Nature’s Amazing Chemistry

"We have just had a severe cold spell with sub-zero temperatures outside. Cold winds blew south from the Arctic circle for several days. Today, I decide to take a walk along the Roman Road path. Much to my delight I see that snowdrops are beginning to appear in the hedgerow that separates the path from the fields. I love these flowers. They herald the end of winter, the onset of spring, more daylight hours and warmer temperatures. The snowdrops have appeared about this time every year as far back as I can remember."

Nature's amazing chemistry has been producing all the raw materials essential for life on Earth for billions of years. The chemistry is, however, diverse and often complex and challenging. It has unfathomable depths that chemists and other scientists around the world are still attempting to probe and understand. Chapters in this book reflect Michael Freemantle's fascination with nature's chemistry not only of humans and other animals, but also of plants and minerals. You will discover:

the chemistry of fruit flies, lobsters and beavers; the chemistry of snowdrops, wild cabbages and Himalayan blue poppies; the chemistry of minerals containing cobalt and other elements, the mining of which has in some cases led to environmental degradation and human rights abuses.

Michael Freemantle is a science writer who has written numerous books and articles on chemistry, the history of science and related topics. They include The Chemists' War: 1914-1918 published by the Royal Society of Chemistry.