Exploring the World of Chemistry: From Ancient Metals to High-Speed Computers [Paperback]

John Hudson Tiner (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0890512957 | ISBN-13: 978-0890512951 | Publication Date: May 1, 2001

Chemistry is an amazing branch of science that affects us every day, yet few people realize it, or even give it much thought. Without chemistry, there would be nothing made of plastic, there would be no rubber tires, no tin cans, no televisions, no microwave ovens, or something as simple as wax paper.

This book presents an exciting and intriguing tour through the realm of chemistry as each chapter unfolds with facts and stories about the discoveries and discoverers. Find out why pure gold is not used for jewelry or coins. Join Humphry Davy as he made many chemical discoveries, and learn how they shortened his life. See how people in the 1870s could jump over the top of the Washington Monument.

Exploring the World of Chemistry brings science to life and is a wonderful learning tool with many illustrations, biographical information, chapter tests, and an index for easy referencing.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Hudson Tiner received five National Science Foundation teaching fellowships during his 12 years of teaching science and mathematics. He is a graduate of chemistry at the College of the Holy Cross (Massachusetts), graduate of astronomy at Sam Houston State University (Texas), and a graduate of mathematics at Duke University (NC). He also worked as a mathematician and cartographer for the Defense Mapping Agency, Aerospace Center (St. Louis).

Today, Tiner is a full-time writer. His popular non-fiction books tell their stories through the lives of people who left the world in a better condition than they found it. He says, “After the research is finished, a wonderful moment occurs when the story takes over and the characters come alive. No longer am I a writer, but a time traveler who stands unobserved in the shadows and reports the events as they occur.”

He has received numerous honors for his writing, including the Missouri Writer's Guild award for best juvenile book for Exploring the World of Chemistry, which was also published by Master Books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 142 pages
• Publisher: Master Books (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0890512957
• ISBN-13: 978-0890512951
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #324,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Hudson Tiner is the author of textbooks, science curriculum material, character-building biographies, and books on a variety of other subjects. His books entertain while they increase a person's knowledge of the essentials of the subject. He has a master's degree from Duke University. He brings a wide range of exciting facts together to write more than 1,000 published manuscripts, including 80 books, for all age groups.

He is well known for his books for teens and young people including the "Exploring the World of" series for Master book and the Sowers Series for Mott Media. He says, "Young readers of today deserve to experience the thrill and wonder of learning about science. They delight in learning new facts, especially if the facts are presented in an exciting way."

John Hudson Tiner's popular biographies tell the lives of people who left the world in a better condition than they found it. He says, "After the research is finished, a wonderful moment occurs when the story takes over and the characters come alive. I am no longer a writer, but a time traveler who stands unobserved in the shadows and reports the events as they occur."

His material has been translated into a variety of languages including Spanish, Russian, and German.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to chemistry!, May 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Exploring the World of Chemistry: From Ancient Metals to High-Speed Computers (Paperback)

This is the only science book that I have ever picked up and just read straight through! I have taken college chemistry and other science courses, as well as having taught jr. high and high school general science and biology--and I have learned things from this book that I had never known before. Mr. Tiner very gently, in a narrative style, begins with elements which were apparent to ancient man--iron, copper, gold, silver--and describes their properties, history, and uses. He then progresses through the periodic chart introducing the elements, and even the sources of their names. The chapters are brief and interesting, and by the end of the chapters, you have been introduced to the chemical and physical properties of the elements, as well as to the scientist or scientists who discovered them. I plan to use this book as the introduction to each chapter in my children's high school chemistry course. It will make the course much more interesting, as well as to help them see the relevence of chemistry to their own lives. Thank you Mr. Tiner!!! (By the way, this book does not attempt to be a stand-alone, high school chemistry course. It would be excellent for the introduction to chemistry part of a high school level general science course, though.)

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical lessons in Chemistry, September 19, 2007

By 

A. Smetak "mom-librarian" (Paris, TN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Exploring the World of Chemistry: From Ancient Metals to High-Speed Computers (Paperback)

I purchased these books for my top 4 students in 5th grade chemistry. In my estimation the subject presentation is appropriate up to the 10th grade. The chapters are given in historical order, starting with ancient times. The lessons are fairly short, maybe 4 pages or so, and are at about a 4th grade reading level. We are finishing the chapters in two 45-minute classes with about 30 minutes of homework each day. Each chapter has its own set of questions to highlight the most important information. We cut out the answer keys with little impact to the integrity of the book. I would not consider this book to be adequate on its own for teaching chemistry, not even at the fifth grade level. As a supplement, it is exceptional.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great chemistry supplement!, June 7, 2010

By 

H. Strawser "heidijo70" (PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Exploring the World of Chemistry: From Ancient Metals to High-Speed Computers (Paperback)

This book came to us at exactly the right time. My 16 year old daughter and I were plugging away at chemistry and wondering why in the world we were wasting our time! John Hudson Tiner's Exploring the World of Chemistry actually makes sense! Now, we not only know why people study chemistry, but we also understand how various things are made. We learned how chemistry ties in with a lot of the things that we are using in our day-to-day lives. And, guess what? We're pretty amazed by chemistry now!

If you're trudging along through chemistry with no end in sight, I'd highly recommend adding this book as a supplement to whatever chemistry curriculum you are using. It's very simple to read, there are black and white illustrations throughout, and each (short) chapter concludes with a question section (these work great for quizzes).

I will definitely consider adding more books in this series to our school shelves in the future.