Reflection of Chapter 1

   Sam Kean's first chapter was a clear overview to how chemistry works. I thoroughly enjoyed his metaphors and use of stories to make the world of chemistry quite easier to understand. His use of Plato's work was one of the things I most enjoyed. He seems  to have combined philosophy and chemistry, two different subjects and yet intertwine them to give the reader more understanding. Kean's witty is also showed throughout the entire chapter, which makes the book even more desirable to read.There were many things I learned that I did not know before. For example, I did not know that antimony was used as a laxative and I didn't know that Maria Goeppert-Mayer was involved in the Manhattan Project. I did not know that the nuclei had shells (Thanks Maria Goeppert) and there were acids stronger than 1. Kean's first chapter was not only captivating, it showed the basics of chemistry and the involvement of people who have sculpted it.