Chemistry: A Volatile History
The explosive story of chemistry is the story of the building blocks that make up our entire world – the elements. From fiery phosphorous to the pure untarnished lustre of gold and the dazzle of violent, violet potassium, everything is made of elements – the earth we walk on, the air we breathe, even us. Yet for centuries this world was largely unknown, and completely misunderstood.
In this three-part series, professor of theoretical physics Jim Al-Khalili traces the extraordinary story of how the elements were discovered and mapped. He follows in the footsteps of the pioneers who cracked their secrets and created a new science, propelling us into the modern age.
In the final part, Professor Al-Khalili uncovers tales of success and heartache in the story of chemists’ battle to control and combine the elements, and build our modern world. He reveals the dramatic breakthroughs which harnessed their might to release almost unimaginable power, and he journeys to the centre of modern day alchemy, where scientists are attempting to command the extreme forces of nature and create brand new elements.
Watch the full documentary now (playlist)
I am very interested in chemistry and thank you for this video. I havent watched it in full yet but I sure will. Thank you!
You wont be disappointed – the best series on chemistry I`ve ever watched. It just finished running on TV.
Highly recommended!
Liked it alot. This video would have made learning chemistry in high school much easier.
Indeed – kids today don’t know how lucky they are…
There are actually 3 whole episodes Vlatko (sort of like the cell series). They’re all under the same user on youtube, and they also have playlists links to all of them. I’m not sure if you linked all of them or not (I already watched this series from this very user, hehe).
GREAT series too! It’s comprehensive presentations like this that makes learning about science very enjoyable. It always amazes me how some of the neatest discoveries in science have been from the simplest (and at times even weird) experiments, like discovering phosphorus through the reduction of urine.
Finished watching this doc.
Great doc! Brought to mind when I was a kid , played with liquid mercury from thermometers.
Rolled the mercury around in my bare hands, Scary!
Oh Yavanna,
You recommend everything!
Damn…
Not enough time to finish this fine doc…have to take my daughter to the movies.
To: Achems Razor
You should see a specialist about that, perhaps get checked out. My father used to tell stories about playing in asbestos as a child, 5 years ago at the age of 55 he was diagnosed with lung cancer more than likly due to over exposure to the asbestos. Better to be safe then sorry.
Just a thought….
@ Bodd:
Thank you for your concern.
But I have no medical problems, or any medical syndromes.
As a matter of fact I was in the medical field.
The 92 elements of the periodic table did not emerge from a simple identification as we can see them now in their extracted appearance. From Hydrogen to Uranium these elements had been trough a revolution of rough course of experimentation by early thinkers and scientist who pioneered the steps towards breaking the ignorance that would make mankind truly an intelligent specie,the kind that is capable of knowing and manipulating its environment for the advancement of his race.We are very lucky to have with us the early chemist and scientist who like, the genius Albert Einstien whacked their brains and sacrificed their time for half their lives to make the shortcut towards gaining the very important tool,”knowledge of quantum physics and to the macro elemental existence of the known universe.” The rest of mankind has to survive in its race towards the cosmos.The signs of time is undoubtedly apparent,the earth is consumed by mankind’s waste,pollutants and solid waste.Therefore man has to leave this planet and live somewhere in the universe.Be it early or late mans journey to seed the universe is soon to begin.
Wonderfully entertaining and informative (for a layperson such as myself). I love the quick pace of this documentary and how the seemingly boring work of balancing chemical equations is given it’s proper due as the energizing realization that chemistry is what we’re all made of.
That was f**cking sweet. Made me want to do chemistry again, which I haven’t really cared about since high school.
o Vlatko
Guy, this site is wild, for years i searched for docs the old way of googling stuff. Well anyways I’ve been reading comments from you and other regulars, and you people are seriously good people…
Well anyways I’m 32 and from Canada, trying to figure out how to build a magnetic motor, and have watched anything to do with Tesla and his work, you do have some here.
Long story short, I met people at li-ion Motors who are trying there hand at electric cars which is good, I presented them with the idea and they know about it, but it was like looking at a deer stuck in the head lights of a car.
I live in Calgary Canada, HQ’s for all the oil company’s in my country, (I find it scary here, I’m from Toronto) the streets are nearly paved in gold here and this idea of the magnetic motor needs to be more promoted. I’m trying to build something, youtube is a joke when it comes to showing the every day man how to build it.
CAN YOU HELP ME GUY….!!!!
and those other guys like connie, Hate machine, Achems Razor
Thanx.
Hey, hows everybody doing.
Peace & Regards
As an English man I am so proud of the BBC. They make truly stunning documentaries. To think that successive governments have wanted to break this institution up. It can make even the most seemingly boring of subjects fascinating to watch. Top class documentary.
@Raged i have to agree with your sentiments, the british do make rather good documentaries and the thing i love about them is that they dont have the sensationalised voice in most american ones. Their british accent (myself having a hybrid austalian one which i have tried with all efforts to remove) is very good the american one is good as well but God do i hate when they put a dark overtone to sensationalise it, it doesnt add anything.
Personally i think professor jim al khalili is one of the best comunicators in britain and almost all his documentaries since 2007 have been excellent.
Nice simple doc that gives a general overview of the timeline of early chemistry.
On a sidenote: I thought it was interesting when they spoke of phlogiston. I never even heard of that before. Although it strikes a remarkable resemblance to what modern day physics calls dark matter and dark energy ;)
I think dark matter/energy is just a temporary bookmark/place holder until the real truth is discovered…just like phlogiston was.
This documentary is great for the unscientific or uncurious and perhaps a stimulating film for children. Unfortunately, for the rest of us it is depressingly lacking in the details. I had to quit after getting tired of seeing the great demonstrations and not getting any explanations on how they worked. Take this as a warning.