Chapter 7

The Disappearing Spoon Chapter 7

Summary

     This chapter talked about the discovery of new elements found around the world and how they all came to be called in a time of war. The surprising part of the elements is that the atomic number surpasses the 90 or 95 at that time, and there was no team discovery put together to find new elements around in the world. Instead, a team scientist discovered them in a lab in Berkeley. The team's leader was Glenn Seaborg who succeeded in finding results by dumb luck. He also discovered the element neptunium with the help of his friend and colleague Edwin McMillan. 

     The chapter also mentions how the team of scientist made the discoveries by trying to get a reaction on a device that was later needed to be transferred to another lab before it became too highly radioactive and failed there result. But through their hard work they made their time count and calculated every step right. In addition to their careful observation, they attached their device to a fire alarm to "alarm" them of any new elements created, and it did. Soon after they discovered the element einsteinium and many others; in addition, after their celebration, they went home and forgot to disarm their device which triggered there the last element. 

Reflection

     The chapter was less interesting than some others but it allowed me to know that there were elements found not by mere discovery but by the element being made in a lab. The process in which Seaborg and his team of scientist accomplished at that time. If it wasn't for them I don't know how we could have an extended periodic table. It also encourages me to want to find the next element in the periodic table and hopefully make it a useful element not used in war. 

    The one thing I found interesting is how countries will get heated just for a name of an element but it is understandable since scientist work hard for their work. Although they could've combined both names somehow. Lastly, other than the discovery of new elements in Berkeley, it was a somewhat of an exciting chapter to look into if you're interested in history of the origin of elements.  

Guideline Questions

1.Germanium, Californium, Berkelium, Silicon(Silicon Valley),and Krypton(Superman). Einsteinium, and Seaborgium. 

2.The elements are made more than discovered because there is a limit to every element in the world due to the supernova that left what is now Earth. And there are Russian folktales of the elements on earth. The elements were made by the use of an alpha particle and gold foil by a detector that needed to be transferred to another lab before it became too highly radioactive. 

3.Stalin's scientific process in Russia was that he was willing to do what others were not. He was not burdened by conscience or a moral code.

4.The "cold war of elements" was the controversial debate of whether an element should be named by the US or Russia since both sides discovered the same element at the same time period. But at the end, 8 wise men of science came worth and decided that both shared equal credit.