A Guide to the Elements - Softcover

Stwertka, Albert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195127080 ISBN 13: 9780195127089

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1999

Synopsis

The chemical elements and the basic principles of chemistry are the foundations of all scientific study, but this is the first book devoted to making information about the elements easily available and understandable. A Guide to the Elements begins with an introductory section that explains some of the basic concepts of chemistry and traces the history and development of the periodic table of the elements. In clear, nontechnical language, using historical anecdotes and everyday examples, noted science writer Albert Stwertka makes complex ideas and terms easily understandable. Each of the 112 elements is discussed in a separate article accompanied by photographs--many in full color--of practical applications of the elements.
Middle school and high school students will find this a welcome reference, as will adults with no background in chemistry. An excellent "look-it-up" resource as well as a superb introduction to chemistry, A Guide to the Elements is a good beginning step on the road to chemical literacy.

About this title

About the Author

Albert Stwerkta is Professor Emeritus at the United States Merchant Marine Academy and previously served as the head of the mathematics and science department there. Dr. Stwertka conducted research in the field of atomic physics, and was instrumental in establishing training programs for the N.S. Savannah nuclear ship during the Atoms for Peace program. He is the author of numerous books on science and math, including The World of Atoms and Quarks, Recent Revolutions in Physics, Recent Revolutions in Mathematics, and Physics: From Newton to the Big Bang.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0195127080
• ISBN 13: 9780195127089
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240