It's Elemental: The Hidden Chemistry in Everything

by Kate Biberdorf

In this fresh and engaging guide to chemistry, Dr. Kate Biberdorf, aka "Kate the Chemist," reveals the fascinating science we experience every day

Have you ever wondered what makes dough rise? Or how your morning coffee gives you that energy boost? Or why your shampoo is making your hair look greasy? The answer is chemistry. From the moment we wake up until the time we go to sleep (and even while we sleep), chemistry is at work—and it doesn't take a PhD in science to understand it.

Dr. Biberdorf has appeared on TV programs from the Today show to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, lighting the world on fire and changing the face of chemistry as we know it. In It's Elemental, she demystifies the fundamental principles of the science that may have eluded you in high school and shows how chemistry comes alive in everything we do. With wry wit and infectious enthusiasm, this entertaining guide will ignite your passion for science and change the way you experience the world.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Chemistry, Audiobook, Food, Stem, Physics

304 pages, Hardcover

First published July 13, 2021

About the author

Dr. Kate Biberdorf is a scientist and a chemistry professor at The University of Texas. She has a PhD in inorganic chemistry and has published her work in Catalysis, Science, and Technology. Her 7-book series for kids with Penguin breaks down the image of the stereotypical scientist, while reaching those who may be intimidated by science. She has appeared on The Today Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Wendy Williams Show, and Late Night with Stephen Colbert. She lives in Austin TX with her family.

Reviews

[Sandra Deaconu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ar fi fost mai interesantă, dacă aș fi vrut să învăț despre reacțiile dintre elemente.

[H (no longer expecting notifications) Balikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might not be the target audience for this book. I am interested in science but not a scientist. I have had several chemistry courses so there was not much I learned from explanations such as this: “It may surprise you to learn that the shape of any given molecule isn’t determined by the atoms it’s made of. Instead, these shapes are based on what chemists are obsessed with.
“Electrons.
“In 1957, Gillespie and Nyholm published what’s called the VSEPR theory (valence shell electron pair repulsion), which accurately predicted the three-dimensional shape of any molecule based on the number and relative position of the electrons.”

This above is part of the first section of the book which explains chemistry in brief. The second section, which I enjoyed a lot, contained many practical applications. The explanation of how using sodium chloride as a disinfectant in hot tubs works was fascinating. And her detailed descriptions of baking chemistry and “breaking the rules” admonitions, I will commit to memory.

I am not as enthusiastic about this book as I was after reading Stuff Matters https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

But I am not sorry to have spent some time with It’s Elemental.

[Cititoare Calatoare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am adorat aceasta carte pentru ca rar gasesc o carte care sa faca stiinta sa para atat de vie si de apropiata; si pentru ca mi-a adus bucuria de a invata fara sa simt ca "invat", ci doar ca descopar lumea din jur.

gasiti recenzia completa pe pagina mea de instagram @reading_on_my_way

[Jakprzezokno Jola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Myślę, że autorka mogła przedstawić podstawy chemii nieco prościej, bo pierwsze trzy rozdziały brzmią wciąż jak podręcznik. Potem jednak przekazuje naprawdę ciekawe rzeczy. Pisze i chemii w naszych kuchniach, sypialniach, w barze i podczas treningu czy w łazience. Wyciąga naprawdę bardzo wiele smaczków, ciekawostek, tłumaczy gdzie i jak znajdziemy chemię. Bywają momenty mniej i bardziej skomplikowane. Mimo początkowego zniechęcenia - jestem zadowolona z lektury. Dużo się dowiedziałam i chociaż nie zrozumiałam wszystkiego, to i tak zdobyłam kawał cennej wiedzy. Nie jest to najłatwiejsza książka, ale myślę, że mimo wszystko warto.

[Erikka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this. I’ve seen her on various shows and heard her in podcasts, and I was so excited to read this book. And the first half was awesome! She explained chemistry in a way I’ve never really been able to understand. Part 1 is a solid 4 stars. Then…part 2 started. While I love the concept of showing how your every day life is chemistry, this was so boring I could barely stay awake. It wasn’t compelling, it didn’t teach me anything new, and it was weirdly personal? Like…I felt like I was in her bathroom with her instead of just learning about generic science. It was odd. I got to her makeup routine before I called it quits.

[simona.citeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

În primul rând, relația mea cu chimia nu a fost una bună deși am studiat în liceu la profil bio-chimie.
Totuși nu mă feresc de ea și abordez cărți cum este aceasta, carte care face chimia să fie plăcută și ușor de înțeles, cu aplicații în viața noastră cotidiană.

A fost o experiență plăcută deși recunosc că uneori m-a depăsit într-o mică măsură (probabil din cauza faptului că nici măcar acum nu acord chimiei o așa mare importanță).

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate Biberdorf este o profesoară de chimie americană, cunoscută pentru popularizarea științelor prin intermediul prezentărilor interactive și amuzante în clasă și în afara ei. În cărțile sale, ea explică elementele chimice și cum acestea se manifestă în lumea noastră. De asemenea, ea oferă informații despre cum putem folosi chimia pentru a ne îmbunătăți viața. Biberdorf susține că chimia ne oferă o modalitate de a înțelege lumea și de a ne conecta la ea. Ea încurajează oamenii să exploreze și să învețe despre chimie, pentru a înțelege mai bine lumea și pentru a descoperi soluții la problemele pe care le întâmpinăm.

[Chris Marks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do not read this book! Poorly written with science errors and needless oversimplifications on nearly every page. A small sampling, about 25% of what I had initially marked, is available here: https://www.goodreads.com/notes/58550...
I considered warning for spoilers, but it's already so rotten...

I did not love https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5..., but it is vastly superior.

[peach · Rating 4 out of 5]

girl i don’t know what i’m doing reading a chemistry book for funsies but the author’s passion for the subject really came through and it made for an enjoyable read. learned a few things, got confused with a lotta things, but she employed lots of learning tactics and was able to keep me engaged and able to understand most of whatever the fuck she was talking about 👍🏼

-1 star for referring to her partner as “hubby” though 🍅🍅🍅

[po.czytane · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

Pamiętaj chemiku młody, wlewaj zawsze kwas do wody

I to by było na tyle, jeśli chodzi o moją wiedzę z zakresu chemii. Przy ogromnym rozczarowaniu mojego taty, który na swoim koncie ma nie tylko zajęcia z tego przedmiotu na poziomie uniwersyteckim, ale również wysadzenie czegoś w swoim liceum, co na zawsze pozostawiło ślad na suficie, a czym do dzisiaj ciągle się chwali. Ja, choć starałam się ze wszystkich sił, nie potrafiłam się w tym przedmiocie odnaleźć. Ale seria „Zrozum” już nieraz ratowała mnie z opresji, to i może z chemią by sobie poradziła? Bo właśnie na tym obszarze skupia się czerwcowa premiera tego cyklu o jakże wdzięcznym tytule „Roztwory i spółka”.

Już pomijając fakt, jak dobrze dobrany jest polski tytuł (pozdrawiam wszystkich fanów animacji „Potwory i spółka”), to autorka podobnie jak w bajce otwiera przed czytelnikiem kolejne drzwi, chcąc udowodnić, że nie taka chemia straszna, jak ją malują. Jasne, pierwszy rozdział, w którym Biberdorf stara się wyłożyć potrzebne czytelnikowi podstawy, może przerazić nawet najbardziej zdeterminowanych. Ale później to już jest bułka z masłem. Autorka zabiera nas na wycieczkę po własnych mieszkaniach, barach czy ciałach, żeby pokazać, że choćbyśmy chcieli, nie damy rady uciec od chemii, nawet jeśli zakończymy swoją edukację, a notatki w glorii chwały spalimy bądź wyrzucimy.

W tej książce znajdziecie odpowiedzi na pytania, które może nigdy was nie nurtowały, ale po ich zadaniu sobie musicie poznać odpowiedź. Dlaczego szybciej opalamy się na plaży, a w ogródku osiągnięcie takiego efektu jest prawie niemożliwe? Czy znajomość chemii pomoże wam zostać baristą i przyrządzić pyszną kawę? A może istnieje skuteczny przepis na pozbycie się kaca, ale przez wasz wstręt do tego szkolnego przedmiotu nigdy go nie odkryliście?

Nie każdemu podejdzie ta książka. Biberdorf, choć jest nauczycielką wyrozumiałą i tłumaczącą wszystko powoli i dokładnie, nie zaczeka na tych, którzy w ogóle nie są zainteresowani poznaniem chemii. Trzeba mieć w sobie chociaż minimalne chęci zrozumienia, inaczej po przeczytaniu książki będziemy mogli odłożyć ją na półkę i po tygodniu w naszej głowie nic już z niej nie zostanie. Nie twierdzę, że po przewróceniu ostatniej strony staniecie się chemicznymi geniuszami, ale dobrze jest rozumieć, co dzieje się obok nas, a czasami nawet i wewnątrz nas. I właśnie o tym jest ta pozycja.

Kate Biberdorf jest tą nauczycielką chemii, na którą zapewne nigdy nie trafiliście, jeśli pamiętacie z tego przedmiotu tyle, co ja. W niezwykle lekki i przystępny sposób tłumaczy zagadnienia, które przydadzą się czytelnikowi nie tylko na kartkówce czy sprawdzianie, ale też w prawdziwym życiu. A chyba to jest najważniejsze, prawda? Warto zrobić krok do tyłu i podejść do chemii na nowo, z otwartą głową. Bo ta koniec końców może okazać się naprawdę interesująca.

[Suncerae · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Good: Enthusiasm on every page; chemistry in everyday life
The Bad: Some chapters more interesting than others; switches topics too fast
The Literary: A few good historical references; interesting structure

From your morning coffee to the happy-hour margarita, Dr. Kate Biberdorf explains the fascinating chemistry of our daily lives. You may have seen "Kate the Chemist" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert or the like, where she enthusiastically lights things on fire. Specializing in general chemistry for non-majors, Kate fills in the chemistry you missed in high school in the hopes of igniting a passion for science.

One of the most interesting things about this book is how it's organized. The first third is an in-depth crash course chemistry lesson. I like the few historical tidbits about the chemists themselves, but even with the humorous interjections and profanity, chemistry 101 is still a lot to throw at a pop science audience, especially with so few pictures or diagrams. Kate does have a few new analogies to explain some of the concepts, but I'm disappointed by the real-world examples in the first section (like the cringe-worthy Ryan Reynolds hand-holding metaphor).

The second two-thirds of the book is the promised chemistry of everyday things. It's arranged by "day", but only loosely. Beginning with breakfast, working out, getting dressed, there's a left turn to the beach, then back to the house with cooking and cleaning, before concluding with happy-hour and bedtime, with a specific focus on sex. Unfortunately, within each of those chapters, the topics careen wildly and don't seem to follow any apparent order. For example, the breakfast chapter ranges from caffeine absorption, the process of roasting coffee beans, pasteurization of juice, milk as a colloid versus an emulsion, induction cooktops, amino acids, salmonella, vitamins and minerals, and using radioactive iodine to treat hyperthroidism.

One of the issues with a pop science book or a survey class is the limited amount of time to dive deep into any subject. But even so, some strong takeaways and useful recommendations are what made the cooking and baking chapter one of the most useful. Kate provides specific suggestions to up your baking game, including measuring by weight instead of volume, as well as using specific brands of flour depending on what dessert you want to whip up. Contrast that with the getting dressed chapter, which is primarily about hair and makeup. The best recommendation was to use a heat protector if you use hot tools to curl or straighten your hair, but it isn't necessary if all you are doing is blow drying the hair.

Thinking back to the beginning, several of the concepts taught in the first section aren't used in the rest of the book, which leaves me wondering if skipping the orbital shapes or stoichiometry would have kept a reader interested long enough to get to the fun stuff. Or if organizing the necessary chemistry directly before the useful application would have been better. Deep within this medley there are some gems, but it's a mixed bag.

readwellreviews.com

[Debbie Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one!! (4.25 stars)

This is another “chemistry of everyday things” book that’s a bit more heavy on the chemistry compared with Chemistry For Breakfast. It was really cool reading them nearly back to back because even though they have similar themes they were quite different!

I also thought it was an interesting choice to have the first 1/3 of the book be essentially a condensed general chemistry text (of course more interesting than a text book) and the last 2/3 we’re analyzing the chemistry in everyday life.

I did a mix of audio/ebook and I was very impressed that the author narrated the book herself. It was a really good narration.

Really my only complaint was the chapter on the chemistry of weightloss. As a Woman recovering from the diet culture of the early 00s, I found that chapter triggering unfortunately.

CW: diet culture

Notes: Chemistry non-fiction with references to Austin, TX

[Maureen Caupp · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read for anyone with an interest in any kind of science (I love how chemistry, biology, physics, geology, etc. all overlap and help explain why things around us behave the way they do). A reminder that chemistry impacts every part of our lives everyday. I love Kate Biberdorf's enthusiasm for chemistry and the way she has tried to share it with a wider audience than just chemistry nerds like me. I have had friends tell me that chemistry is too hard, a class to fear in school, which to me is sad. Yeah some of it can be hard (I never did wrap my head around the symmetries and rotations in inorganic chemistry, but that doesn't mean I can't be fascinated by how it is able to explain so much and lead to discoveries that can change lives.

The book begins with several chapters that introduce some chemistry basics and the rest of the books goes into multiple ways we experience chemistry, often without realizing it. From cooking and enjoying food, to our shampoo, to playing in the sun, to cleaning, the way see light, enjoy that happy hour with friends, and so much more.

[Johanne McInnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s make this very clear, I am… a chemistry geek. This book brought me back to high school and college but in a way that made sense in the every day life.

For people who didn’t quite “get” chemistry when they went to high school etc - the first few chapters are perfect, but when you start hitting the middle chapters - might just be as lost as they were back then.

For me, it reiterates the everything in our world relates to chemistry = May it be how your dough rises, how a sunset’s rays are a certain colour because of the retinas in your eyes or why a simply styrene cooler keeps your food insulated.

Great examples of every day “stuff” but maybe a tad too technical at times.

Loved it!

[Matt Casas · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first part of the book was the quickest recap of gen chem 1 and 2 possible. The book was not advertised to contain this section and it was a let down to find out nearly half the book was essentially a For Dummies book. The recap was not necessary.

The second part of the book had its moments, but it didn't say much. The book relied too much on saying something like "stuff" is "attracted" to the swiffer, or kitchen sink, or whatever without actually telling how cleaning materials worked. I thought I was going to learn something here.

[Adam Mirek · Rating 4 out of 5]

gdybym napisał kiedyś książkę o chemii, mogłaby wyglądać właśnie tak

[Marianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this! But even as a scientist I found it incredibly boring. 🥴

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was exactly what it says it is in the description.
A pleasing way of breaking down chemistry and explaining it so that the reader has a better understanding of how "chemistry is in everything".

For those of us who may not have understood or liked chemistry class in school, this was an appealing way to gain a better understanding of the subject.

 "she demystifies the fundamental principles of the science that may have eluded you in high school and shows how chemistry comes alive in everything we do."

I thought she did a good job of breaking down chemistry into a summarized basic for us non-science people to understand.

To be honest, most of it didn't set but what I did catch, I now have a better understanding of that part of chemistry. And using examples of everyday objects really helped. (ie. shampoo, sunblock, baking, etc..)

[Sandra Leszczyńska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jestem chemikiem i ją kocham. Jeśli kiedykolwiek będę uczyć chemii, to chcę właśnie tak.

[Alejandro González · Rating 3 out of 5]

Como recordatorio casual esta bien, pero no esperen mucho.

[Meg Macgill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a neat book,but she started to get very technical for my brain and I just couldn't go on. Loved the beginning portion though!

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings regarding this book. On the one hand, it is a fascinating attempt to help the reader to see chemistry in every part of their daily life. On the other hand, despite a Herculean effort by the author, it’s still very dense reading. If you are interested in science and/or chemistry, this book is worth the effort. But be forewarned, it’s tough slogging.

[Lynne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was okay. The author explained some chemistry principles and then highlighted some real-life applications of the principles. I was entertained, and I did learn some things. We slogged through a LOT of chemistry to get to "the good stuff" and I was hoping for more cool ways to use my new-found chemistry expertise, but the payoff was pretty nominal. I never did find out the promised answer to why I should not switch around my shampoos and I didn't learn much about skin care products or hair. The author was over the top with her excitement about chemistry, and that was irritating at times, as were her efforts to be cute.

My review is significantly affected by a passage at the end of the book, and I would have given a higher rating but for this. A little before the acknowledgement, the author asked "Have you ever heard the old fable about two fish swimming along a river?" She proceeded to relate a story that was not a “fable” at all. It was the original idea of the brilliant David Foster Wallace, expressed during his 2005 Commencement address to the graduates of Kenyon College. The speech is known as "This is Water,” and everyone should read it or listen to the recording. David Foster Wallace must be given proper attribution for that work.

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Kate makes learning chemistry relevant and fun! She does a great job translating complex chemistry into bites of digestible facts!

[K. M · Rating 3 out of 5]

:: Thank you Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review ::

I’ve never been one for science, it’s always fascinated me but always seemed too smart for my lame brain, which was why I was kind-of excited for ‘It’s Elemental’. It seemed like the perfect bridge to understand the science of what makes the world the world and, for the most part, it was.

I really enjoyed the first half of the book, the author managed to bring history and science together and made leaning about atoms and protons fun. I loved the examples (Hello, Ryan Reynolds), they helped me piece it all together and actually understand what I was reading…

Unfortunately, the second half of the book dealt with the science behind our everyday (cleaning, cooking, alcohol and strangely enough, her makeup routine) and wasn’t as fun. The examples helped but just didn’t have the charm as Ryan Reynolds, but then again what does?

Overall, it was a good read and I don’t feel as scientifically incompetent as I did going in, and for that, I’d recommend it.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be a great refresher for anyone who left chemistry behind in high school or college. The author describes Part I as equivalent to a six week introductory course, and I think she does a great job making chemistry accessible. She covers everything you need to understand Part II, where the author explains the chemistry of everyday life, from cooking to cleansers to sunsets. This is a four-star book for me and not five stars because throughout most of Part II I kept wishing for more depth. I wanted to know a little bit more about a number of the things she mentioned, but she jumped to the next topic too quickly for me. I think either a longer book or fewer topics would make for a more satisfying read, because I don’t think I will retain much from the short explanations of so many topics.

[Tim Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be a great read for students first being introduced to chemistry in middle school or high school. Biberdorf does an amazing job explaining how we use chemistry in our day to day life and makes it interesting as well as informative.

She starts out more educational than fun, discussing the periodic table, chemical formulas, and the basics the reader would need in order to understand the rest of the book. She then goes on to discuss topics like makeup, clothing, cleaning, food, and alcoholic drinks. She explains the chemistry in the creation of all of these things, as well as the chemistry that is happening with them in your home.

I enjoyed listening to this book and learning about the chemistry behind my day to day life. Things I don’t normally thing about, but probably should since it affects my life so much.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gotta tell you- I learned more about chemistry from this entertaining book about chemistry than I did in my academic career. That's because Biberdorf, after taking the reader through the basics, actually applies the principles by explaining how chemical reactions are critical to our daily lives. Starting with coffee and getting dressed and moving throughout the day, it's revelatory. I know not to put dishwashing liquid in the dishwasher but not why, really (beyond the fact that it creates a mess). It's written in a colloquial manner with relevant anecdotes. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Perfect for readers who like to learn but also recommended for students who might want an accessible if brief insight into the subject.

[Łukasz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chemia opisana w bardzo przystępny i fascynujący sposób. Autorka pokazuje, że każde zjawisko, jak parzenie kawy, sen, kac, zachód słońca to tak naprawdę chemia. Jedynym minusem książki są czasem problemy w tłumaczeniu, bo mam wrażenie, że nie do końca precyzyjnie przełożono sens niektórych zdań.

[Maksymilion · Rating 2 out of 5]

Osobiście dla mnie książka była nudna. Cała pierwsza cześć to powtórzenie ze szkoły, więc czytałem to na siłę. Druga cześć książki jest już bardziej interesująca, choć autorce przynajmniej w moim przekonaniu nie udało się zainteresować czytelników. Obecne są również nieliczne błędy merytoryczne.