By John Emsley
Tells the marvelous historical past of phosphorus, a component which used to be stumbled on via alchemists, prescribed through apothecaries, exploited via industrialists and abused via 20th-century warring parties. through the years, phosphorus has been known as a poison, a miracle elixir, or even the reply to the secret of spontaneous human combustion! Award-winning writer John Emsley strains the surprising historical past of the 13th aspect.
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Extra info for The 13th Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus
Sample text
An imperial ton is very nearly the same as a metric tonne; 2,240 lbs vs 2,205 lbs or 1,016 kg vs 1,000 kg. 8o a The 13th Element Strike a light t 81 was also a Quaker, born in 1803 in London, where he later worked as a grocer. They were probably attracted to matchmanufacture by the rapidly expanding demand - the people of Great Britain were already striking 250 million matches a day and the fact that 80 per cent of these matches were imported at a cost of £60,000 a year presented a profitable opportunity.
In the end, Jones, Watts and Richard Bell of Wandsworth, London, amalgamated to form the The reaction between Sb 2 S, and KC10„ which generates enough energy to produce a flame, is given by the chemical equation: Sb 2S, + 3KC10, Sbz 0 3 + 3KC1 + 3SO,. This shows that one antimony sulphide (formula weight 237) reacts with three potassium chlorates (123), so the best co mbination for a match head is a ratio of 237 of the former to 369 of the latter, which is roughly 2:3, rather than the 1:1 ratio used in the early lucifers.
While the original partners were in control of the Bow factory, the workforce had been extremely loyal. So much so that on one occasion they even demonstrated on their employer's behalf against the Government.