Every Molecule Tells a Story

Simon Cotton author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:30th Mar '26

Should be back in stock very soon

This paperback is available in another edition too:

Every Molecule Tells a Story cover

Every Molecule Tells a Story, Second Edition continues the celebration of molecules responsible for the experiences of everyday life: the air we breathe, the water we drink, the chemicals that fuel our living, the steroids that give us sex, the colours of the seasons, the drugs that heal us, and the scented molecules that enrich our diet and our encounters with each other. You can’t see them, but you know that they are there. This latest edition presents new sections, including odorants, including their potential in the diagnosis of diseases and the possibility that they may improve our memory. Environmental issues appear, such as air pollution – both outdoors and indoor – and the need for recycling of plastics. It does not pass over the dangers of some chemicals, whether abused drugs, for example oxycodone and the fentanyls, or nerve agents, notably the Novichoks. Based on the highly successful first edition, this book brushes away any preconceived notions about chemistry to demonstrate its importance.

Key Features

  • The author introduces his molecular collection by explaining the relevance of chemistry in our everyday lives.
  • New discoveries are reflected in existing chapters.
  • The chemicals are frequently put in context of their human associations, so that the book goes beyond just ‘the chemistry’.
  • A celebration of the molecules of chemistry.
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"Not only will you finish this book with a vision of new molecules dancing about in your head, but you will
also experience the euphoria of having had a delightful read. You may be tempted to burn the midnight oil and keep on reading, but I advise you to savor each chapter or part thereof with a bit of contemplation. Only then can you fully realize the versatile chemistry inherent in living things, even our own bodies; only then can you appreciate more fully the power of the human brain in deciphering nature’s messages to unravel these molecular mysteries; only then can you grasp the extraordinary efforts and clever instrumental devices brought to bear on these mysteries. And, of course, only then can you chuckle or guffaw at the missteps, the unexpected observations, and the utterly accidental (and incompetent) blunders scattered through these chapters. Enjoy!"
- Mary Virginia Orna, Bulletin for the History of Chemistry

ISBN: 9781032616247

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 620g

334 pages

2nd edition