--- product_id: 312291014 title: "The Elements: A Visual History of Their Discovery" brand: "philip ball" price: "€ 66.85" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 3 url: https://www.desertcart.be/products/312291014-the-elements-a-visual-history-of-their-discovery store_origin: BE region: Belgium --- # The Elements: A Visual History of Their Discovery **Brand:** philip ball **Price:** € 66.85 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Elements: A Visual History of Their Discovery by philip ball - **How much does it cost?** € 66.85 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.be](https://www.desertcart.be/products/312291014-the-elements-a-visual-history-of-their-discovery) ## Best For - philip ball enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted philip ball brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Elements: A Visual History of Their Discovery ## Images ![The Elements: A Visual History of Their Discovery - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81JNLBXWR5L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Some of the ones of which the news has come to Harvard *by P***S on Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2021* A hefty book with a "coffee table" feel: lots of pictures, especially old woodcuts, stock photos, etc. The emphasis is more on "sizzle" than "steak," but it does have a good deal of information on the history of the elements. Not much scientific content: as the title indicates, it's about the history of their discovery. I was a bit disappointed to find that it's nowhere near complete. More than half the elements are mentioned, but a lot of them aren't. For example: nickel has a history that's just as interesting as cobalt, but it's not mentioned at all. And we don't hear about how the final cisuranic gaps in the table were at last filled in (by astatine and promethium): so recently that when I was in school, they were still blank!Another disappointment was that it doesn't do a very good job with the history of the periodic table. We go directly from Mendeleev's original table (laid out quite a bit differently from the one we're used to) to the current version, with no steps in between. Every science classroom has one of those posters at the front of the room (for perusing during a dull class), and it would have been nice to see how it changed, decade by decade. And the table in the book makes no attempt to explain what a "transition metal" is (what's it transitional between?). And what's "post" about a post-transition metal?Even if you prefer Kindle to paper books, this one still worth getting on paper, since you would miss most of the visibility of the pictures in an electronic format. Don't expect much in the way of chemistry, but it's more interesting than most books that you can put on your coffee table. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ You don't expect different from excellent if Philip Ball signs it! *by M***U on Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2021* Again, with a careful edition and research, Ball presents a beautifully crafted book with reproductions of original texts, illustrations, and quotes. His texts describe the quest of discovering, using, and organizing the stuff that makes the world and the universe—a beautiful book in many ways. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lowbrow account *by G***8 on Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 10, 2021* Patchy account of the “Elements.” Pitch at senior school -level readers.The accounts seemed abbreviated. Much of the interesting stuff about individual elements was missing , such as stability, radio-disintegration, and other properties. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.be/products/312291014-the-elements-a-visual-history-of-their-discovery](https://www.desertcart.be/products/312291014-the-elements-a-visual-history-of-their-discovery) --- *Product available on Desertcart Belgium* *Store origin: BE* *Last updated: 2026-04-23*