What's the name of this book? Very vague chemistry edition

April 24, 2021 11:42 AM

I read a popular science book sometime between 1998 and 2005 that was an intellectual history of chemistry. I am trying to find it again but don't remember the title. Do you have any idea what book I am remembering?

I remember precious few details about the book. I *think* there were autobiographical inserts by the author about things like a childhood chemistry set. It definitely discussed alchemy and had some engaging descriptions of influential chemists (which ones? I don't remember!). I think the author was a man.

I don't think the book was published much before the 90s because I remember the book looking "new" to me. I feel like there was some orange on the cover.

posted by congen to Science & Nature (6 answers total)

This is probably out of time range, but Sam Kean?
posted by jeather at 11:55 AM on April 24, 2021 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Sounds like Oliver Sacks "Uncle Tungsten" [2001]. Guardian review Kelvin, Davy, Rutherford, Planck, Mendeleev, Lavoisier and a cast of dozens.
Can I also recommend Primo Levi's Periodic Table? It is wonderful.
posted by BobTheScientist at 11:59 AM on April 24, 2021 [6 favorites]

I just read "Uncle Tungsten: memories of a chemical boyhood" in the autumn, and your description does feel like it to me, as BobTheScientist says. The cover of the library ebook I read is a colorful/stylized periodic table silhouette, a design that strikes me as pretty modern.
posted by theatro at 1:10 PM on April 24, 2021

Bill Bryson’s “A Short History of Nearly Everything”?
posted by scrubjay at 1:10 PM on April 24, 2021 [1 favorite]

^ I was going to suggest Bill Bryson, he overviews chemistry and other things. Worth a look if you haven't seen it!
posted by ovvl at 4:29 PM on April 24, 2021

The Periodic Kingdom?
posted by j_curiouser at 5:00 PM on April 24, 2021