Understanding the Elements of the Periodic Table

Written for the middle school reader, this engaging and accessible book explores the useful compounds made with chlorine (table salt, for example), and how it is used as a bleaching agent, in food preparation, and in water purification. Readers may be surprised to discover that chlorine is a necessary component of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), one of the most versatile forms of plastic used in construction today. Full-color photos of lab experiments illustrate the unique properties of potassium, and diagrams and illustrations of atomic structures elucidate the text.