Molecules That Amaze Us

718 Pages·2014·9.33 MB·English

by  Paul May

CHEMISTRY
Molecules
May
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Molecules
Cotton That Amaze Us
That Amaze Us
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The world is composed of molecules. Some are synthetic while many others are
products of nature. Molecules That Amaze Us presents the stories behind many of
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the most famous and infamous molecules that make up our modern world. Examples
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include the molecule responsible for the spicy heat in chillies (capsaicin), the world’s e
first synthetic painkiller (aspirin), the pigment responsible for the color of autumn
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leaves (carotene), the explosive in dynamite (nitroglycerine), the antimalarial drug u
(quinine), the drug known as “speed” (methamphetamine), and many others. l
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Other molecules discussed include caffeine, adrenaline, cholesterol, cocaine, digitalis,

dopamine, glucose, insulin, methane, nicotine, oxytocin, penicillin, carbon dioxide, T
limonene, and testosterone. In all, the book includes 67 sections, each describing a h
different molecule, what it does, how it’s made, and why it’s so interesting. a
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Written by experts in the field, the book is accessible and easy to read. It includes
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amusing anecdotes, historical curiosities, and entertaining facts about each molecule,
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thereby balancing educational content with entertainment. The book is heavily
Paul May
illustrated with relevant photographs, images, and cartoons—the aim being both to
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educate and entertain. Simon Cotton
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Molecules
That Amaze Us

Molecules
That Amaze Us
Paul May
University of Bristol, U.K.
Simon Cotton
University of Birmingham, U.K.
Boca Raton London New York
CRC Press is an imprint of the
Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
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Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
© 2015 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business
No claim to original U.S. Government works
Version Date: 20140721
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-1-4665-8961-2 (eBook - PDF)
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To Natalie
and
to Michelle

CONTENTS
FOREWORD xv
PREFACE xvii
AUTHORS xix
CHAPTER 1
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) 1
CHAPTER 2
Adrenaline/Epinephrine (Noradrenaline/
Norepinephrine) 9
CHAPTER 3
Ammonium Nitrate 21
CHAPTER 4
Artemisinin 29
CHAPTER 5
Aspirin 37
CHAPTER 6
Caffeine 45
CHAPTER 7
Capsaicin 53
vii
viii CONTENTS
CHAPTER 8
Carbon Dioxide 61
CHAPTER 9
β-Carotene 73
CHAPTER 10
Chlorophyll 81
CHAPTER 11
Cholesterol 91
CHAPTER 12
Cisplatin 99
CHAPTER 13
Cocaine 105
CHAPTER 14
DEET 117
CHAPTER 15
Difluorodichloroethane, CF Cl : (Freon-12, CFC-12
2 2
or R-12) and Related Compounds 125
CHAPTER 16
DDT 135
CHAPTER 17
Digitalis 143