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Chemicals often have a negative Image among the general public. But there is no material world or indeed human beings without chemicals. The material world is operated by chemicals. The title 'Chemicals for Life and Living' implies that the material world is staged and played by chemicals. The book consists of five parts and an appendix. Part 1 - Essentials for life; Part 2 - Enhancing health; Part 3 - For the fun of life; Part 4 - Chemistry of the universe and earth, and Part 5 - Some negative effects of chemicals. The appendix gives a brief summary of what chemistry is all about, including a short chapter of chemical principles. No quantitative calculations are included in this book so that it is appealing for everyone - not just chemists.
List of contents
Ws preferableter.- Air.- Life itself (A): How can we get energy to live with?.- Life itself (B): Why are we like our parents?.- Clothing and Shelters - Polymer Material.- Mineral nutrition.- Stories of Drug Development.- Fireworks - A Carnival of Chemicals.- Light Sticks, Fireflies and Color TV.- Ceramics.- Diamond, Graphite, Bucky Ball and Nanotubes (Fun with Carbon).- Perfumes.- Chemistry of the Universe.- Chemistry of the Earth.- Environmental Issues - Inorganic Pollutants.- Environmental Issues - Organic Pollutants.- Use, Abuse and Misuse of Chemicals.- Domain of Chemistry.- Chemistry's View of the Material World.- Chemicals and Light.- Are Atoms and Molecules for Real? Can we see them?
About the author
Eiichiro Ochiai was born in Tokyo and earned his PhD from the University of Tokyo. He has taught and carried out research in chemistry at universities in Japan, Canada, the USA and Sweden. At the time his area of research, bioinorganic chemistry, was a new field and he has published several books.
Report
From the reviews:
"The information is presented as a collection of mostly unconnected essays, and the majority are very good. ... The eclectic collection of chemicals (many depicted with full stereochemistry) is accompanied by informative and colourful illustrations. Finally, the book concludes with a 60 page introduction to chemistry ... . the book does represent a brave and largely successful attempt to describe the importance of chemistry and chemicals." (John Mann, Chemistry World, December, 2011)
"This most welcome book, intended for general readers, investigates the chemistry behind many everyday processes in the marketplace, at home, etc., and such various substances as poisons and pharmaceuticals. ... The seven-part volume includes essays about remarkable chemicals and compounds that most people have heard of. ... Each chapter can be read independently, and an in-depth appendix, 'Essentials of Chemistry,' is incorporated as a resource for readers seeking further details. ... Summing Up: Recommended. Students of all levels and general audiences." (M. Rossi, Choice, Vol. 49 (8), April, 2012)
