The Disappearing Spoon Chp. 13

The Disappearing Spoon Chapter 13

Summary:

The chapter continues off from where the topic originally was in the past chapter; if the periodic table can have its share of politics, then it must have a cozier place in mony. The chapter then tells a tale of Midas, the king of, what is now called Turkey, Phrygia and how he had obtained the curse of being able to turn anything he touched into gold. This power was given to him by a man that could grant any wish Midas wanted and Midas thus chose to have the power to turn anything into gold, something that he would come to greatly regret later in his life. He wasn't able to control this power of his and eventually turned his own daughter into gold upon a hug. This story is obviously not true, but there is indeed a reason as to why these stories are told about him. After the story has been told, we are given some information about the element zinc and the affiliations between brass and copper. We are then given a further background as to possibly where these stories may have originated from. After numerous more talks about gold and the power gold can have over people, we are told more information about people that were affected by it, whether it be a legend or a true story.

The chapter then introduces us to something that has ruined the lifes of many and scared the lifes of the greedy: fool's gold. Since gold is an element that tends to be mostly incompatible with other elements, many would believe that any gold they find is pure gold; however, there is one element that can sometimes be found mixed with gold: Tellurium. Whenever a gold rush occurred, only a very few amount of people would ever find any gold and several times it would just be fool's gold. History is told about fool's gold within gold rushes and the several actions that occurred due to this and, afterwards, the chapter gives some information on the geology of gold formations and stories surrounding gold. The chapter then goes back to Midas and the surrounding people within that age of ime and how gold was deeply rooted around them and currency. After people saw the sudden increase of fortune and the worth of gold, greedy people, of course, thought of ways to try to create counterfeit money to make themselves rich. After telling the last few stories on gold and the value surrounding it from people, the chapter then speaks of aluminum and that elements worth in society. The chapter finally ends off with how money means power in the modern age.

Reflection:

Overall, this chapter was enjoyable to read and the information it contained was nice to know about. I enjoyed reading the information about Midas and how he is connected to reality; after all, I had always thought that his life was purely fictional and that everything was made up. I also enjoyed learning about just how valuable gold was and how it even went as far as to control the lifes of many in the world. Not only did money control the lifes of many in the past, but does too control the lifes of many today in our modern age. I didn't see any part of this chapter to have been dislikable in the least and would recomend this information to those that are a least a bit interested. \

1. Name 3 other alloys besides brass and bronze. 

Amalgam, Pewter, and Steel

2. What does the word "transmute" mean? 

To change or alter in form, appearance, or nature and especially to a higher form.

3. What is the chemical formula for fool's gold?

FeS₂

_{4. Explain how europium helps stop counterfeiting.} 

When europium is used in currency, under the use of an ultra-violet light, the currency will glow under it and prove that it is real currency. Counterfeiters will have a hard time using or gaining this type of material and proves to be too much of a hassle.

5. Why is it anachronistic that aluminum is still on top of the Washington Monument?

Aluminum was very expensive at the time and had also received several attacks from lightning. Even though the pyramid has dealt with a lot, the pyramid is used as a representation of strength since it is still readable after all the attacks it had received.

6. If gold or platinum were very easy to get, what would happen to their price? How is this related to the story of aluminum?

If they were very easy to obtain, their prices would most-likely drop significantly since it would lose its value and is related to aluminum because, at the time, it was difficult to obtain.