Sam Kean
Lecoq de Boisbaudran discovered gallium; molybdenum reinforced artillery barrels under extreme heat. Kean uses such stories to trace the periodic table through scientific discovery and war.
The placement of an element on the periodic table dictates its chemical properties and its destiny in the physical world.
Scientific progress often relies on a mix of rigorous experimentation, brilliant theoretical leaps, and sheer accidental luck.
Elements like chlorine and molybdenum have been exploited to create devastating weapons during global conflicts.