Serving Spoon
Tuesday, June 21st, 2011Serving Spoon
The Disappearing Spoon Chapters
Science magazine reporter Kean views the periodic table as one of the great achievements of humankind, "an anthropological marvel," full of stories about our connection with the physical world.Grab A Copy Click here Funny, even chilling tales are associated with each element, and Kean relates many. The title refers to gallium (Ga, 31), which melts at 84??F, prompting a practical joke among "chemical cognoscenti": shape gallium into spoons, "serve them with tea, and watch as your guests recoil when their Earl Grey ?eats? their utensils." Along with Dmitri Mendeleyev, the father of the periodic table, Kean is in his element as he presents a parade of entertaining anecdotes about scientists (mad and otherwise) while covering such topics as thallium (Tl, 81) poisoning, the invention of the silicon (Si, 14) transistor, and how the ruthenium (Ru, 44) fountain pen point made million for the Parker company. With a constant flow of fun facts bubbling to the surface, Kean writes with wit, flair, and authority in a debut that will delight even general readers. 10 b&w illus. Grab A Copy Click here
Like big-game hunters, scientists who stalked an undiscovered element courted peril: Marie Curie and Enrico Fermi both died from exposure to dangerous elements in the course of their experiments. But besides them and Dmitri Mendeleev, the deviser of the periodic table, which looms over science classrooms everywhere, few discoverers of the elements occupy the consciousness of even avid science readers. Kean rectifies that in this amble from element 1, hydrogen, to element 112, copernicium. Attaching stories to a human-interest angle, Kean ensures that with his elaboration of the fixation a chemist, physicist, industrialist, or artist had for a particular element comes clarity about why the element behaves as it does. The soft sell about proton numbers and electron shells thus closes the deal for Kean's anecdotes about elements of war, elements of health, and elements of wealth, plus the title's practical joke of a spoon (made from gallium). Whether explaining why Silicon Valley is not Germanium Valley or reveling in naming-rights battles over a new element, Kean holds interest throughout his entertaining debut.
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WC Seaton Troy New York Silverplate Serving Spoon 19th Century |  |
1 Bid | US $9.99 | 2h 22m |
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Vintage Sterling Silver Spoons and Serving Peices over 15 oz of Sterling Silver | |
13 Bids | US $162.49 | 4h 29m |
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Westmoreland Sterling Silver Westmorland Geroge Martha Table Serving Spoon | |
2 Bids | US $28.99 | 5h 21m |
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Sterling Silver Round Serving Spoon with Cut outs and engraving unknown mark | |
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Schofield Baltimore Rose Huge Serving Spoon | |
0 Bid | US $135.00 | 6h 6m |
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Gorham Sterling Silver Serving Spoon Strasbourg Pattern | |
0 Bid | US $69.65 | 6h 17m |
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STERLING SILVER SERVING SPOON IN THE WATSON EUGENIE PATTERN | |
0 Bid | US $80.00 | 6h 26m |
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Schofield Baltimore Rose Slotted Serving Spoon | |
0 Bid | US $119.00 | 6h 55m |
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ANTIQUE 19thC GEORGE III SOLID SILVER 2 SERVING TABLE SPOONS LONDON c 1803 | |
10 Bids | US $98.00 | 6h 57m |
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Schofield Baltimore Rose Serving Spoon OLD Pattern | |
0 Bid | US $119.00 | 6h 57m |
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Schofield Baltimore Rose Slotted and Pierced Serving Spoon | |
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Unusual Schofield Baltimore Rose Sterling Serving Spoon w Scalloped Edge | |
0 Bid | US $39.99 | 7h 7m |
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3 SET ANTIQUE DAMASK ROSE 925 PURE STERLING SILVER SPOONS 1 SERVING TWO TABLE | |
0 Bid | US $125.00 | 7h 7m |
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Schofield Baltimore Rose Sterling Serving Spoon Small | |
0 Bid | US $35.00 | 7h 8m |
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Antique Sterling Berry Spoon Serving Spoon Bowl Pointed Curved Like a Feather | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 7h 29m |
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GEORGIAN SOLID SILVER FIDDLE PATTERN SERVING SPOON LONDON 1819 BY WE | |
0 Bid | US $88.50 | 7h 36m |
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OLD ENGLISH SOLID SILVER SERVING TABLE SPOON LONDON 1804 | |
0 Bid | US $75.86 | 8h |
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OLD ENGLISH SOLID SILVER SERVING TABLE SPOON LONDON 1779 | |
0 Bid | US $79.02 | 8h 1m |
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Chantilly By Gorham Sterling Pierced Serving Spoon | |
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US $115.00 | 8h 1m |
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Francis I Sterling Pierced Serving Spoon | |
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US $125.00 | 8h 3m |
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Prelude By International Sterling Serving Spoon | |
0 Bid | US $99.00 | 8h 7m |
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GORHAM STERLING CLUNY SERVING SPOON 8 7 8 MONO JLC | |
0 Bid | US $160.00 | 8h 14m |
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A Fabulous Hallmarked Silver Art Deco Mappin Webb Dessert Serving Spoon Fork | |
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Ornate unique antique sterling silver serving spoon and fork | |
0 Bid | US $295.00 | 8h 59m |
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LARGE ANTIQUE SOLID SILVER SERVING SPOON C1877 GEORGE ADAMS NOT SCRAP 592gr | |
7 Bids | US $36.36 | 9h 6m |
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King Kirk Sterling Silver Large Pea Serving Spoon Pierced Bowl | |
0 Bid | US $295.00 | 9h 28m |
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Edwards Chicago IL GW Stevens Co Sterling COIN Tablespoon Serving Spoon 1852 | |
0 Bid | US $95.00 | 9h 28m |
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Isaac Speer Chicago Sterling COIN Silver Tablespoon Serving Spoon 1842 1857 | |
0 Bid | US $95.00 | 9h 28m |
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Rococo Schultz and McCartney Sterling Silver Tablespoon Serving Spoon 1884 1890 | |
0 Bid | US $85.00 | 9h 28m |
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Large Whiting Birds Nest Sterling Silver Gilded Serving Spoon | |
0 Bid | US $725.00 | 9h 28m |
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Ezekiel Burr sterling COIN Silver Serving Spoon Coffin End Providence RI | |
0 Bid | US $350.00 | 9h 28m |
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SOLID SILVER PAIR OF SERVING SPOONS LONDON 1912 by HOLLAND ALDWINKLE SLATER | |
0 Bid | US $150.17 | 9h 33m |
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SOLID SILVER ANTIQUE TABLE SERVING SPOON EXETER 1859 22 OZS | |
7 Bids | US $50.60 | 9h 46m |
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Strasbourg By Gorham Sterling Pierced Serving Spoon Excellent Condition NR | |
5 Bids | US $45.00 | 10h 1m |
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1935 INTERNATIONAL STERLING SILVER RICHELIEU 8 OVAL SERVING SPOON FLATWARE PC | |
0 Bid | US $99.99 | 10h 30m |
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TOWLE El Grandee Sterling Silver Pierced Tablespoon Serving Spoon 1964 | |
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US $179.95 | 10h 34m |
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TOWLE El Grandee Sterling Silver Sugar Spoon Serving Spoon 1964 | |
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US $89.95 | 10h 34m |
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Gorham Lancaster Rose Sterling Berry Serving Spoon | |
0 Bid | US $90.00 | 10h 50m |
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INTERNATIONAL PRELUDE STERLING SILVER SAUCE SERVING SPOON | |
0 Bid | US $41.99 | 10h 54m |
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ANTIQUE GORHAM LANSDOWNE STERLING SILVER SERVING SPOON 8 1 2 | |
0 Bid | US $55.00 | 11h 1m |
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