Reference Reviews

Reference for Students

Chemical Compounds. Edited by Neil Schlager, Jayne Weisblatt, and David E. Newton. Detroit, Mich.: Thomson Gale, 2006. 3 vols. 888 p. $165.00. ISBN 1-4144-0150-7.

Chemistry teachers and students who need to find out the two or more elements joined by chemical bond into compounds will find descriptions of 180 here. Each compound has an inset box of key facts: compound’s other names, its chemical formula, the compound type, its state, molecular weight, melting point, freezing point, and its solubility. The overview provides the pronunciation of its name, and most have a brief history of the compound. How it is made is described, and its common users and potential hazards are outlined. A color diagram shows the atoms making up the compound. Articles have two inset boxes, one of interesting facts and another of words to know. Articles end with a brief bibliography and “See Also” references. Because these are very attractive and “friendly” for students, you may need to chain them to the shelves to keep them in the library. One solution might be to have the chemistry teachers buy copies for their classrooms. These books are also available as e-books.