The Radioactive Boy Scout By David Hahn

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Introduction In the book, The Radioactive Boy Scout by Ken Silverstein, the life of the quirky and mysterious David Hahn is described in detail. His fascination with the science of chemistry and radioactive substances are shown to be the result of several different influences on his life. The main influences located in the book The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments, his local Boy Scout troop, and his own home life and different family situations. David was also well versed in his knowledge of the periodic table, as he was able to obtain most of the elements on the periodic table and conduct experiments with them. David Hahn also may have been skilled in chemistry, but his knowledge of safety in the lab was subpar, and he put his own life and the lives of others in jeopardy. Key Idea 1: The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments From a young age, David Hahn was fascinated with science, especially …show more content…

Originally, David joined the Boy Scouts because he was pressured to by his father, a former Boy Scout. However, by staying in the Boy Scouts to satiate his father’s demands, he could practice his experiments more freely. Another benefit of being in the Boy Scouts was that it gave David access to knowledge and items that he normally would not be able to obtain. In the Boy Scouts, David was given the opportunity to construct a model Geiger counter in order to obtain a badge (Silverstein, 1233). This eventually lead David into pursuing more radioactive elements. His status as a Boy Scout gave him the chance to obtain knowledge from a prestigious group of people, like the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It also gave him an excuse to give his father when he asked about his experiments; his excuse was that he was attempting to obtain a merit badge for the Boy Scouts. David’s time in the Boy Scouts had an influential role on his life, especially his interest in

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