The Last Alchemist in Paris
by Lars Öhrström
Oxford University Press, 2014, xiv + 257 p.
Like most popular science books of chemistry, The Last Alchemist in Paris is a collection of stories where chemistry of elements intertwines with the cultural history of recent or distant times. A problem common to many popular chemistry books is that either good chemists are usually not good historians, or that good historians are usually bad chemists. Öhrström is certainly a good chemist and in this book he also demonstrates a passion and respect for history.
By now, most of us have heard the tale of “Napoleon’s buttons,” the chemical “romance” of the soldiers’ tin buttons crumbling to dust in the cold Russian winter of 1812, aiding the defeat of the French army. Fact or fiction? To answer this question, Öhrström does not exercise the popular copy-paste approach to writing and research. Rather, he draws from contemporary and historic records and offers an exemplary dive into the crux of this story. It also helps that he has seen the infamous buttons and has participated in the investigation of the recently discovered mass grave of the grand army in Lithuania. His analysis of facts, rumors, and opinions is a first-rate example of critical thinking, research, and scientific journalism. Overall, this book offers an inspiring tour behind the scientific backdrop of so many cultural scenes of our lives.
“In this book you will find out the answers to important and interesting socio-chemical questions.”
The book is inspiring. I can imagine, for example, a young reader and aspiring scientist performing alkaline hydrolysis of cloves in mom’s kitchen in anticipation of conjuring the scent of nutmeg. Öhrström also has a good sense of humor. There are plenty of witty subtitles and comments: mining, he writes, has been around ever since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and for easy reference he approximates the chloride-to-bromide amount ratio in seawater as 666:1 (can’t argue with that). On a more serious side of things, this book has the intellectual muscle. In this book you will find out the answers to important and interesting socio-chemical questions. Why were the zeppelins not filled with the non-flammable helium a century ago and why should we resist buying those useless helium-filled party balloons. Most importantly, you will find out how to tell apart a diamond from the coveted cubic zirconia.
Juris Meija is Titular Member of the IUPAC Interdivisional Committee on Terminology, Nomenclature and Symbols and Chair of the IUPAC Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights.
©2014 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Masthead - Full issue pdf
- From the Editor
- Contents
- Treasurer’s Column
- A Time for Renewal
- Dr. Lynn Soby appointed IUPAC Executive Director
- Features
- Synthesis at the Interface of Chemistry and Biology
- Chemistry for the Future Solvay Prize
- Multiple Uses of Chemicals
- IUPAC and OPCW Working Toward Responsible Science
- Chemical Weapons: The Human Toll
- Complementary OPCW Education and Outreach Resources
- IUPAC Wire
- IUPAC Elections for the 2016–2017 Term
- Winners of the 2014 IUPAC-SOLVAY International Award for Young Chemists
- Steven V. Ley wins 2014 IUPAC-ThalesNano Prize in Flow Chemistry
- The InChI Team presented with the 2014 Chemical Structure Association (CSA) Trust Mike Lynch Award
- Data Citation Principles
- 2015 Year of Soils and Year of Light
- The Project Place
- A critical review of the proposed definitions of fundamental chemical quantities and their impact on chemical communities
- On the definition of the mole
- Basic Terminology of Crystal Engineering
- Implementation of InChI for chemically modified large biomolecules
- Toxicology in the Classroom II
- Making an imPACt
- Abbreviations of polymer names and guidelines for abbreviating polymer names (IUPAC Recommendations 2014)
- Toward a comprehensive definition of oxidation state (IUPAC Technical Report)
- Solubility of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in Neat Organic Solvents and Organic Solvent Mixtures
- IUPAC Empfehlungen
- Nomenclature and Graphic Representations for Chemically Modified Polymers
- Bookworm
- The Last Alchemist in Paris
- NOTeS
- On the Use of Italic and Roman Fonts for Symbols in Scientific Text*
- Conference Call
- Radiochemistry
- POLYCHAR 22
- Global Experiments Spark International Years: Sharing Best Practices
- Stamps International
- Nickel Mining in Paradise
- Where 2B & Y
- Theoretical and Computational Chemistry
- Data Sharing and Integration for Global Sustainability
- Environmental Horizon
- Mark Your Calendar
Articles in the same Issue
- Masthead - Full issue pdf
- From the Editor
- Contents
- Treasurer’s Column
- A Time for Renewal
- Dr. Lynn Soby appointed IUPAC Executive Director
- Features
- Synthesis at the Interface of Chemistry and Biology
- Chemistry for the Future Solvay Prize
- Multiple Uses of Chemicals
- IUPAC and OPCW Working Toward Responsible Science
- Chemical Weapons: The Human Toll
- Complementary OPCW Education and Outreach Resources
- IUPAC Wire
- IUPAC Elections for the 2016–2017 Term
- Winners of the 2014 IUPAC-SOLVAY International Award for Young Chemists
- Steven V. Ley wins 2014 IUPAC-ThalesNano Prize in Flow Chemistry
- The InChI Team presented with the 2014 Chemical Structure Association (CSA) Trust Mike Lynch Award
- Data Citation Principles
- 2015 Year of Soils and Year of Light
- The Project Place
- A critical review of the proposed definitions of fundamental chemical quantities and their impact on chemical communities
- On the definition of the mole
- Basic Terminology of Crystal Engineering
- Implementation of InChI for chemically modified large biomolecules
- Toxicology in the Classroom II
- Making an imPACt
- Abbreviations of polymer names and guidelines for abbreviating polymer names (IUPAC Recommendations 2014)
- Toward a comprehensive definition of oxidation state (IUPAC Technical Report)
- Solubility of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in Neat Organic Solvents and Organic Solvent Mixtures
- IUPAC Empfehlungen
- Nomenclature and Graphic Representations for Chemically Modified Polymers
- Bookworm
- The Last Alchemist in Paris
- NOTeS
- On the Use of Italic and Roman Fonts for Symbols in Scientific Text*
- Conference Call
- Radiochemistry
- POLYCHAR 22
- Global Experiments Spark International Years: Sharing Best Practices
- Stamps International
- Nickel Mining in Paradise
- Where 2B & Y
- Theoretical and Computational Chemistry
- Data Sharing and Integration for Global Sustainability
- Environmental Horizon
- Mark Your Calendar
