This book, one in a range of concise subject A‐Z guides, is an alphabetically arranged textbook intended to be used as a study support aid by UK students working towards their AS and A levels. The main text is, as expected, an alphabetical listing of chemistry topics, each of which is given on average one or two paragraphs of detail. While this naturally truncates the depth of coverage to a degree, Hunt’s dynamic but concise style quickly made this reviewer wish he had possessed the text during his own studies. The book is clear, readable, and extremely accessible to anyone with at least a GCSE level understanding of the chemistry. Considerable thought has also gone into the page layout, which helps ensure readability. Throughout can be found splendid chemical structure and formulae diagrams, as well as numerous illustrations illuminating tricky concepts and processes.
Topics are widely cross‐referenced making comprehension of each extremely simple. Following linked concepts in this way it is possible to swiftly learn how subjects interrelate. While there is no index list, there is a thematic listing included in the revision topics at the end of the book. All of these contribute in making the book a joy to navigate. An appendix details the major topics that comprise courses for all UK examination boards, as well as for the International Baccalaureate. Beyond these revision listings there is a splendid final section explaining terms used in questions set by the various examiners. The intention is that these will be an aid in the comprehension of set questions, so as to allow students to more precisely respond, and hopefully phrase their answers more successfully. Hunt also directs readers to a companion workbook, by himself, containing exercises intended to enhance the learning goals of this book. It should be noted that while Hunt standardises on UK spellings in most areas (e.g. caesium, aluminium), this is not so for sulfur and related compounds. This is a minor concern, and does not detract from the content accuracy of the whole book.
While this text alone is not sufficiently detailed to guide a student through their A‐level studies, as a supplement to set course books and as a revision aid it is excellent. The low price ensures that it should prove an essential purchase for any chemistry student or reference library. The clarity is such that it would aid any undergraduate student with limited chemistry experience in their comprehension of the subject.
