While the title of this book brings to mind one of those pointless lists of the year programmes that seem to dominate the satellite television schedules, this text is neither as frivolous nor readily disposable. An initial perusal might make one suspect that it was a chemistry textbook, but it is more from the realm of applied science and social history. The intention of the work is to provide a resource for social or chemistry historians, or those developing their knowledge of applied chemistry of the place, purpose, discovery and utilisation of the most key compounds employed today.
Those compounds selected for the essay treatment in this book are chemicals that have the most practical usage in the world around us today. Doubtless some may question the inclusion, or exclusion, of certain compounds; but in this reviewer's opinion those selected do represent a significant portion of the most important ones. However, this book makes no claim to be the definitive listing of world's most important chemicals in this respect.
Following the preface an extensive introduction takes readers through the basic chemical principles and notation that they will need to comprehend the book. Not that the entries for each chemical are unreadable, but a greater value will be obtained through initially consulting this section. Indeed, the short guide to functional group notation, naming conventions, understanding structural formulae and the like would make useful revision aid for any secondary or tertiary level student of science. Individual entries for compounds are mostly between three to five pages in length, listed alphabetically from Acetic Acid to Xylene. Each essay opens with the specific chemical information and physical properties, along with structural diagrams of the major isomers. The text then details the historical discovery, isolation and synthesis of the product along with key chemical processes.
The work concludes with a series of brief appendices covering further nomenclature standards and chemical formulae, a glossary of terms, selected bibliography and subject index. All function suitably well, providing further assistance to the reader. Diagrams are limited to structural or skeletal formula for the most part, annotated with short data tables. Other than this there is a single photographic reproduction to be found in the introduction. All images are clear and sharply printed and add to the comprehension of the text.
The intended audience is that of school or university level individuals with a need to understand chemistry from a non‐specialist level. This text meets that need well. Doubtless it would also be of interest to science undergraduates in disciplines allied to chemistry or chemical engineering seeking an accessible, not‐too technical, work. However, this reviewer does question whether a social historian would be able to make extensive use of it without at least an understanding of chemistry to a secondary educational level. For individuals the purchase price may be a little steep, but if acquired by a university or school library this volume would make a valuable reference addition to the general science stock.
