The history of the 'Devil's Element' (The Shocking History of Phosphorus - John Emsley)

Member Name: markos9

Product:	The Shocking History of Phosphorus - John Emsley
Date:	04/11/09 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fascinating story, brilliantly written.

Disadvantages: Some parts are truly shocking.

More than any other (with the possible exception of plutonium), phosphorus deserves the description 'The Devil's Element'. Discovered three hundred years ago, it has been utilised by poisoners to practice their murderous 'art', in incendiary devices that laid waste to entire cities, in nerve gases that deliver an agonising death, and is the cause of terrible industrial diseases such as 'phossy jaw'.

Despite, or perhaps because of these uses, phosphorus has been intimately involved in the history of human development since its discovery by the alchemists of the 17th Century.

Perhaps, to readers of this review, 'The Shocking History of Phosphorus' may not sound like a bestseller to be avidly devoured, or even as a book that might prove reasonably interesting, but this, in my opinion would be incorrect.

There are two reasons why this book is a fascinating read; the first is that the use of phosphorus has indeed had 'shocking' consequences. The second is because the author is John Emsley.

Emsley is my favourite popular science author. He is a chemistry lecturer, but has also won many awards for his writing. His books are fascinating accounts of history and science and emphasise the human story over the science involved.

In writing this book, the author had a huge amount of fascinating material to work with. The element was discovered by alchemists; toiling in secret, recording their work in code to protect against theft; they were the earliest chemists. Knowing that the raw material was human urine merely adds an unpleasant aspect to the tale.

Emsley writes in an engaging style, telling phosphorus' story at a breakneck speed. The author teases the reader; each chapter releases tantalising information about what will follow, encouraging the reading of 'just one more page', making this a surprising page turner.

As the title indicates, this is not always a pleasant book to read. The accounts of the bombing of Hamburg with massive phosphorus bombs are very disturbing; eyewitness accounts talk of people committing suicide to avoid burning, and of others futilely trying to douse the flames with water, before falling in agony.

The use of nerve gas is one of the most despicable chapters in the history of humankind and the thousands of men who were killed and maimed during World War I were not the last to feel the terror of chemical warfare. In 1988, the nerve gas sarin, manufactured from phosphorus was used by the Iraqi government against the Kurds.

An even worse atrocity could have played out forty years previously. The author gives a fascinating insight into the end of World War II: Hitler had stocks of 12,000 tonnes of 'Tabun' a nerve gas many times more deadly than those used previously, ready to drop on Allied cities. This could have changed the course of history; why did he not use it?

Despite the element's dark side, several positive inventions have helped with human development. The safety match and phosphate fertilisers are two examples where phosphorus has been a power for good, rather than evil.

The development of the match was, however, fraught with accidents and both deliberate and accidental poisonings, before a 'safe' process was perfected. The manufacture of matches also involved possibly the first mass 'strike' (no pun intended) at a factory. The Bryant and May girls successfully downed tools to improve the conditions of their workplace.

For me, the most shocking episode in the element's history was its effect on people working in close proximity to it. Before reading the book, I'd heard of the conditions workers were exposed to in factories producing phosphorus matches and the daily dangers of working with such a flammable material.

What I hadn't know is that these women were subjected to a slower, more insidious danger; that of 'phossy jaw'. This industrial disease, known as phosphorus necrosis slowly ate away the jaw, leaving the victim horribly disfigured for life, if they survived.

The 'Devil's Element' does have a shocking history. The tale of phosphorus, its effect on people working with it and on those it was used against is full of misery and tragedy. John Emsley has woven the tale of phosphorus expertly and engagingly and has produced a book that many people will find fascinating and unable to put down. Highly recommended.

The book is available from Amazon for £6.83.

Summary: A superb book with a broader appeal than perhaps the title suggests.