Biographies of 9 chemists who solved severe social difficulties and equipped either the chemical and our sleek lifestyle. Their discoveries -- white outfits, affordable cleaning soap and sugar, coloured cleanable cloth, fresh water, fertilizer, strong aviation and automobile gasoline, secure refrigerants, artificial textiles, insecticides, and lead-free gas and nutrients -- have been wildly well liked by shoppers. In time, even though, a few of their reforms produced problems comparable to toxins. In every one case, the weight of deciding on and fixing the matter fell to chemistry. The 9 chemists are Nicolas Leblanc, William Henry Perkin, Norbert Rillieux, Edward Frankland, Fritz Haber, Thomas Midgley Jr., Wallace Hume Carothers, Paul Hermann Mueller, and Clair C. "Pat" Patterson.
"A compelling read... many desirable stories... an formidable booklet, and well-researched." -- Nature
"This ebook is a gem! not often have I obvious chemistry so sincerely and eloquently defined, whereas nonetheless exhibiting all its shortcomings ... a superb and straightforward read." --- AAAS technology Books and Films.
"Absorbing." -- invoice Bryson, a brief historical past of approximately Everything.
"On your subsequent journey to the bookstall pass the motion experience thrillers and hunt down Prometheans within the Lab... I want that McGrayne's e-book have been two times its length." -- renowned Mechanics.com
"Masterly ... fascinating and soaking up. McGrayne significantly examines the tangled and intricate interrelationships among the public's insistence on development and luxury and the necessity to safeguard the surroundings. McGrayne's thesis [is] that technological know-how more often than not and chemistry particularly can remedy any difficulties that it has by chance created...Meticulously documented." -- The Chemical Educator
"Gripping... sparkling... balanced ... A pleasure to learn. a superb book." -- Chemical Heritage.