The History of Food Through Curry Rice
Chapter 7: Beer, Wine, and Spirits That Changed History
Chapter 8: From Pottery to Ceramics
Chapter 9: The Cityscape Transformed by Glass
Chapter 10: The Iron Age Civilization Born from Metal
Chapter 11: The Desire for Gold and Silver Drives Globalization
Chapter 12: Beautifully Dyeing
Chapter 13: Medical Revolution and Synthetic Dyes
Chapter 14: Drugs, Stimulants, and Tobacco
Chapter 15: Petroleum Civilization
Chapter 16: The Reversal of Dream Matter
Chapter 17: Humanity Wants Chemistry
Chapter 18: Chemical and Nuclear Weapons
Words that come out
References
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Chapter 1: What is matter made of?
Chapter 2: Democritus and Einstein Both Focused on Atoms
Chapter 3: The Elements That Make Up All Things and the Periodic Table
Chapter 4: The Discovery of Fire and the Energy Revolution
Chapter 5: The World's Scariest Chemicals
Chapter 6: The History of Food Through Curry Rice
Chapter 7: Beer, Wine, and Spirits That Changed History
Chapter 8: From Pottery to Ceramics
Chapter 9: The Cityscape Transformed by Glass
Chapter 10: The Iron Age Civilization Born from Metal
Chapter 11: The Desire for Gold and Silver Drives Globalization
Chapter 12: Beautifully Dyeing
Chapter 13: Medical Revolution and Synthetic Dyes
Chapter 14: Drugs, Stimulants, and Tobacco
Chapter 15: Petroleum Civilization
Chapter 16: The Reversal of Dream Matter
Chapter 17: Humanity Wants Chemistry
Chapter 18: Chemical and Nuclear Weapons
Words that come out
References
Search
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Into the book
Among chemical techniques, there is something called alchemy.
It originated from the technology of extracting metals from ores or making alloys.
In ancient societies, where chemical changes were viewed with mystery, there were people who seriously considered whether non-metals such as lead could be transformed into gold.
Thanks to them, alchemy flourished for nearly 2,000 years, from ancient times to the 17th century.
---From "The Four Elements Novel and Alchemy"
In 1643, Torricelli conducted an experiment using mercury, which is 13.6 times heavier than water in the same volume, instead of a column of water.
A glass tube with one end blocked was filled with mercury, the open end was sealed tightly, the tube was placed vertically in the mercury container with the blocked end facing upward, and the lower entrance that had been blocked was opened.
Then, the mercury column in the glass tube suddenly lowered to 76 cm from the liquid level.
This shows that the amount of mercury that can be supported by one atmosphere of pressure is 76 cm.
---From "Does Vacuum Exist?"
Then, in 1855, anesthesiologist John Snow (1813-1858) clearly proved that “cholera is not caused by miasma, but by something in the water.”
During a cholera epidemic in London around 1850, he discovered that the death rate from cholera varied depending on the company that supplied the water.
This is because the cholera mortality rate was high in households that drank contaminated tap water (where the water intake was downstream).
Miasma theory cannot explain this.
---From "Why did cholera become prevalent?"
One day, Kekulé had a dream about a snake biting its own tail to form a ring, and he remembered the six carbon atoms of benzene forming a ring.
He showed the structure of benzene as six carbon atoms arranged in a regular hexagon with alternating double and single bonds.
Perhaps because he was an architecture student, he had a remarkable ability to visualize the carbon skeleton structure of organic matter.
Kekule's transition from architecture to chemistry may have seemed like a long way off to others, but experience can sometimes be helpful in unexpected places.
---From "Kekulé's Discovery of the Structure of Benzene"
In 1941, methamphetamine was sold under the trade name Philopon.
It was emphasized that it has the effect of strengthening physical strength, eliminating lethargy and drowsiness, and improving work efficiency.
People jokingly say that the origin of the word Philopon comes from the meaning of blowing away fatigue, but it actually comes from the Greek word 'philoponus' (love of labor).
It was given the name 'stimulant' because it is a drug that awakens people and makes them more alert.
It originated from the technology of extracting metals from ores or making alloys.
In ancient societies, where chemical changes were viewed with mystery, there were people who seriously considered whether non-metals such as lead could be transformed into gold.
Thanks to them, alchemy flourished for nearly 2,000 years, from ancient times to the 17th century.
---From "The Four Elements Novel and Alchemy"
In 1643, Torricelli conducted an experiment using mercury, which is 13.6 times heavier than water in the same volume, instead of a column of water.
A glass tube with one end blocked was filled with mercury, the open end was sealed tightly, the tube was placed vertically in the mercury container with the blocked end facing upward, and the lower entrance that had been blocked was opened.
Then, the mercury column in the glass tube suddenly lowered to 76 cm from the liquid level.
This shows that the amount of mercury that can be supported by one atmosphere of pressure is 76 cm.
---From "Does Vacuum Exist?"
Then, in 1855, anesthesiologist John Snow (1813-1858) clearly proved that “cholera is not caused by miasma, but by something in the water.”
During a cholera epidemic in London around 1850, he discovered that the death rate from cholera varied depending on the company that supplied the water.
This is because the cholera mortality rate was high in households that drank contaminated tap water (where the water intake was downstream).
Miasma theory cannot explain this.
---From "Why did cholera become prevalent?"
One day, Kekulé had a dream about a snake biting its own tail to form a ring, and he remembered the six carbon atoms of benzene forming a ring.
He showed the structure of benzene as six carbon atoms arranged in a regular hexagon with alternating double and single bonds.
Perhaps because he was an architecture student, he had a remarkable ability to visualize the carbon skeleton structure of organic matter.
Kekule's transition from architecture to chemistry may have seemed like a long way off to others, but experience can sometimes be helpful in unexpected places.
---From "Kekulé's Discovery of the Structure of Benzene"
In 1941, methamphetamine was sold under the trade name Philopon.
It was emphasized that it has the effect of strengthening physical strength, eliminating lethargy and drowsiness, and improving work efficiency.
People jokingly say that the origin of the word Philopon comes from the meaning of blowing away fatigue, but it actually comes from the Greek word 'philoponus' (love of labor).
It was given the name 'stimulant' because it is a drug that awakens people and makes them more alert.
---From "Philopon, which increased the number of addicts"
Publisher's Review
Reading across world history
Footsteps of Chemistry
The author traces the footsteps of chemistry, which has had a profound impact on human history, across world history.
In prehistoric times, the invention of pottery made by firing made it possible to cook food and consume nutritious broths.
The so-called 'culinary revolution' brought about the beginning of a settled life, which led to an agricultural revolution centered on grains.
Neither the culinary revolution nor the agricultural revolution would have been possible without pottery.
The book unfolds the progress of chemistry, beginning with pottery, leading to the invention of the kiln, Chinese porcelain, cement, ceramics, and glass.
If we look to chemistry as the reason why the Age of Exploration was possible, we can point to the invention of beer and distilled spirits.
Beer has been brewed for a long time, as evidenced by the depiction of people drinking beer through a straw on pottery discovered in Mesopotamia around 4000 BC.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the yeast that makes beer, eats glucose and converts it into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Saccharomyces means 'sugar and fungus' in Greek, and cerevisiae means 'beer' in Latin.
During the Age of Exploration, beer was used as a beverage instead of water, which was easily spoiled, and the Mayflower, which sailed to the American continent, was loaded with about 400 barrels of beer.
The technique of making distilled liquor was established by alchemists, who could be called medieval chemists.
Around the 12th century, whiskey, a distilled beverage made from grain and called “holy water,” was first produced in Ireland.
In the early Age of Exploration, ships originally carried wine and beer, but later distilled spirits took their place.
It is now possible to carry more alcohol than before without taking up much space, and to preserve it for a long time without spoiling.
In particular, cheap, strong-proof distilled spirits (rum) became popular.
Chemistry also played a role in the unification of Germany by the iron-fisted Chancellor Bismarck.
In the war with France, they were able to gain an advantage by using steel cannons against the French bronze cannons.
The invention of the converter process by Henry Bessemer in England in 1856 made it possible to mass-produce strong yet viscous steel, and the German arms dealer Alfred Krupp quickly created a cannon made of steel that was resistant to heat and pressure.
The production of steel needed for weapons later influenced world wars.
The story of 'atoms' and 'molecules' that moved humanity
Examining the light and darkness of chemistry
On June 8, 1972, as the Vietnam War was at its peak, a photograph was transmitted around the world by the Associated Press.
It was a photo of a South Vietnamese girl running away from a napalm bombing.
This photo helped ignite the anti-Vietnam War movement and hasten the end of the war.
Napalm is made by adding salts of aluminum and fatty acids to naphtha (refined gasoline) to create a sticky gel.
During the Vietnam War, the US military dropped 400,000 tons of napalm B (a special incendiary explosive), a low-viscosity, long-burning explosive, from aircraft.
This substance sticks to all kinds of objects and continues to burn for a long time at high temperatures of 900 to 1300 degrees.
The moment it touches the skin, it penetrates all the sensory nerve endings and burns them all.
However, the substances created by chemistry did not only have a positive impact on mankind.
Dynamite, which Nobel created using nitroglycerin, contributed greatly to the development of industry, but it also took people's lives.
Nitroglycerin, invented by the 19th-century Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero, exploded violently when shocked or heated.
On the other hand, it has a vasodilating effect and is also used as a medicine for patients with angina.
Also, the success of the Haber-Bosch process in 1907, which enabled nitric acid to be produced from ammonia, was a great achievement in chemical research, but it also enabled the mass production of key substances that could be used to make powerful explosives, along with fertilizers.
It also introduces representative examples that show the duality of chemistry, such as the discovery of drugs that can also be used as painkillers, nuclear fission that can be used as both nuclear energy and nuclear weapons, the destruction of the ecosystem caused by DDT, which was called the dream chemical, and the problem of plastic waste.
In this way, we can also see the dark side of chemistry's influence on humanity.
Of course, it also includes chemical knowledge along with historical content.
Using diagrams and illustrations along with the author's friendly sentences, the book conveys the basic concepts of chemistry and the thoughts of chemists to readers in an easy and smooth manner.
Through encounters with fascinating and surprising world history, chemistry, which once seemed difficult, will feel closer and more familiar to our daily lives.
Footsteps of Chemistry
The author traces the footsteps of chemistry, which has had a profound impact on human history, across world history.
In prehistoric times, the invention of pottery made by firing made it possible to cook food and consume nutritious broths.
The so-called 'culinary revolution' brought about the beginning of a settled life, which led to an agricultural revolution centered on grains.
Neither the culinary revolution nor the agricultural revolution would have been possible without pottery.
The book unfolds the progress of chemistry, beginning with pottery, leading to the invention of the kiln, Chinese porcelain, cement, ceramics, and glass.
If we look to chemistry as the reason why the Age of Exploration was possible, we can point to the invention of beer and distilled spirits.
Beer has been brewed for a long time, as evidenced by the depiction of people drinking beer through a straw on pottery discovered in Mesopotamia around 4000 BC.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the yeast that makes beer, eats glucose and converts it into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Saccharomyces means 'sugar and fungus' in Greek, and cerevisiae means 'beer' in Latin.
During the Age of Exploration, beer was used as a beverage instead of water, which was easily spoiled, and the Mayflower, which sailed to the American continent, was loaded with about 400 barrels of beer.
The technique of making distilled liquor was established by alchemists, who could be called medieval chemists.
Around the 12th century, whiskey, a distilled beverage made from grain and called “holy water,” was first produced in Ireland.
In the early Age of Exploration, ships originally carried wine and beer, but later distilled spirits took their place.
It is now possible to carry more alcohol than before without taking up much space, and to preserve it for a long time without spoiling.
In particular, cheap, strong-proof distilled spirits (rum) became popular.
Chemistry also played a role in the unification of Germany by the iron-fisted Chancellor Bismarck.
In the war with France, they were able to gain an advantage by using steel cannons against the French bronze cannons.
The invention of the converter process by Henry Bessemer in England in 1856 made it possible to mass-produce strong yet viscous steel, and the German arms dealer Alfred Krupp quickly created a cannon made of steel that was resistant to heat and pressure.
The production of steel needed for weapons later influenced world wars.
The story of 'atoms' and 'molecules' that moved humanity
Examining the light and darkness of chemistry
On June 8, 1972, as the Vietnam War was at its peak, a photograph was transmitted around the world by the Associated Press.
It was a photo of a South Vietnamese girl running away from a napalm bombing.
This photo helped ignite the anti-Vietnam War movement and hasten the end of the war.
Napalm is made by adding salts of aluminum and fatty acids to naphtha (refined gasoline) to create a sticky gel.
During the Vietnam War, the US military dropped 400,000 tons of napalm B (a special incendiary explosive), a low-viscosity, long-burning explosive, from aircraft.
This substance sticks to all kinds of objects and continues to burn for a long time at high temperatures of 900 to 1300 degrees.
The moment it touches the skin, it penetrates all the sensory nerve endings and burns them all.
However, the substances created by chemistry did not only have a positive impact on mankind.
Dynamite, which Nobel created using nitroglycerin, contributed greatly to the development of industry, but it also took people's lives.
Nitroglycerin, invented by the 19th-century Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero, exploded violently when shocked or heated.
On the other hand, it has a vasodilating effect and is also used as a medicine for patients with angina.
Also, the success of the Haber-Bosch process in 1907, which enabled nitric acid to be produced from ammonia, was a great achievement in chemical research, but it also enabled the mass production of key substances that could be used to make powerful explosives, along with fertilizers.
It also introduces representative examples that show the duality of chemistry, such as the discovery of drugs that can also be used as painkillers, nuclear fission that can be used as both nuclear energy and nuclear weapons, the destruction of the ecosystem caused by DDT, which was called the dream chemical, and the problem of plastic waste.
In this way, we can also see the dark side of chemistry's influence on humanity.
Of course, it also includes chemical knowledge along with historical content.
Using diagrams and illustrations along with the author's friendly sentences, the book conveys the basic concepts of chemistry and the thoughts of chemists to readers in an easy and smooth manner.
Through encounters with fascinating and surprising world history, chemistry, which once seemed difficult, will feel closer and more familiar to our daily lives.
GOODS SPECIFICS
- Date of issue: December 1, 2022
- Page count, weight, size: 340 pages | 486g | 148*218*20mm
- ISBN13: 9791167961099
- ISBN10: 1167961099
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