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Chemistry: A Volatile History

Series in which Jim Al-Khalili traces the story of how the elements, the building blocks that make up our entire world, were discovered and mapped.

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Cast & Crew See All

Jim Al-Khalili
Self - Presenter
Andrea Sella
Self
Darren Collins
Rolls-Royce Supplier Driving Instructor for Mr. Khalili

Season 1 Episode Guide See All

Episode 1

Discovering the Elements

In this series, Jim al-Khalili takes the viewer on a journey through the history of modern chemistry, from the age of the alchemists, through to the present day. This 3-part series encompasses the early alchemical age of secrecy and discovery, the early advances toward a scientific understanding of the elements, and finally to the establishment of a standardized system of chemical notation and categorization, while also introducing the viewer to many historically significant contributors to the discipline of chemistry that we know today.

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