Book Review: It's Elemental: The Hidden Chemistry In Everything, by Kate Biberdorf

 

It's Elemental: The Hidden Chemistry In Everything was written by Kate Biberdorf. She fell in love with chemistry in high school and later majored in chemistry at the University of Michigan and earned her Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry at the University of Texas. She has made it her mission to make chemistry accessible and interesting for young audiences. To say the least, she is MORE than qualified to write a book about the basics of chemistry.

I came across It's Elemental: The Hidden Chemistry In Everything at an airport bookstore on my way to visit my aunt last month. I have always enjoyed asking questions about how the world around me works, so naturally, this book caught my eye. Dr. Biberdorf takes a look at daily routines and commonplace products through the unique lens of a chemist. She starts off by explaining the basics of a 6-week college chemistry 101 class. Once you finish enjoying part one you will be all caught up with the structure of atoms, the bonds formed between them, ionic and covalent bonds, how molecules form bonds, physical versus chemical changes, and understanding chemical reactions as well as endothermic and exothermic reactions. If you are thinking that those topics sound far out of your reach you would be wrong. Dr. Biberdorf does a phenomenal job of breaking down larger ideas into smaller more understandable details for her target audience; people who know very little about chemistry, but want to learn more.

Once she explains the basics she transitions into dissecting everyday life with chemistry. From how your breakfast transforms into energy for the day to why your shampoo may lead to your untimely death, she will not fall short of teaching you about mundane occurrences in an engaging way. I never thought that I would have a special interest in reading and analyzing the ingredient list on different brands of shampoo bottles, but that is just one example of Dr. Biberdorf's superpower to make anything worthwhile. 

You might be wondering what could possibly possess someone to take an interest in the obscure ingredients on the back of hair products but, let's be honest, not many people actually understand the purpose of these ingredients or even how to pronounce them. Do you know what solvent glycols, ammonium chloride, or parabens are? If so, do you know their place in your hair products? If not, you are in the right place and I highly recommend It's Elemental if you have pondered similar questions in the past. In this book, you will learn that solvent glycol is a citric acid that brings pH levels down, which ultimately results in less frizzy hair. Ammonium chloride is a type of salt that acts as a lathering agent. It is what makes the shampoo foam as you rub it into your hair. Parabens prevent bacterial growth and can also be found in many cosmetic products and medications like ibuprofen. Unfortunately, a 2004 study connected parabens to 18/20 tumors in women diagnosed with breast cancer. This does not necessarily mean it is a human carcinogen, but it does not hurt to avoid parabens when possible and go for alternative products.

Above is a diagram of a paraben molecule. The image was found here.

Now to explain how your favorite shampoo works! Shampoo's primary purpose is to remove grease and oils on our heads without causing enormous pain from chemicals touching your skin, damaging your hair, or being otherwise dangerous. Every brand of shampoo is made slightly differently, but in general, you can expect a few things. The simplest shampoo is comprised of water, glycerin, and a few aromatic molecules. Glycerin gives shampoo its viscous spreadable texture, while aromatic molecules give it a wonderful smell. Every shampoo contains a few drops of sulfate to bind to the grease. Other than that, different chemicals are added to produce varying desired effects, such as straighter, curlier, or less frizzy hair. Keep in mind, that there is much more to learn, and we have not even started talking about conditioner, not to mention the millions of other chemicals you interact with in your daily life in varying forms! 

If any of that information sounds interesting, you must read It's Elemental: The Hidden Chemistry In Everything. Who knows? You might end up like Dr. Biderdorf and become a chemist after discovering a passion for chemistry in high school. The book answers so many questions that I previously did not take the time to find in-depth answers for. It also goes into much more detail about how processes work on a molecular level than I did in my shampoo example. Some questions Dr. Biberdorf will answer include the following. What is the difference between baking soda and baking powder? Why does a pie crust get soggy when you bake it for too long? Why does coffee give people extra energy? The entirety of the answer is not just that it has caffeine. How does caffeine work? How does it trick your brain into telling you that you suddenly have more energy? It actually blocks receptors in your brain that register tiredness. In short, you should read this magnificent work if you found this blog interesting or learned something new.

Thank you for reading!

Sasha G. 

Sources:

Biberdorf, Kate. It's Elemental: The Hidden Chemistry in Everything. 2nd ed., Park Row Books, 2022.

USA Science and Engineering Festival. usasciencefestival.org/performers/dr-kate-biberdorf/#:~:text=Kate%20%E2%80%9CDr.,University%20of%20Michigan%20in%202008. Accessed 20 Aug. 2022.

The image at the top of the page is a picture of the cover of It's Elemental: The Hidden Chemistry In Everything. It was found here.