Molecules at an exhibition : portraits of intriguing materials in everyday life

What ingredient in Coke can remove rust from chrome? What is the bitterest substance on earth? What is the worst smelling one? In this entertaining tour of chemistry, John Emsley answers these and many other questions as he illuminates the materials that make up our world. Dozens of lively articles explore such well-known molecules as water, oxygen, and glass; versatile plastics like polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyurethane; even "elements from hell" such as Sarin (a lethal nerve gas). With no formulas, equations, or molecular diagrams to baffle the non-expert, each piece blends history, science, and anecdote, with many intriguing facts added to the mix. "The world of chemistry has never been made as entertaining," writes Nobel Prize-winning chemist Roald Hoffmann. Indeed, this book will fascinate everyone curious about the chemicals in the foods we eat, the clothes we wear, and the air we breathe. Emsley Describes Chemicals Which Affect Every Aspect Of Our Daily Lives, Including Anecdotes About Their Proper Or Improper Uses. Quick Guide To Things Large And Small -- Gallery 1. Nearly As Nature Intended: An Exhibition Of Some Curious Molecules In The Foods We Eat -- Gallery 2. Testing Your Metal: An Exhibition Of The Metals Which Our Body Must Have -- Gallery 3. Starting Lives, Saving Lives, Screwing Up Lives: An Exhibition Of Molecules That Can Help And Harm The Young -- Gallery 4. Home, Sweet Home: An Exhibition Of Detergents, Dangers, Delights And Delusions -- Gallery 5. Material Progress And Immaterial Observations: An Exhibition Of Molecules That Make Life A Little Easier -- Gallery 6. Landscape Room: Environmental Cons, Concerns And Comments: An Exhibition Of Molecules That Stalk The World -- Gallery 7. We're On The Road To Nowhere: An Exhibition Of Molecules To Transport Us -- Gallery 8. Elements From Hell: An Exhibition Of Molecules That Are Mainly Malevolent -- App. Molecular Portraits On Display In Molecules At An Exhibition. John Emsley. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. What is it in chocolate that makes us feel good when we eat it? What's the molecule that turns men on? What's the secret of Coca-Cola? In this fascinating book, John Emsley takes us on a guided tour through a rogue's gallery of molecules, some harmful some pleasant, showing how they affect our lives. There are eight galleries in all, full of individual portraits on molecules that are to be found on a daily basis in the home, the environment, and in our bodies–from caffeine to teflon, nicotine to zinc. Find out how Mozart met his death, how Hitler could have saved the Third Reich from defeat, and many more interesting snippets in this highly entertaining, and often surprising book.'A broad audience, regardless of whether it has a background in chemistry, will enjoy browsing and reading it.'Nature'a fine example of popular science writing at its best. It is educational, interesting, may prove inspirational and therefore deserves to find a very wide readership.'THES'highly readable and entertaining'New Scientist Content: quick guide to things large and small -- Gallery 1. Nearly as nature intended: An exhibition of some curious molecules in the foods we eat -- Gallery 2. Testing your metal: An exhibition of the metals which our body must have -- Gallery 3. Starting lives, saving lives, screwing up lives: An exhibition of molecules that can help and harm the young -- Gallery 4. Home, sweet home: An exhibition of detergents, dangers, delights and delusions -- Gallery 5. Material progress and immaterial observations: An exhibition of molecules that make life a little easier -- Gallery 6. Landscape room: environmental cons, concerns and comments: An exhibition of molecules that stalk the world -- Gallery 7. We're on the road to nowhere: An exhibition of molecules to transport us -- Gallery 8. Elements from Hell: An exhibition of molecules that are mainly malevolent -- App. Molecular portraits on display in Molecules at an Exhibition. Emsley presents accessible, readable portraits of materials affecting every aspect of our everyday lives. Each portrait is rich in history and science and this book will be interesting to those concerned about food, health and the environment THERE ARE scores of myths surrounding the things we eat: chocolate is almost addictive; Coca-Cola is just a concoction of chemicals; garlic wards off heart disease and cancer; an aspirin a day keeps the doctor away. Discusses interesting chemicals, such as the smelliest, most lethal, and most versatile, in a non-technical style that covers each chemical's importance without using formulas, equations, or diagrams