eShop USA > Books > The Joy of Chemistry: The Amazing Science of Familiar Things
The Joy of Chemistry: The Amazing Science of Familiar Things
List Price: $27.00Our Price: $17.82 You Save: $9.18 (34%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 540
EAN: 9781591022312
ISBN: 1591022312
Label: Prometheus Books
Manufacturer: Prometheus Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 393
Publication Date: 2005-02
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Studio: Prometheus Books
Related Items: Featured Listmania!
Editorial Review:
Discover the fun and fascination of chemistry through hands-on demonstrations For many, chemistry is perceived as a burdensome affair, weighed down with mathematics and restricted to well-guarded research facilities. While these facets of chemistry are certainly of paramount importance, laboratories and calculators do not necessarily convey the inherent beauty of chemistry or the excitement of chemistry at work.
This book challenges the perception of chemistry as too difficult to bother with and too clinical to be any fun. Cathy Cobb and Monty L. Fetterolf, both professional chemists and experienced educators, introduce readers to the magic, elegance, and, yes, joy of chemistry. From the fascination of fall foliage and fireworks, to the functioning of smoke detectors and computers, to the fundamentals of digestion (as when good pizza goes bad!), the authors illustrate the concepts of chemistry in terms of everyday experience, using familiar materials.
The authors begin with a bang—a colorful bottle rocket assembled from common objects you find in the garage—and then present the principles of chemistry using household chemicals and friendly, nontechnical language. They guide the reader through the basics of atomic structure, the nature of molecular bonds, and the vibrant universe of chemical reactions. Using analogy and example to illuminate essential concepts such as thermodynamics, photochemistry, electrochemistry, and chemical equilibrium, they explain the whys and wherefores of chemical reactions. Hands-on demonstrations, selected for their ease of execution and relevance, illustrate basic principles, and lively commentaries emphasize the fun and fascination of learning about chemistry.
This delightful and richly informative book amply proves that chemistry can appeal to our intuition, logic, and—if we're willing to get down and dirty—our sense of enjoyment too.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Not really a joy
I bought the book to find some interesting points in teaching kids chemistry in elementary school. Didn't really help me. Nothing new. I wouldn't really recommend it.
Rating: - Better living through chemistry
The big three sciences are biology, chemistry and physics, although an argument could be made that biology is merely a sophisticated type of chemistry and chemistry merely an extension of physics. All three are important, but when it comes to writing for the general reader, physics and biology seem to get the bigger slices of the publishing pie (especially when extending into subcategories like ecology or astronomy). The Joy of Chemistry, however, addresses this deficiency and offers a good introduction ... Read More
Rating:  - What a Joy!
While laced with humor, this is a very serious book, and truly a joy. What most surprised me is its willingness to tackle in some fashion all the deepest theoretical findings and issues. They may simplify, but are careful never to misstate. In comparing the dual nature of light, wave and particle, to a pet cat, both wild (when stalking birds) and domestic, the authors are less scientific than usual, but even this analogy contributes to understanding. Given my own confusion, I was glad to learn that "no ... Read More
Rating:  - A beginners chemistry book
Lots of explanations, and simple experiments for a basic chemistry primer.
Rating: - Great intro to Chemistry
I bought this book when my 12 year old said he wanted to learn chemistry. I started reading it to refresh my memory, and kept losing track of the book as my son kept stealing it! I have a liberal arts kind of mind, and was NOT looking forward to having to learn chemistry again to teach to my son. This book has changed my mind! I wish Cathy Cobb had been MY chemistry teacher, and I am looking forward to learning more.
Related Categories:
| |
 |
