Summary
Since the beginning of time, elements were blended and distributed. Some have become extinct since they were weak to survive in nature. Because it was hard to fill in the gaps of these elements, scientists decided to do it themselves which is actually very difficult and dangerous to do. Henry Moseley, an enthusiastic about the elements. He together with Darwin’s grandson decided to probe the elements up to gold. They did it by using a beam of electrons that gave out X-Rays. Moseley, using his physicist perspective, decided to arrange the order of elements by their atomic number by conducting a series of experiments. After Moseley figured it out, there was no more solving. With the electron gun, he could prove the claimed new elements to so so or not, and he also added actual new elements to the table filling in spots. He, a genius, fell victim to the First World War. He inspired an element hunt in which chemists followed his clues to find elements he had pointed out. Gaps were filled, but one remained without solving: element sixty one. This element was later found in uranium ore.
Moseley without meaning it, opened the door for nuclear science. Scientists now wanted to learn how the subatomic particles worked. Scientists were now trying to find how the nuclei falls apart, and even had a vision of how it was. They imagined it having the electrons inside, at least pulling them inside,but this was not the perfect model. James Chadwick, found the neutrons that added weight to the atom without giving any charge.Now it was understood that elements thought to be from the same element, but with different masses, could still be the same element since the number of neutrons could vary (isotopes). By shooting neutrons, a new type of radioactivity was created. If an element has too many neutrons it splits itself releasing energy. This was discovered around the time of the second world war. The possibility of atomic bombs started. From this the Manhattan project took shape. The scientists in charge of this wanted to create a chain reaction that will release many neutrons as energy to different directions. They tried doing this with expensive, Plutonium and Uranium. They needed to purify these elements, and with Plutonium, they needed to synthesize it and then purify it. After much calculations, problems, solutions, and different measures, the project became successful in the test trial in New Mexico and on the destructive attacks in Japan.
Some people after the project, went back to their homes. Stanislaw Ulam, meditated in the methods used for the bomb, and together with John von Neumann, an expert at calculations, realized that they could use this information for other things. As solitaire player, Ulam and his partner helped with the production of the machines and computers in casinos. Sadly this caused more nuclear technology to come out, but this never left apart of being secret. Gamma radiation is far way worse than nuclear bombs. These instead of burning, they get into the system causing deformations and cancerous diseases. Humans have created these unstable substances, and cause each other’s destruction. If people did not believe the end of the world, we are causing it.
Reflection
This chapter’s theme is about bombs. I take it as the continuation of the previous chapter which was about war.This chapter discusses the beginning of our end, with the Manhattan project. But even far before that with Moseley who did all the work for his successors. It also had a little bit of chapter three, which dealt with the arrangement of elements of the periodic table.
What I found amazing of this chapter is that elements can actually become extinct. I thought that since matter can neither be destroyed, nor created, this was not possible. I learned that this had to do with the weakening of the nuclei. Also, when chemists created the elements that were needed to fill the periodic table, I became curious. I want to know how they did it, and I know they must only last a little, this since, the elements are substances that cannot be broken any further. What I like not only about this chapter, but the previous as well, is that women are recognized. The way Kean describes them, is like heroic and unique. He also does not hesitate to add all the work they did even if they are not commonly recognized.
What I do not like about this chapter and the previous, is destruction. It is part of life, but all the chaos caused by wars and the chemical novelties used for bad, could have been prevented with a little more of human conscience. If people did not believe the end of the world, well, we are causing it. Look at the environment, at the wars, the events going on. Chemistry can be helpful, useful, and can even undo this harm. But let it fall into the wrong hands and all it means is destruction.
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