Chemical Magic (Dover Books on Chemistry) [Paperback]

Leonard A. Ford (Author), E. Winston Grundmeier (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0486676285 | ISBN-13: 978-0486676289 | Publication Date: July 27, 1993 | Edition: 2 Sub

Classic guide provides intriguing entertainment for readers while elucidating sound scientific principles. More than 100 unusual stunts demonstrate cold fire, dust explosions, a nylon rope trick, a disappearing beaker, a glass dissolving in water, and much more. Step-by-step instructions also stress safety precautions. Second edition, revised by E. Winston Grundmeier.

Product Details

• Paperback: 109 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications Inc.; 2 Sub edition (July 27, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486676285
• ISBN-13: 978-0486676289
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating book of (almost) homebrew chemistry!, July 23, 1999

By 

Larry Sue ([e-mail]) (Mountain View, California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chemical Magic (Dover Books on Chemistry) (Paperback)

Ford's "Chemical Magic" is a book which harkens from a past era when chemicals probably were more easily obtained than today. The reading is quick and fascinating, and his summaries of why things work are very nicely done.

The result of passing time is that some of the materials used in some experiments may be difficult or even impossible to procure. However, you shouldn't allow this to dissuade you from getting this book - the experiments you <u>can</u> perform will provide you quite a lot of enjoyment.

Caution, however, is in order: Some of the reagents used are corrosive, poisonous, or even explosive. I'd advise ensuring that an adult is present to supervise if you care to attempt those particular experiments!

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars from the good ole (less paranoid) days, March 9, 2003

By 

Andrew Purshottam (kensington, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chemical Magic (Dover Books on Chemistry) (Paperback)

This book describes chemical experiments that give visible and
surprising results suitable for stage demonstrations. Presented as
recipes with short descriptions of of underlying mechanisms (usually).
What caught my eye was the number of classic demonstrations common in
older books but now largely dropped from children's texts as too
dangerous in ingredients required, or fumes and energy relesed.
Many of the recipes are about buring or blowing up things (Yeah! ;-)

* sugar cube treasted with conc H2SO4 black thing
* zinc based powder that emits green smoke when spat on
(thanks for teaching me this one Max ;-)
* colored fire powders
* flour cannon (did not mention that old quaker oats tin useful here.)

I am in favor of teaching children how to safely perform dangerous
science experiments, as this is the only way to learn to do such
things properly, (since many will do them regardless) and anyway the
kids would be up to more hazardous pursuits if the modest risks of the
laboaratory are denied. If today's young people do not learn how to
play with fire safely, where will we get tommorws homeland defense
technologists to fight our nations Fovever War against religous
fanatics?

However I would not encourage experimemnts involving the burning of
mercury compounds (see the blue fire formula) and the use of
carcinogenic, flamable or persistently toxic substances like CCl4 or
fluid mercury anywhere but in a proper fireproof ventilation hood.
The book does mark experiments involving toxic (like CCl4)
sponateously combustible (white phosphorous!) and powwerful oxidizing
agents (my fav: Potassium Clorate). Unfortunately the short length of
the text did not permit a more detailed discussion of precausions one
sould take with such materials, like eye protection, long fuses and
electrical igniter/detonators, and saftely practices like using very
small quantities of reagents the first time, not permitting murcury to
spill in places it could release fumes over time or form amalgams with
other metals and never premixing oxidizers with combustables unless
one knows the combination is relatively stable in the environment in
which the mixture will be stored.

I reccomend this book as an antidote the boring...
libability concious [material] present in most high school texts, but
would also require students doing these experimentr to read some
detailed laboratory procedures text, and practice these techinuqwes in
a laboratory under experinced supervision. The most valuable lesson
then obtained is the attitude of cautious adventurousness that helps many
of us to have a joyful time in the lab while still retaining all ten
fingers.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ford's Chemical Magic: When Science Was Fun, May 5, 2005

By 

Stephen Carpenter (Manhattan Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chemical Magic (Dover Books on Chemistry) (Paperback)

This is truly a great and extremely fun book, especially for the curious kid or adult who wants to do exciting stuff with chemicals and glassware. I did every experiment in this book as a kid, some dozens of times, but recommend adult supervision for some of the experiments. In today's dummied down, Lawyer stiffled society it's nice to know that there are actually still books around that have experiments that are as fun as they are politically incorrect. All kids should be exposed to the fun of making fireworks, playing with mineral acids and white phosphorus, oxidizers, and burning metals if they can find the materials and if they have appropriate supervision. It's the real way to become introduced to non watered-down chemistry; this book has the really FUN experiments that will, unlike almost all of the prevailing experimemts in the prevailing contemporary books, keep kids from thinking that science is a complete bore. (Tri ess Sciences in Glendale, CA sells a lot of these reagents to adults). This is a book from an exciting past era, long gone now, where there was a lot of real freedom to really experiment and learn in an environment free of hyper-legal and trumped up anti chemical sentiment. Get it and you'll see, but be careful with white phosphorus solutions of carbon disulfide. When the boring books on chemistry are replaced by great books like this, people will return to science. Have fun.