---
product_id: 8188989
title: "A Tale of Seven Elements"
brand: "eric scerri"
price: "7714 kr"
currency: ISK
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 7
category: "Books"
url: https://www.desertcart.is/products/8188989-a-tale-of-seven-elements
store_origin: IS
region: Iceland
---

# A Tale of Seven Elements

**Brand:** eric scerri
**Price:** 7714 kr
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** A Tale of Seven Elements by eric scerri
- **How much does it cost?** 7714 kr with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.is](https://www.desertcart.is/products/8188989-a-tale-of-seven-elements)

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## Description

Review
        	
        	
        		
        		
	        		
						
			        		Peter Pesic in Wall Street Journal,&#xA0; October 21, 2013  Mr. Scerri&apos;s outstanding book helps us understand the special spirit of chemistry, whose contribution to science and human experience emphasizes the crucible of experiment. The days of discovery aren&apos;t over: Beyond uranium, two dozen more elements have been produced artificially. Mr. Scerri notes that chemists have no secure consensus about how many elements are possible: Some say 137; others 173. The periodic table, as imposing as it looks, is still a work in progress. What further surprises might it disclose?Alan Rocke, in&#xA0;Times Higher Education. &#xA0;Eric Scerri offers us a fascinating account of the discovery of these seven elements. Author of&#xA0;The Periodic Table: Its Story and Its Significance(2007), Scerri is superbly qualified for this task: chemist, philosopher of science and historian, he is the foremost contemporary analyst of the periodic table. The cast of his engrossing tale includes dozens of scientists in many countries, avidly pursuing these last remaining prizes in the classic table of the elements.Andrea Sella in New ScientistIn recent years, there have been many books about the elements, either encyclopedic surveys, or quirkier and more readable companions. Now we have a very different offering:&#xA0;A Tale of Seven Elements&#xA0;by Eric Scerri, one of the foremost authorities on the history of the periodic table. &#xA0; This is the remarkable story of the seven elements still &quot;missing&quot; from the periodic table by the early 20th century and how they were found. &#xA0;
						    	
					    	
						
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        		From the Author
        	
        	
        		
        		
	        		
						
			        		This book is about social aspects of scientific discovery. It&apos;s about priority disputes and why they occur so frequently. It&apos;s about how nationalism and many other factors still persist in the all too human activities of scientists.
						    	
					    	
						
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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An excellnt treatise on the discovery of the "missing" elements in the periodid table
            
*by J***N on June 20, 2015*

As a chemist I found the book o be fascinating.  As I studied for my chosen career in the 1950's I was always interested in Element 43 -- technetium. I wondered if it really did have some of the characteristics of manganese, Element 25.  What its the color of pertechnate?  Is the color as intense as permanganate?  Although his issue was not addressed, I still find it hard to believe that natural technetium is so limited.The radioactive elements were addressed and truly their discovery was descried in great detail.  Much different than the story of "Madame Curie" as depicted in the 1943 film.  I was never sure why polonium was discovered before radium, and this fact became clearer in this book.I would recommend this book, to anyone who in interested in the evolution of the history of chemistry.
  

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An excellent historical chemistry thriller
            
*by C***L on August 19, 2013*

"A Tale of Seven Elements" centers on the historical tale of the last 7 elements to be discovered on the Periodic Table of Elements. For a reader of the history of elements, this book was a must have considering that there is very little published knowledge on the final seven elements or the exciting tale on how they were discovered. Dr Scerri did a wonderful job of keeping the facts straight while making those facts interesting to read and enjoy. The chase for these elements can be considered a scientific thriller once the reader realizes just how many different groups of scientists were trying to be the first to claim the right of being the discoverer, along with the national pride that comes with it.I would highly suggest this book to all chemists, students of science and those who are just looking for an interesting factual book on the process of discovery. Dr Scerri gives enough of a chemical background that even a novice in the field of chemistry can understand what is taking place, while giving enough details that those who come from a science background will not be bored.
  

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Periodic Table in the Early Twentieth Century
            
*by J***R on September 3, 2013*

In the year 1900, 85 naturally occurring elements had been isolated and characterized.  The new century had given rise to the identification of the halogens as members of the New Group 7 of the periodic table.  Other recent discoveries, including radioactivity, the nature of isotopes, quantum theory, and atomic number ( the definitive and unique property of every element ), were all to play critical rolls  in the search for new elements.  Uranium  ( atomic number 92 )  had been found in the nineteenth century.  Uranium is the heaviest naturally occurring element, but that was not understood at the time.  What WAS known was that Mosley's x-ray fluorescence analysis could characterize the atomic number of every element.  Application of this analysis to the ( then known ) elements  brought a gracious order to the periodic table - and it showed that verifiable GAPS existed at atomic numbers 43, 61, 72, 75, 85, 87, and 91, where new elements were to be found.The death of Mendeleev in 1907 opened the twentieth century style quests for the missing elements.  These quests were prompted by the new scientific tools, nationalism, and the hope for professional glory.  Yet they were hindered by unfounded eagerness to publish,  experimental difficulties, and antagonisms toward German scientists following World War I.  So . . . despite the new tools available, this new element quest was slow going, characterized by many retracted claims, misidentification of isotopes, and contentious ( but very polite ) priority battles in the chemical, physical and geological journals.  The stories are every bit as exciting as those of the polar expeditions, medical breakthroughs, and artistic innovations taking place in this same time frame.
  

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*Product available on Desertcart Iceland*
*Store origin: IS*
*Last updated: 2026-02-23*