Customer Reviews

A Guide to the Elements

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4 star:		(1)
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A Guide to the Elements by Albert Stwertka is an excellent source of information about the history, origin of name, and important/interesting uses of the elements up to atomic number 112. A chronology of the discovery of the elements and many contemporary as well as historical illustrations enhance the information in the text. Information about physical and chemical properties is not included. An excellent companion for the chemistry classroom is Exploring Chemical Elements and their Compounds by David L. Heiserman which has information about chemical and physical properties as well as abundance, allotropes, and isotopes.

I love chemistry and the elements, and this book didn't let me down. It is very interesting to ready and covers most areas about each of the compounds. It also lists the major uses and even some of the health problems associated with the elements. The pictures are also very good. The pictures represent the elements themselves or the uses of the elements. This helps a lot. There are only two small things I don't like about the book. First, it doesn't give much basic information. I would recommend "Exploring Chemical Elements and their Compounds" by David L. Heiserman. The two books together create a treasure trove of information. The other problem is just a small one. The author focues a lot on the uses in radioactive procedures. I guess that doesn't interest me too much. Otherwise this is a great book! I would suggest you get this book for personal use or even for schooling purposes.

There are at least 112 chemical elements, all of which but a few comprise the entire world as we know it. This book covers each element seperately, in order, from hydrogen to the various transuranium elemnts that only exist for mere seconds in laboratories. Each element's atomic weight, valence(s), and various uses are given. Also given is the human history of each element, including its discovery and the origin of its name.

I suspect that any reader, outside of a chemistry instructor, perhaps, will learn something from this endlessly fascinating, well- written and organized book. Many general principles of chemistry rub off as well, and for the student or interested layman, this is a highly useful, easily readable, and understandable book about chemistry. A true jewel, and I rate it highly.

For the armchair science enthusiast, we have an outstanding book explaining the elements of the periodic table, and their signifigance. Its one of those books, when opened at random, provides fascinating reading wherever you start. In this fine book, learn about the periodic table and its components, how they relate, and how they are utilized in modern technology and industry.

Lets be honest. For starters in chemistry, learning about all the elements and what they do in reactions can be overwhelming with all the pressure for doing well in school. What better way to learn about elements than a fun and leisurely reading. This book is packed with information about almost all of the elements, the more important elements obviously getting more extensive treatment. Reading this book before you take your school or college chemistry will be the most rewarding experience. Not only will it make you appreciate the nature of each element that exists in our universe but also make you sound like a genius when you and your friends are talking about even the most common elements such as oxygen or hydrogen. Oh, there are lots of cool photos and pictures too!

This book is a wonderful read for the renaissance man/woman who is interested in a diversity of topics. An easily digested book which entertains while educating. A highly recommended comprehensive (not burdensome) book. If you are into such matters David Hawkins 3 vol. set is your bed time companion (out of print?). But for my fulfillment this informative book is perfect. Controlled fusion, catalytic converters, lightning, diamonds, Yellowstone, bullets, moonrocks - - a beautiful world of elements surrounds us. Mr. Stwertka brings life to the Periodic table.

I think it's safe to assume that chemistry is a class that the vast majority of people dread taking. 7 years old or 100, it doesn't matter, this book is the perfect introduction. Do you think that chemistry is a world that someone like you could never understand? Think again, because by the time you're done with the short introduction to this book, you will understand chemistry. After the introduction, the rest of the book is setup in a very comfortable way with interesting stories and information about each individual element. I'd recommend reading on a couple of those elements in the book, and then getting another book, Chemistry for Dummies by John T. Moore. At which point read the Dummies book and the Stwertka book at the same time. Depending on how quickly you can pick it up, it might take you a year to finish them both or it may take only two months. Planning ahead and getting them both read before you even take your chemistry class would be the ideal situation, do that and it's 100% guaranteed that you will coast right through your HS Chemistry course and possibly through a couple college ones afterwards as well. I've looked through all of the chemistry books in Border's Books & Barnes n Noble, but everything seemed to be way too confusing for an introduction. Except for this book and the Dummies book, which are a Godsend for someone like me, to actually learn a subject that, if you ask me, many people seem not able or willing to teach very well.

I have now bought this book five times, because I keep giving them away.

If you want clear, interesting, and learned text, this is a perfect reference book. It also has simple but helpful pictures.

I think it's particularly good to have in classrooms, but it's also a fine book for your science enthusiast.

In terms of accessibility to children, your smart nephew or niece of 11 would probably do fine.

Bought this for my child and she could get some of the ideas at the young age of 4-5. OK, she couldn't read it at the time (a few years back) but if I asked for a sample of aluminum or calcium she knew which products to grab in the house linking the elements to the real world.

I'm not sure this is a kids book, I simply wanted to use it in this way - and it worked. For adults the book is a great source that connects elements and their applications so clearly to the world we walk in. Fantastic book for the curious mind wanting to develop a basic understanding of the elements.

This book is an excellent guide to all of the elements. What their applications are, how they are used, when they were discovered, etc. Those interested in learning more about the elements are sure find a lot of the information in this book fascinating. My only real complaint is that it lacks some of the basic information such as boiling points or atomic weights. However, I feel the information already contained in the book makes up for this.

The book is a little out of date today. There is no mention of the latest discovered artificial elements or how bismuth was recently discovered to be radioactive. But still, there is too much good information in this to pass it up.