21st Century Chemistry

by Kimberley Waldron

Overview

Designed for chemistry and society classes, author Kimberley Waldron blends the central ideas of chemistry into stories that are relevant and familiar to non-science majors—from evaluating nutrition labels to understanding global warming and climate change. Award-winning journalist Michelle Nijhuis argues that the best science writers “put new results in context, synthesizing and analyzing what came before, what might come next, and why you should care.” Waldron does just this—by weaving the chemistry in the context of riveting stories, she masterfully captures the attention of her readers to help them gain a deep and lasting scientific literacy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781936221394
Publisher:	MacMillan Higher Education
Publication date:	08/28/2014
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	464
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.80(h) x 0.80(d)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Story of Chemistry: The Scientific Method:  Think, Measure, Rethink

Chapter 2: Atoms: All About atoms and What’s Inside Them

Chapter 3: Everything: The Ways We Organize and Classify Matter

Chapter 4: Bonds: An Introduction to the Forces within Substances

Chapter 5: Carbon: Elemental Carbon, Organic Molecules, and Carbon Footprints

Chapter 6: Air: A Study of the Gases in Our Atmosphere

Chapter 7: Chemical Reactions: How We Keep Track of Chemical Changes

Chapter 8: Water: Why Water Is Critical for Human Beings and for the Planet 

Chapter 9: Salts and Aqueous Solutions: The Nature of Salts and How They Interact with Water

Chapter 10: pH and Acid Rain: Acid Rain and Our Environment

Chapter 11: Nukes: The Fundamentals of Nuclear Chemistry

Chapter 12: Energy, Power, and Climate Change: New Ways to Generate Power and Store Energy

Chapter 13: Sustainability and Recycling: Finding Better Ways to Use (and Reuse) Our Resources

Chapter 14: Food: The Biochemistry of the Foods We Eat

Appendix A: Working with Measured Numbers: Significant Figures

Appendix B: Answers to Odd-Numbered End-of-Chapter Questions

Editorial Reviews

I can’t wait to teach from Waldron’s text! My students and I have long enjoyed her engaging writing style. She explains difficult topics with such ease and clarity. Equally important, she complements her prose with strategically placed questions that allow students to assess their comprehension and conceptual understanding. All in all, 21st Century Chemistry is an excellent learning and teaching tool. The best of its kind.” —Barbara Zazzi, University of Hawaii/Hawaii Community College

“Waldron’s book is perfect for students who want to learn the science behind how the world works but are unfamiliar with chemistry. She writes in a manner accessible to everyone and, most importantly, illustrates the chemistry concepts in the context of “real-world” stories. Students can really see why these concepts matter.” —Christopher Nichols, California State University, Chico

“Designed specifically for the non-science major, Waldron uses examples from the media— as well as lesser-known facts—to introduce chemical principles in a way that is thorough yet accessible. The chapters build on one another so that instructors can pick and choose based on their own areas of expertise. The natureboxes, Green Beats, and environmental chapters are especially timely and will appeal to today’s students.” —Amber M. Hupp, College of the Holy Cross

“21st Century Chemistry is engaging and easy-to-understand. By giving students a basic understanding of the science in the news today, Waldron equips students to make informed personal and societal choices, as well as helps them navigate the media’s presentation of data. A great book for beginning scientists or non-science majors.” —Tamara D. Hamilton, Barry University

“21st Century Chemistry exposes students to current issues with a focus on using critical thinking skills and applying the scientific method. Topics range from the simple structure of atoms and the importance of water, to the more complex environmental issues and biochemistry of foods. Each topic is relevant, interesting, and clearly presented. The variety of topics also allows instructors the flexibility to adapt their course for students with varying levels of science background.” —Mary Bethé Neely, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

"Kimberley Waldron has explained chemical principles in a clear and conversational tone, making the subject accessible by linking concepts to their modern applications and by clearly presenting solutions to example problems." —Eric Ball, Metropolitan State University of Denver

From the Publisher