Chemical Magic

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating book of (almost) homebrew chemistry!
Review: Ford's "Chemical Magic" is a book which harkens from a past era when chemicals probably were more easily obtained than today. The reading is quick and fascinating, and his summaries of why things work are very nicely done.

The result of passing time is that some of the materials used in some experiments may be difficult or even impossible to procure. However, you shouldn't allow this to dissuade you from getting this book - the experiments you can perform will provide you quite a lot of enjoyment.

Caution, however, is in order: Some of the reagents used are corrosive, poisonous, or even explosive. I'd advise ensuring that an adult is present to supervise if you care to attempt those particular experiments!

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating book of (almost) homebrew chemistry!
Review: Ford's "Chemical Magic" is a book which harkens from a past era when chemicals probably were more easily obtained than today. The reading is quick and fascinating, and his summaries of why things work are very nicely done.

The result of passing time is that some of the materials used in some experiments may be difficult or even impossible to procure. However, you shouldn't allow this to dissuade you from getting this book - the experiments you <u>can</u> perform will provide you quite a lot of enjoyment.

Caution, however, is in order: Some of the reagents used are corrosive, poisonous, or even explosive. I'd advise ensuring that an adult is present to supervise if you care to attempt those particular experiments!

Rating:
Summary: Not really for the general public
Review: I agree with most of the reviews written here. I would say that the general public should not try 90 percent of these experiments, unless of course you are used to handling chemicals. These experiments are more suited to the classroom or the curious. And it does stress safety issues with chemicals, which I wholehearted favor. Years ago I worked with chemicals, and you would be surprised what people will do--even when they have been instructed otherwise.

The reason I gave it a 3 star was because I felt that there could have been more experiments that the general public could do.


Rating:
Summary: Excellent for science teachers
Review: The activities in this book are not intended for home use; however, they work great as class demonstrations and/or student activities. There are a lot of excellent attention-grabbing results which, if not utilized as part of a core curriculum, certainly provide a memorable "hook" that can be used to teach essential National Science Education Standards topics.

Rating:
Summary: from the good ole (less paranoid) days
Review: This book describes chemical experiments that give visible and
surprising results suitable for stage demonstrations. Presented as
recipes with short descriptions of of underlying mechanisms (usually).
What caught my eye was the number of classic demonstrations common in
older books but now largely dropped from children's texts as too
dangerous in ingredients required, or fumes and energy relesed.
Many of the recipes are about buring or blowing up things (Yeah! ;-)

* sugar cube treasted with conc H2SO4 black thing
* zinc based powder that emits green smoke when spat on
(thanks for teaching me this one Max ;-)
* colored fire powders
* flour cannon (did not mention that old quaker oats tin useful here.)

I am in favor of teaching children how to safely perform dangerous
science experiments, as this is the only way to learn to do such
things properly, (since many will do them regardless) and anyway the
kids would be up to more hazardous pursuits if the modest risks of the
laboaratory are denied. If today's young people do not learn how to
play with fire safely, where will we get tommorws homeland defense
technologists to fight our nations Fovever War against religous
fanatics?

However I would not encourage experimemnts involving the burning of
mercury compounds (see the blue fire formula) and the use of
carcinogenic, flamable or persistently toxic substances like CCl4 or
fluid mercury anywhere but in a proper fireproof ventilation hood.
The book does mark experiments involving toxic (like CCl4)
sponateously combustible (white phosphorous!) and powwerful oxidizing
agents (my fav: Potassium Clorate). Unfortunately the short length of
the text did not permit a more detailed discussion of precausions one
sould take with such materials, like eye protection, long fuses and
electrical igniter/detonators, and saftely practices like using very
small quantities of reagents the first time, not permitting murcury to
spill in places it could release fumes over time or form amalgams with
other metals and never premixing oxidizers with combustables unless
one knows the combination is relatively stable in the environment in
which the mixture will be stored.

I reccomend this book as an antidote the boring...
libability concious [material] present in most high school texts, but
would also require students doing these experimentr to read some
detailed laboratory procedures text, and practice these techinuqwes in
a laboratory under experinced supervision. The most valuable lesson
then obtained is the attitude of cautious adventurousness that helps many
of us to have a joyful time in the lab while still retaining all ten
fingers.

Rating:
Summary: A great book! Great ideas for science projects.
Review: This book is a great book for young scientists. As noted by some of the other reviews, the bandwidth of maturity required for the experiments varies greatly. Many of the projects or experiments in the book are a bit more than the average person can handle. But even then, reading about them does teach you something.

I remember reading the first edition of this book when I was young. I had SO much fun with it and I just kept signing it out of the library. When I got older, I did look for it, but it was out of print.

Then the second edition came out. Woo hoo!! I got myself a copy and one for a nephew who is showing great promise in the sciences (even though he's only 11). You just can't go wrong with this book. It's written in an old style and is sometimes almost childish in its presentation, but even adults can enjoy many of the writings in the book.