Disappearing Spoon chapters 13 and 14:

In chapter 13, it began talking about how elements have had a close relationship with money. Then it began a story about a man named Midas who asked to turn everything he touched into gold. The story went more into depth, but this was the overall outcome. Then, it began talking about a professor and a few historians who wanted to test the theory of Midas touch being nothing more than zinc in the soil. By having a Midas-era furnace, they loaded local ores. Then they melted them, molded, and let it cool. It hardened into gold. Then, began the story about the city of gold, and gold rushes. A man named Hannan found a place where gold was everywhere. The rush came, and people began a frenzy trying to find gold. As more gold was found, resources price sky rocketed. As people were so desperate for water and food etc, a fight even took place. While they were digging, they were just throwing out rocks. Gold is aloof and doesn't mix inside minerals except one tellurium. This element bonds with gold to form minerals. One this was discovered, all hell broke loose! May 29, 1896. The generations after this group, learned their lesson not to throw rocks aside. Then, an ancient ruler established a real currency system by separating electrum into silver and gold coins. The story continued on about counterfeiting, in today's world and back then. Changing topics, the color of light depend on the relationship of starting and ending energy levels from electrons. It concluded with aluminum and a professor Jewett who worked on separating aluminum throughout his undergraduate years. Then, in 1886, Charles Hall ran an electric current from homemade batteries through a liquid and dissolved aluminum. The energy was quick and easy! He became widely famous. Lastly, he talked about the different spellings of aluminum! This chapter started off very interesting! I like when he tells more of a story then all chemistry ;) in chapter 14, it began talking about how to really advance in science, money had to be involved. Usually the higher class were the ones making inventions. Also, early on, it began more as a hobby than a profession (which I found interesting!). Then it talked about a man named Goethe, his theory or how colors worked relied as much on poetry as science. He made many contributions to science, and his last contribution was with a man named Donereiner. They spent a lot of time together. He inspired Strontium, and a doctor found it in a hospital lab. Later, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy drew a distinction between "forced obsolescence" and " artificial obsolescence". Then, ink was invented by Parker. Then he told a story about Mark Twain and the periodic table. Lastly, he talked about Lithium and how a man named Lowell responded to it. Lithium regulates proteins that control the body's inner clock. This chapter wasn't as interesting! But it was alright :) 3 weeks until Christmas break!!!! :)

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