The 100 Most Important Chemical Compounds: A Reference Guide

In public, school, and academic libraries, there is a need for clearly written, not-too-technical information about chemicals. This source “discusses the chemistry, history, and uses of significant compounds that have affected humans throughout history.” The 100 chemical compounds were chosen because of their importance to society, health, and industry. Water is included but also methane, acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), and dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12). Entries include chemical name, structural formula, CAS number, molecular formula, molar mass, composition, melting point, boiling point, and density. The text describes the origin of the compound’s name, history, discovery, and uses in modern society. Cross-references are included. The reading level is appropriate for high-school chemistry students, undergraduates, or general adult readers. A glossary, bibliography, and index can be found at the end of the book. The same technical data, such as melting point or CAS number, are available for 677 chemicals from the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. However, the text in The 100 Most Important Chemical Compounds adds another dimension to information about chemicals. This title will be useful for chemistry reference collections in both large and small libraries. --Jack O'Gorman