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Molecule Madness
graphics by Mihika Singhania
Peter Atkins’ Reactions Will Have You Geeked Out on Chemistry (And Nervous About Spills)
written by Elisavet Dionysia Chiou
Textbook Chemistry always sounded so intimidating. I get it when people say it’s hard… nucleophilic substitution, electrophilic attack, blah, blah…
Peter Atkins (I am biased; he is probably my favorite author) is an incredible teacher. In his book Reactions, he describes 28 different reactions (Any person reading this book, however, will return to this review and point out a mistake in the previous sentence. How he describes the mechanisms of each reaction type makes the book seem like a continuum of one reaction, and if not one reaction, different complexes of reactions that are linked). The author takes for granted no previous knowledge of Chemical principles and so does it best at explaining anything that could raise questions (in less than 200 pages A5 paper). However, my opinion is that the type of reader that would benefit most is the one with at least some interest in chemistry and the will to devote some time to research the interesting facts in the book further.
Each new chapter begins with a brief (I mean it, brief) description of the reaction, which includes an explanation of unknown terms. Atkins then invites the reader to shrink to atom size and observe the reaction mechanisms closely. This is so perfectly done that after approximately reaction 10, I found myself predicting the proceedings of a reaction mechanism. Reading this book made me feel like I already knew the answers to most chemistry-related questions posed by the author (something like the Socratic Method of Midwifery, for you Philosophy lovers).
Still not convinced? What if I told you that each reaction has a real-life application? Atkins doesn’t teach us to learn but to understand. Consider corrosion, that rusting reaction we take for granted day in and day out.
Atkins gives a deep dive into the science behind corrosion; he explains how slow, unyielding reactions of iron with oxygen can undermine structures, cause mayhem to vehicles, and even play a role in bridge and building safety.
It serves as a reminder that such chemical processes are not abstract ideas found in books but underlie the reality we come into contact with daily. In Atkins' view, we understand that the drive to develop improved materials and protect our infrastructure from deterioration depends on understanding rust chemistry; therefore, science is not just relevant but an absolute necessity.
What I love most about this book is how it provides in-depth chemistry knowledge, similar to a textbook, but with a great sense of humor. For example, the name given for “complex substitution” is “Changing patterns reaction,” and its different subtypes are “Marriage, separation, and divorce.” (Even if you are not a Chemist, you get the idea). So, next time in an exam that I write something like “The two product types of radical polymerization are Hairy Spaghetti and Bald Spaghetti”, you know who is to blame.
Anyone who picks up this book will find themselves returning to their high school chemistry days, and only now will they actually understand (and enjoy!) what’s going on. You’ll learn about these 28 different reaction types, and before you know it, you'll spot them in everyday life, like a chemist at a dinner party pointing out the Maillard reaction in a perfectly seared steak (or cookies if you are more of a sweet-tooth)!
PS: No molecules were harmed in the making of this review, but the same can’t be said for my copy of Reactions. In a tragic twist of fate, a rogue water stream reacted with my book—proof that even Chemistry enthusiasts aren’t safe from the occasional spill (see it as an unintentional solubility experiment). Lesson learned: keep your H2O far from your books. Therefore, there is no aesthetic book image for today.