Essays by Isaac Asimov about chemistry

Copyright © 1995 by Edward Seiler and Richard Hatcher. All rights reserved.

That's Life!

Subject: life and non-life
First Published In: Mar-62, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Symbol-Minded Chemist

Subject: atomic symbols
First Published In: Dec-66, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Nobel Prize that Wasn't

Subject: atomic numbers
First Published In: Apr-70, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Thalassogens

Subject: common liquids
First Published In: Dec-70, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Useless Metal

Subject: /effects of Three-Mile Island event
First Published In: Dec-79, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Neutrality!

Subject: /role of neutrons in uranium fission
First Published In: Jan-80, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Light as Air?

Subject: /air pressure
First Published In: Mar-81, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Arise, Fair Sun!

Subject: /development of electronics
First Published In: May-85, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Light-Bringer

Subject: /first credited element discovery
First Published In: Apr-87, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

We, the In-Betweens

Subject: alternate life chemistries
First Published In: May-61, Mademoiselle
Collection(s):

Fire

Original Title: Greeks' Four Universal Elements -- and Then Some
Subject: fire, heat, and energy
First Published In: 1971, Smithsonian
Collection(s):

Air

Original Title: Air, Thin Air, the Formless Element of the Greeks
Subject: the discovery of gases
First Published In: 1971, Smithsonian
Collection(s):

Earth

Original Title: Greeks' Four Universal Elements -- and Then Some
Subject: the composition of matter
First Published In: Apr-71, Smithsonian
Collection(s):

Recipe for an Ocean

Original Title: Recipe for a Planetary Ocean
Subject: possibilities for various kinds of oceans and where they occur
First Published In: Aug-Sep-76, Natural History
Collection(s):

Sherlock Holmes as Chemist

Subject: A. C. Doyle made errors in describing Holmes' chemistry
First Published In: Aug-80, Science Digest
Collection(s):

You, Too Can Speak Gaelic

Subject: chemical nomenclature
First Published In: Mar-63, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Brightest X Rays

Subject: using X-rays for material analysis
First Published In: 1987-1989, Los Angeles Times
Collection(s):

Welcome, Stranger!

Subject: noble gas compounds
First Published In: Nov-63, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Cold Water

Subject: freezing of water
First Published In: Feb-71, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Water

Original Title: How the Greeks' Element Water, Turned into H2O
Subject: water's place in chemistry
First Published In: 1971, Smithsonian
Collection(s):

The Multiplying Elements

Subject: rare-earth metals
First Published In: Feb-70, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Surprise! Surprise!

Subject: undiscovered elements
First Published In: Jun-76, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Magic Isle

Subject: undiscovered elements
First Published In: Mar-77, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Superheavies

Subject: elements with high atomic numbers
First Published In: Feb-83, American Way (American Airlines)
Collection(s):

Superheavy Elements

Subject: trying to synthesize element 114
First Published In: 1990-1992, Los Angeles Times
Collection(s):

The Mispronounced Metal

Subject: aluminum
First Published In: Oct-73, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Discovery of Argon

Subject: noticing a tiny discrepancy led to argon's discovery
First Published In: 1969, The Greatest Adventure
Collection(s):

The Unlikely Twins

Subject: graphite and diamond
First Published In: Oct-72, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The One and Only

Subject: carbon
First Published In: Nov-72, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Death in the Laboratory

Subject: fluorine
First Published In: Sep-65, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Change of Air

Subject: fluorocarbons; ozone layer
First Published In: Feb-76, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Flaming Element

Subject: hydrogen
First Published In: Winter-61-62, Petroleum Today
Collection(s):

The Element of Perfection

Subject: helium
First Published In: Nov-60, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Vanishing Element

Subject: the shortage of helium
First Published In: Aug-77, American Way (American Airlines)
Collection(s):

The Nearest Source

Subject: helium from Jupiter
First Published In: Sep-77, American Way (American Airlines)
Collection(s):

Forever Gone

Original Title: Helium - Basic Element Is Irreplaceable (V3)
Subject: we are needlessly losing helium
First Published In: 20-Nov-87, Los Angeles Times
Collection(s):

The Noblest Element

Original Title: Science Attacking Helium's 'Nobility' (V2)
Subject: helium's reluctance to combine
First Published In: 11-Mar-88, Los Angeles Times
Collection(s):

The Seventh Metal

Subject: element mercury
First Published In: Jan-68, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Salt-Producers

Subject: /iodine
First Published In: Jun-90, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Slow Burn

Subject: oxygen and oxidation
First Published In: Oct-62, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Smell of Electricity

Subject: ozone
First Published In: Dec-75, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Ozone

Original Title: Danger : We're Losing Our Shield of Life
Subject: damaging of the ozone layer by CFCs is dangerous
First Published In: 21-Feb-87, TV Guide
Collection(s):

Big Brother

Subject: /silicon and its compounds
First Published In: Sep-82, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Bread and Stone

Subject: /silicon versus carbon
First Published In: Oct-82, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

A Difference of an "E"

Subject: /silicones
First Published In: Nov-82, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Silicon Life After All

Subject: /silicon in electronics
First Published In: Dec-82, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Three-D Molecule

Subject: molecular structure
First Published In: Jan-72, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Predicted Metal

Subject: periodic table
First Published In: Feb-68, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Bridging the Gaps

Subject: periodic table of the elements
First Published In: Mar-70, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Made, Not Found

Subject: /filling in the periodic table
First Published In: Dec-84, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Asymmetry of Life

Subject: stereoisomerism
First Published In: Feb-72, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Hot Water

Subject: boiling points
First Published In: Jan-71, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Third Liquid

Subject: melting points of elements
First Published In: Oct-75, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

The Second Lightest

Subject: /isotopes and Harold Urey
First Published In: Jun-86, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s):

Overflowing the Periodic Table

Subject: the discovery of isotopes
First Published In: Oct-57, Astounding
Collection(s):


Guide to Essays

Authors:
Edward Seiler
ejseiler@earthlink.net

Richard Hatcher (hatch888@airmail.net)