Grade 5-8-These attractive and readable series entries present the basics on their respective subjects. Each volume includes sections on the element's atomic structure; where and how it occurs in nature; its reactions, isotopes, and compounds; its uses and practical applications; and information on the phenomena in which it plays a part. For example, Calcium covers building materials and the element's role in the body while Hydrogen has sections on power and water. Each volume also includes the periodic table. Numerous sidebars give facts and trivia about the elements, scientists, and related historical events (e.g., the Hindenburg disaster). Good, clear diagrams help explain the concepts covered in the texts, and full-color and black-and-white illustrations are generally interesting and informative.
