The first entry in the publisher's new four-volume "Basics of the Hard Sciences" series, this book covers material that might be taught in a high-school or college general chemistry course. While the first chapters are explicitly historical, the remaining ones also parallel the historical progress of the science, introducing concepts in order of their discovery or development. The penultimate chapter presents 22 simple chemical activities and may be of use to instructors as classroom demonstrations. Although described in the preface as a general reference book, this work is more akin to a traditional textbook in general tone, scope, and arrangement, though it lacks end-of-the-chapter exercises. Unlike most reference books, material is not presented in discrete articles, there are no cross references, and a single selected bibliography is appended. Other appendixes include a glossary, a brief timeline, and a list of chemistry Nobel laureates. Separate subject and author (more accurately, "personal name") indexes are provided. Recommended as a basic overview for public, school, or undergraduate libraries, but not for reference collections. [The other volumes in the series will cover earth science, biology, and physics.-Ed.]-Wade M. Lee, Univ. of Toledo Libs., OH Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.