This Very Short Introduction is an exciting and non-traditional approach to understanding the terminology, properties, and classification of chemical elements. It traces the history and cultural impact of the elements on humankind from ancient times through today. Packed with anecdotes, The Elements is a highly engaging and entertaining exploration of the fundamental question: what is the world made from?

The book brings together, for the first time, all aspects of reactions of metallic species in the gas phase and gives an up-to-date overview of the field. Reactions covered include those of atomic, other free radical and transient neutral species, as well as ions. Experimental and theoretical work is reviewed and the efforts to establish a closer link between these approaches are discussed. The field is mainly approached from a fundamental point-of-view, but the applied problems which have helped stimulate the interest are pointed out and form the major subject of the final chapters. These emphasize the competition between purely gas-phase and gas-surface reactions.

The book is concerned with understanding the fundamental mechanisms of high temperature alloy oxidation. It uses this understanding to develop methods of predicting oxidation rates and the way they change with temperature, gas chemistry and alloy composition. The focus is on designing (or selecting) alloy compositions which provide optimal resistance to attack by corrosive gases. . Emphasises quantitative calculations for predicting reaction rates and the effects of temperature, oxidant activities and alloy compositions. . Uses phase diagrams and diffusion paths to analyse and interpret scale structures and internal precipitation distributions . Provides a detailed examination of corrosion in industrial gases (water vapour effects, carburisation and metal dusting, sulphidation) . Text is well supported by numerous micrographs, phase diagrams and tabulations of relevant thermodynamic and kinetic data . Combines physical chemistry and materials science methodologies.

Combustion technology has traditionally been dominated by air/fuel combustion. However, two developments have increased the significance of oxygen-enhanced combustion - new technology producing oxygen less expensively and the increased importance of environmental regulations. Advantages of oxygen-enhanced combustion include numerous environmental benefits as well as increased energy efficiency and productivity. The text compiles information about using oxygen to enhance high temperature industrial heating and melting processes - serving as a unique resource for specialists implementing the use of oxygen in combustion systems; combustion equipment and industrial gas suppliers; researchers; funding agencies for advanced combustion technologies; and agencies developing regulations for safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly combustion systems. Oxygen-Enhanced Combustion: Examines the fundamentals of using oxygen in combustion, pollutant emissions, oxygen production, and heat transfer Describes ferrous and nonferrous metals, glass, and incineration Discusses equipment, safety, design, and fuels Assesses recent trends including stricter environmental regulations, lower-cost methods of producing oxygen, improved burner designs, and increasing fuel costs Emphasizing applications and basic principles, this book will act as the primary resource for mechanical, chemical, aerospace, and environmental engineers and scientists; physical chemists; fuel technologists; fluid dynamists; and combustion design engineers. Topics include: General benefits Economics Potential problems Pollutant emissions Oxygen production Adsorption Air separation Heat transfer Ferrous metals Melting and refining processes Nonferrous metals Minerals Glass furnaces Incineration Safety Handling and storage Equipment design Flow controls Fuels

Annotation Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on [title] held in Las Cruces, NM, April 1989. Presents 22 papers on the special hazards associated with the use of oxygen. Contains recent literature on flammability and compatibility of materials in oxygen, design of oxygen components and systems, and test method development and evaluation. Illustrated. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.