100 Chemical Myths: Misconceptions, Misunderstandings, Explanations

by Lajos Kovács, Dezső Csupor, Gábor Lente

100 Chemical Myths deals with popular yet largely untrue misconceptions and misunderstandings related to chemistry. It contains lucid and concise explanations cut through fallacies and urban legends that are universally relevant to a global audience. A wide range of chemical myths are explored in these areas; food, medicines, catastrophes, chemicals, and environmental problems. Connections to popular culture, literature, movies, and cultural history hold the reader’s interest whilst key concepts are beautifully annotated with illustrations to facilitate the understanding of unfamiliar material. Chemical Myths Demystified is pitched to individuals without a formal chemistry background to fledgling undergraduate chemists to seasoned researchers and beyond.

Genres: Chemistry

418 pages, Hardcover

First published September 26, 2014

Reviews

[John Jaksich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Understanding that every myth or lie has seed of truth at its heart is one way to approach falsehoods. This book does an admirable job dispelling myths and legends from plain chemical realities. At the heart of every fear and exaggeration lies a small kernel that initiated its propagation. Never has it been more appropriate than today to help dispel the lies perpetrated by those wishing to capitalize on human emotion. The reasons for their perpetration are greed and calumny. I can not recommend this title anymore than that— a good read!