Chapter 13

The Disappearing Spoon Chapter 13

Summary

     What I have learned from this chapter is that there are elements that can deceive people into thinking it is another element such as the two popular ones, Gold and Bronze. One historical event involving the deception of the other elements is the famous and dangerous gold rush. Then another event was Hannan's Find which the element Tellurium made fools of everyone and caused lots of precious gold to be thrown away then dug up again. 

    Another thing about this Chapter is that it mentions the impact that Aluminum had in the world when it was believed to be a more costly elements than Gold. But no in days it is an affordable product we buy in stores. Once more, the discovery was made by a 23-year-old undergraduate which is pretty impressive seeing it only took the encouragement from a professor.  

Reflection

     What I find interesting about this chapter is the fact on how looks can be deceiving to some. Gold which is a popular metal costing many to go into the wilderness and pay a price, and not of money. It is also interesting to see how valuable an element costs due to how hard it is to find. But the thing I found fascinating is how the element europium is used in our money, paper money. Which I guess makes the element very expensive due to its property that allows it to stop counterfeiting. 

Guideline Questions

1. Zinc, Tin ores, and copper. 

2. The word "Transmute" means to change in form or substance. 

3. The chemical formula for fool's gold is iron pyrite (iron disulfide). 

4. Europium helps stop counterfeiting by its chemical property to have its electrons shifting through levels creating a visible light. Thus allowing people to identify the hidden symbols created by the Europium. 

5. It is anachronistic because they did it to show off and just a small portion of the element would have paid the wages for the laborers who erected it. 

6. What would happen to the price is that it would be cheaper and similar to the Aluminum story, Gold and Platinum would be sold to countless of people, and have major buyers and companies. 

Chapter 12

The Disappearing Spoon Chapter 12

Summary

    In this Chapter, it mentions the tragedies of what chemists had to go through, and how women had a tough life pursuing a career in science. One in which is Marie Curie who discovered two new elements by skimming around nuclear waste of Uranium, just to find the nuclear waste more Radioactive. Then as she named one element Polonium, there began to many statements about her naming the element even though it was supposed to be named after her Home. Sadly, her life ended in leukemia, as did her daughter, and had her husband die.

     Meitner, on the other hand, was another victim to being the second women to pursue science where Marie Curie left off. As Marie had her trouble in finding a suitable place due to her being a woman, Meitner had the same trouble and just like Marie she had a man help her in her scientific progress. Although Meitner and Hahn never had a romantic relationship, they had a professional one. But, even the hardships they had been through together, Hahn disgracefully didn't share a Noble Prize with her.

Reflection

     This Chapter was really interesting because it discusses the political matters in Chemistry even we wished it was discovering something and being done with it.But unfortunately, it wasn't that simple, as mentioned in this Chapter. It was shocking to find out that just naming an element after your Home would cause different perspectives to mock the name and element one works on, like Polonium. This political view on naming elements has left me wondering that if someone was ever to discover a new element, it would be up to some other higher power to decide than yourself because politics aren't easy to please and you only get one shot. The good thing about letting another group of wise scientists chose a name is that they would remember past chemists or scientists who are forgotten but remembered in the place of an element name, such as Meitner.

Guideline Questions

1. Pierre Curie died by a street carriage running him over and killing him. Joliot-
Curie died of leukemia in 1956 which was caused by a capsule of polonium exploding in her laboratory, and she inhaled Marie’s beloved element. Then her mother died twenty-two years before with leukemia. 

2. Marie Curie discovered Polonium and Radium. Element Curium is named after Marie Curie. Polonium, Radium, and curium are Radioactive. 

3. Hevesy hid the two Nobel Prizes by dissolving them in nitric and hydrochloric acids which fascinated Alchemists because it can dissolve "Royal Metal," and put them in a beaker. 

4.The collaboration between Hahn and Meitner seemed Romantic but it was not since they shared a relationship between chemistry matters and Physics in other times. Hahn discovered many things with Meitner, defied his bosses, and worked with her in a
carpentry shop throughout all their years. They even sent letters when they were separated in the World War. Although, towards the end, when Hahn was getting a Nobel Prize he did not speak up for Meitner share of the prize, even through all they have been through. As a result, she died with no Nobel Prize just showing how she was a victim of “disciplinary bias, political obtuseness, ignorance, and haste.” 

Chapter 11

The Disappearing Spoon Chapter 11

Summary

     In this Chapter, it talked about the elements that deceive people. Sure, some might have these wonderful properties that make our sensors catch something sweet as Beryllium but goods have their downs. And Beryllium had its disease that would scar the lungs. Then there was Iodine which played a big factor to Gandhi's Salt Campaign. It was believed to prevent deformations in childbirth but had other consequences when their trade of Iodine became costly and when the body lacked Iodine it causes an ugly swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck that is important for hormone growth in the body. 

     Then there was the element that is only able to replace bone, Titanium. Titanium is still strange to figure out, especially why the immune system rejects it but it leaves the replacement part more "reinforced" considering its elemental properties. The only bad part in having it in some surgeries is that the titanium would blend or attach very well with its surroundings which would make a future surgery more difficult to replace due to the Collagen. 

Reflection

     This Chapter was a mind opener because Titanium is the element that was used to replace my dad's right leg tibia bone. And it is good to know the elemental properties are not harmful to the body in any way. But the only downside is that Titanium is very expensive, not your typical iron or steel you find anywhere. Thus it required my entire family and by Family I mean, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins to pitch in to help my dad with the surgery. 

Guideline Questions

1. Nitrogen is important to many living things because is takes up 80 percent of the air we breathe and atmospheric nitrogen absorbs heat.
2. Nitrogen is a deceiver because nitrogen prevents the neurons and heart cells from absorbing new oxygen; it pickpocketed the little oxygen cells store up for hard times. Then there is Titanium which is good at replacing bone but the downside is that the Titanium attaches very easily and is hard to take out when inserted due to the collagen. Beryllium on the other hand makes it deceiving because it is sweet like sugar but can cause Beryllium disease. Then Sodium and Potassium can taste differently but cause an explosion when mixed together. Lastly, there is Iodine which deceives people by its birth defects. 

3. Potassium and Sodium are both members of the group called the Alkali Metals. They are not kept in stockrooms in Schools because any mixing can cause an explosion.

Chapter 10

The Disappearing Spoon Chapter 10

Summary

     In this Chapter, it mentions the importance of elements that are used in the medical Industries and how they work but could also lead to strange side effects. Like when Prontosil was sold to cure plagues across apartments or cities. But soon did Prontosil kill some people due to IGF not Knowing or fully understanding the drug. Then later did Prontosil have common characteristics of sulfonamides which ended up costing IGF their product Prontosil. 

     Another element that was surprisingly used by a man trying to cure cancer is Gold. It was believed to burn off radioactively Tumors in the body. But the only experiment took place using his wife's cooking pans on a hot dog. Lastly, there was the Blue man which was a man who took too much silver to cure his disease but didn't work. The chapter also mentions how people saw this as a cure for their illness and for some another side effect. But it is still uncertain on Silver is used and how it can actually cure some and not all. 

Reflection

    The Chapter was interesting how certain element took part in medicine and altering the bodies immune system or killing off Bacteria. Then there were certain elements that made pregnant women have babies with horrible deformations due to a single element that altered the whole growth and nutrient process in the embryo. All in all, I liked how this chapter gave me more information on how chemistry is very important in finding cures for diseases but also dangerous.  

Guideline Questions

1. Copper is important in "TheDisappearingg Spoon" because its career in public health and copper has proved the simplest, cheapest way to improve infrastructure. Like when certain bacteria, fungi, or algae inch across something made of copper, they absorb copper atoms, which disrupt their metabolism. Then Copper is important, according to my research because Copper is soft and able to transmit electricity and heat very effectively. It can't really be damaged by water and is widely used in construction. 

2. Electron spin is an electron found another electron with a different "spin", related to an electron's magnetic field. Gadolinium was effective in MRIs because having so many unpaired, noncanceling electrons allows Gadolinium to be magnetized more strongly than any other element. 

3. It seems that his condition is caused by inappropriate exposure to Silver or Silver Dust which causes the skin to be Blue-ish Grey and it sometimes affects the Eye. 

4. There was Prontosil that was on sale by IGF for curing plagues breaking out in America, but nobody knew how it Really worked and had some side effects in some cases. 

5. D-DOPA is similar to L-DOPA, but with opposite chirality. Levo- and dextro- rotation reference a molecule's ability to rotate planes of polarized light in either direction. 

6. Upon reading the paragraph, I think that it is really interesting that the element, Gold, can be a hope to cure cancer. Although the only flaw or my opinion, I saw in his experimentation is that a "hot dog" is dead tissue, not Live tissue which could cause alternative results to the experiment. Not to mention, as precious as Gold is in today's markets, it would cost too much for research and instead of looking Gold as a cure it would make people see more valuable for their own personal Greed instead of helping others. As a result, Gold will bring hope but also bring something bad along with it.

Chapter 9

The Disappearing Spoon Chapter 9

Summary

     In this Chapter, it mentions the dangers of certain elements that play a biological role as well as a chemical role to our bodies. One of those elements is Cadmium, it can go into your body and weaken our bones to the point that they break easily. The most major problem that happened with Cadmium is in Japan when they threw all the Cadmium in the ground which led it to the water then into the streams of rice fields that contained zinc which let cadmium get into it. But as dangerous as it is, it also useful for coating batteries and computer parts. Then, there is Thallium which is mostly dangerous and commonly used by serial killers, and assassins to kill their victims.  

     The chapter also talked about David Hahn who was a teenager in Detroit who only wanted to help people but didn't have enough knowledge of chemistry to seriously do something. Although, he did do something but it was extremely risky and dangerous. But sadly David wasn't seen much of a hero but a fool to some and ended working cleaning boats in the navy.  

Reflection

     I enjoyed this chapter because it talked about the dangers of some elements and how it can affect us biologically. Then, there is Bismuth which can live up to be the last element to go extinct which really peaks my interests. I also liked how David Hahn was really resourceful from having nothing but a few household items to work with from a whole nuclear reactor in his backyard shed. That story of David makes me think what would happen if I had those resources and that much time. 

Guideline Questions

1. Cadmium is harmful because it is like a poison, it leeches onto a living organism by replacing Zinc, causing new strange diseases. For example, in Japan it caused people to have weakened bones and have an internal failure on Kidneys. But, Cadmium is helpful because it is too valuable as a coating for batteries and computer parts, to prevent corrosion. Furthermore, it has a long history of use in pigments, tanning agents, and solders. 

2. Thallium's mode of attack is different because it can mimic elements such as Ti+3 or K+ and wriggle into many different biochemical niches. In addition, unlike Cadmium that can only go bones and Kidneys, Thallium can roam like a molecular Mongol horde. In addition, Thallium starts unstitching key amino acid bonds inside proteins. 

3. Thallium is similar to the danger of radioactivity because it is odorless and colorless which can cause lung cancer and have your fall off. 

4. Bismuth is such a unique element because it can live up to be the last element to go extinct and it is really stable. 

5. Thallium can be found in Nature and Americium is found by bombarding plutonium with neutrons in a nuclear reactor.

Chapter 8

The Disappearing Spoon Chapter 8

Summary

    In chapter 8, it talked about the discoveries that occurred to find various new elements from different scientist around the world. Or create a new element such as Technetium which was man-made by a piece equipment called the atom smasher. Then there was the Segre and Pauling who were not friends but communicated in order to relate on scientific research. 

     Furthermore, the chapter mentions how women played a big part in discovering Fission. In addition to Pauling, he was seen as a brilliant chemist but lacked in some aspects which was his arrogance which caused him errors that humiliated him and his work. Watson and Crick were the two responsible for this matter and although having errors themselves by Pauling's papers, they proved to be more efficient in finding more accurate results that did not include errors. 

Reflection

    What I liked about the chapter is that it explains the creation of the atom smasher which uses other elements to create a new isotope. The only thing I disliked is when people saw Watson and Crick more famous than Pauling because he Pauling has done more work and by himself. Then there is the discovery of Fission that I thought was interesting to know that women discovered it.  

Guideline Questions

1. It was named technetium, Greek for “artificial.” And it was the first man-made element. 

2. one scientific discovery is in the early 1990s, Pfizer was testing out a drug called UK92480, intended to treat patients with angina, a common precursor to heart attacks, involving the constriction of blood vessels that supply the heart. The company was hoping the drug would relax the blood vessels. It failed in that regard, but test subjects reported some fascinating developments below the belt, and so became the little blue pill known as Viagra. The second scientific discovery is the microwave oven in 1945, when a Raytheon engineer named Percy Spencer was fiddling with energy sources for radar equipment. Then, he realized that the chocolate bar in his pants was melting.

3. Linus Pauling isn't as famous as Watson and Crick because he was ignorant, which caused him mistakes, and stubborn. As a result, he was publicly humiliated for his triple helixes and inverted phosphorus. 

4. One interesting fact is that Hennig Brand, a German, discovered phosphorus quite by accident in 1669 while processing urine in search of a compound that would turn ordinary metals into gold. Another interesting fact is that phosphorus or more specific, Red phosphorus is far more stable at room temperature — it's found on the side of any box of safety matches. The friction of the match against the red phosphorous transforms a little bit of the red phosphorus into white phosphorus, providing the ignition needed to light the match.