Customer Reviews

Chemical Magic (Dover Books on Chemistry)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

The activities in this book are not intended for home use; however, they work great as class demonstrations and/or student activities. There are a lot of excellent attention-grabbing results which, if not utilized as part of a core curriculum, certainly provide a memorable "hook" that can be used to teach essential National Science Education Standards topics.

This book is a great book for young scientists. As noted by some of the other reviews, the bandwidth of maturity required for the experiments varies greatly. Many of the projects or experiments in the book are a bit more than the average person can handle. But even then, reading about them does teach you something.

I remember reading the first edition of this book when I was young. I had SO much fun with it and I just kept signing it out of the library. When I got older, I did look for it, but it was out of print.

Then the second edition came out. Woo hoo!! I got myself a copy and one for a nephew who is showing great promise in the sciences (even though he's only 11). You just can't go wrong with this book. It's written in an old style and is sometimes almost childish in its presentation, but even adults can enjoy many of the writings in the book.

This text is a lot of fun, a rapid-fire compilation of visually interesting experiments. *However* it is out-of-date on safety. Despite a recent revision the text appears unaware of the great danger posed by materials such as carbon tetrachloride (a chemical which has since the 60's been all but banned), mercury, benzene, phosphorous, thermite, etc. To say "be careful" is not enough when talking to a lay audience. Please be cautious, the experiments may sound thrilling but the harm can be nasty and permanent.

Each experiment first explains the "action" or the effect intended to produce. Secondly, necessary elements are listed along with their appropriate quantities. Thirdly, a very fortunate addendum to each experiment explains why the reaction occurred and how it did. Finally, most experiements are augmented by a primitive diagram, whose descriptive efforts vary according the action(s) of the chemist, but nevertheless aid the reader with some significance to visualize where certain items should be oriented.
Anyone interested in this book will understand it is not for anarchy or extremely plexiform experiments to uncover the human genome. Mad scientists, this book is unfortunately not for you, but anyone intrigued by paradoxical chemical experiments, such as fire submerged in water, a burning bush that is not consumed by its flames, and other such fascinating elements, will be pleased with its contents.
These experiments usually do not require manifold ingredients so they are ideal for high-school chemistry classes, introductory college chemistry, or entertainment during a meal. A waiter who can perform such legerdemain at events will not remain a waiter long, and those of you who are addicted to gambling and teasing friends certain things are impossible will immediately recognize the value of this book.
I have rated this book 4-star primarily because the majority of the experiments are prosaic or have no genuine purpose to belong the the publishment. However, those experiments that really are "chemical magic" scintillate like stars amid the black heavens, illuminating their observers and imparting them joy at a further comprehension of experimental chemistry.

Highly recommended

Most of the experiments are possible in the backyard with spectacular results - challenge is to get the basic ingredients which were more easily accessible in pre 9/11 times

Excellent book !. For many chemistry students it has been the first book in order to see chemistry as a beautiful and funny science. Dr. L. A. Ford is no longer living but this masterpiece will remain for many years as an element for motivation in teaching and learning chemistry.

This book reminds me of how we've gone a society of educational discovers to one that irrationally sees harm in a simple chemistry set.

There are experiments that I've heard told and retold, some of which I seriously attributed to exaggeration. For instance, a glass beaker submerged in a liquid that has the same refractive index as glass, rendering the beaker completely invisible. Or, another, volumes of smoke made as if by magic.

It turns out they're all in here! Don't let the physical size fool you, because this book is chalked full of some of the most amazing and impressive chemistry experiments you've ever seen.

The problem, however, is that the typical home reader won't be able to get their hands on these chemicals anymore. So while you can read about them, you can't conduct the experiments yourself.

About the only people who'd get practical benefit out of this book would be college chemistry professors who want to lure students into the profession. This would be an impressive way to do it.