Elements (15 Volume Set)

Grade 5-8. Designed to link the study of chemistry to familiar?or at least commonly encountered?substances, devices, and processes, this heavily illustrated set provides background support for science projects and reports at several levels of expertise. Thirty-six elements are considered, one (or a small related group) per volume; at least four sizes of type are used to signal level of detail. Knapp discusses each element's discovery, forms, extraction, industrial uses, and unique character. In a one-topic-per-spread format, text blocks surround several large, clear, full-color photos or, more rarely, schematics; experimental procedures are not specifically described, but chemical equations are always expressed both in words and symbols, or sometimes visually with ball-and-stick graphics. Special terms are defined on the spread in which they appear, as well as at the back. Each volume concludes with a basic fact spread, the complete periodic table, a guide to understanding equations, and a series index. As the author assumes a basic knowledge of atomic structure and reactions, complete beginners may flounder a bit. However, this resource will strengthen both school labs and library collections well endowed enough to own a multivolume science encyclopedia to compensate for this set's limited scope.?John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This attractively designed 15-volume set covers the 34 key elements most frequently encountered by fifth-through tenth-grade students in physical and life science classes, among them hydrogen, helium, neon, radon, sodium, iron, zinc, and chlorine. Each volume is 56 pages long. Yellow-bordered pages at the front and back of each volume list the contents; show shell diagrams of the volume's element(s); display the periodic table through element 109; discuss equations; define technical terms; and provide a master index. Every page seems to have some type of diagram or illustration, all in striking color except for a few black-and-white photographs and prints. Both the main and secondary texts are in easy-to-read fonts. Many terms are defined in the upper right-hand corner of a page so a reader need not flip pages to a glossary in another location.

Each element is discussed in terms of its natural form, its physical properties, its interaction with other elements, and its use throughout history. Chemical reactions and step-by-step experiments form the basis for many diagrams and pictures. In discussing spontaneous combustion under Oxygen, a caution to reproduce the experiment only under teacher supervision is included. Many of the discussions lend themselves to disciplines other than chemistry. For example, Sodium talks about saline drips, and Mercury about mercury poisoning, including a reference to the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland. Aluminum looks at recycling; Carbon at polymers and plastics; Uranium at nuclear topics. Calcium, Copper, Silver and Gold, and Silicon provide information for geology reports.

While it does not cover as many elements as A Guide to the Elements [RBB D 1 96], this set will definitely be a favorite at element report writing time. Its coverage of the most frequently researched elements is in easy-to-understand language with many useful diagrams and illustrations. School and public libraries should consider buying a set for reference and one for the circulating collection. It's sure to catch the attention of budding scientists and their teachers.