Chemistry: Investigate the Matter that Makes Up Your World

Gr 6–9—This title introduces readers to the wonders of chemistry and its far-reaching effects on our lives, from the carbonation in soda to nuclear reactions. A time line at the beginning of the book highlights scientific discoveries from the introduction of the idea of matter in the form of particles by Democritus in 460 BCE to the discovery of a new element in 2010. Each chapter explains an aspect of chemistry such as atoms, states of matter, compounds, and reactions. An "Inquire and Investigate" section in each chapter offers problems to solve and experiments to try. QR codes placed throughout lead to primary sources on the Internet. Those with a science bent will find the information easily accessible and concise, while those with little interest will be drawn to the colorful graphic illustrations and highlighted sidebars. The experiments provided will inspire and encourage further discovery of the world of science.