The Elements

The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe.
By Theodore Gray and Nick Mann
Published at Black Dog & Leventhal

About the book

The Elements has become an international sensation, selling over half-a-million copies worldwide.
The highly-anticipated paperback edition of The Elements is finally available.
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 seven 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.
Includes a tear-out poster of Theodore Gray's iconic Photographic Periodic Table!

Who are Theodore Gray and Nick Mann?

Theodore Gray is the author of the bestselling The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe and Theo Gray's Mad Science: Experiments You Can Do at Home, But Probably Shouldn't, and of Popular Science magazine's "Gray Matter" column. He is the proprietor of periodictable.com. He is also cofounder of Wolfram Research, creators of the world's leading technical software system, Mathematica and Wolfram Alpha. With his company Touch Press, Gray is the developer of the bestselling iPad and iPhone ebook app, The Elements: A Visual Exploration and Solar System, also published in print by Black Dog & Leventhal. He lives in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.
Nick Mann is a freelance photographer working in Central Illinois. Aside from having photographed more elements than probably anyone in the world, he is an accomplished landscape, sports, and event photographer.

My Thoughts

Have you ever wondered where you can find the various elements in the periodic table throughout the world?   Do we encounter them on a day-to-day basis?   Well look no further because this fabulous book will open up a whole new world linked to the periodic table to you.  Each element is explained in details and is accompanied with pictures of items that contains the said element when possible on a two page presentation.   On the left page you will get a stunning picture of the element itself in its pure form.   On the right side, you will get a text about the element, it’s position in the periodic table, the atomic weight, the density, the atomic radius and the crystal structure. You also get the electron filling order, the atomic emission spectrum and the state of matter on the bottom right corner of that page.   Finally, as a treat for your eyes you can observe a visual representation of where you can find the element in products or items that we can encounter.   For example, did you know that in the past there was a deficiency of iodine that caused goiter.  Back then, a special gum called iodigum was available for purchased and contained iodine in it.    Not goiter is uncommon because of iodized salt in our diet.  Iodine is also often used with alcohol as a disinfectant.   And who have not experience the use of iodine when you hurt yourself when you were younger.   I still remember the red splat of iodine on my skin…

This would be a great reference book when studying the periodic table.    Not only will it provide information about the elements but you can see up close and personal (without the danger of manipulating the element itself) where you can find the element in known products.   This book is a must for any chemistry students and for homeschoolers embarking on a journey to learn more about the periodic table.  And to complete the book, you will also find a tear-out poster of Theodore Gray’s periodic table that will give you the image of how the element looks like in nature.

The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.