[CaliforniaKarl]

Every time I hear anything about Flourine, I’m reminded of “Sand Won’t Save You This Time” http://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2008/02/26/san...

I also suggest watching the Periodic Table of Videos episode on Flourine: https://youtu.be/vtWp45Eewtw

[pimeys]

The book Ignition!, mentioned in the article/comments, is soon back to print[0]. After reading these articles I think the book is a must read. Too bad the Kindle version is quite bad quality.

[0] https://www.amazon.com/Ignition-Informal-History-Liquid-Prop...

[pixl97]

>Ignition!

FOOF

[peteri]

Thank you very much for that, I've now swapped my pre-order to paper after reading some of the kindle reviews.

[Cthulhu_]

Cody's Lab is also a very accessable series where the guy somewhat casually handles various acids to dissolve gold and such. He's got a series showing various ways to extract gold from other metals (or more commonly, the other metals from gold). Just in his home, maybe with an amateur extractor.

[Sukotto]

Despite failing chemistry in high school (and never looking at it again afterward), I loved Derek Lowe's "Things I Won't Work With" column.

He did an excellent job of describing some truly terrifying chemical substances in a lighthearted and engaging way.

[lnx01]

http://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/?s=things+I+won%27t+wor...

[MarkMMullin]

It reminded me of this gem from the same author -- http://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2010/02/23/thi...

[dwighttk]

There is a great rundown of the history of fluorine by Isaac Asimov in _Galileo's Commandment: 2,500 Years of Great Science Writing_ (it might be excerpted from his book _The Noble Gases_, I'm not sure. I couldn't find an online version of the text)

[dwighttk]

(the reason I think it may be in The Noble Gases is because he talks about the creation of Xenon Tetrafluoride)

[IanCal]

A link to "things I won't work with"? Well there goes my entire day!

[digi_owl]

The best part is perhaps the quote at the end from Ignition!.