'Just as the value of reading becomes clear to a child after hearing a good story, so the value of chemistry becomes clear to students when they see how it can help them understand the world around them. Chemistry: The Science in Context tells a story, beginning with the creation of the universe and proceeding through the "evolution of matter," from the formation of subatomic particles, to atomic structure, to the formation of natural and synthetic polymers. Throughout, the chemistry skills, concepts, and facts standard to the general chemistry course are introduced, but within the context of broader scientific questions and societal applications. Once students grasp the relevance of chemistry to their other science courses and to their own lives, their understanding of chemistry improves. Chemistry is truly the central science—let your students discover it with Chemistry: The Science in Context.'

Gilbert (chemistry, Northeastern University) introduces chemical principles in the context of issues from the physical and social sciences in this text for science, pre-med, and engineering majors. The evolution of matter is an overarching theme, and connections to other sciences, such as biology, physics, and environmental science, are interwoven throughout. A spirit of inquiry is emphasized to move students from rote memorization to conceptual understanding. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

'The Second Edition of Chemistry provides an effective and easy-to-remember problem-solving strategy while placing the science in biological, cosmological, geological, and environmental context. An extensive teaching and learning package reinforces the book's emphasis on developing good problem-solving skills, from the SmartWork online tutorial and homework system to the animated and interactive ChemTours.
'

' Geoffrey Davies has BSc, PhD, and DSc degrees in chemistry from Birmingham University, England. He joined the faculty at Northeastern University in 1971 after postdoctoral research on the kinetics of very rapid reactions at Brandeis University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the University of Kent at Canterbury. He is now a Matthews Distinguished University Professor at Northeastern. His research group has explored experimental and theoretical redox chemistry, alternative fuels, transmetalation reactions, tunable metal-zeolite catalysts and, most recently, the chemistry of humic substances, the essential brown animal and plant metabolites in sediments, soils, and water. He edits a column on experiential and study-abroad education in the Journal of Chemical Education and a book series on humic substances. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and was awarded Northeastern's Excellence in Teaching Award in 1981, 1993, and 1999 and its first Lifetime Achievement in Teaching Award in 2004. Natalie Foster is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. She received a BS in Chemistry from Muhlenberg College and MS, DA, and PhD degrees from Lehigh University. Her research interests include studying poly(vinyl alcohol) gels by NMR as part of a larger interest in porphyrins and phthalocyanines as candidate contrast enhancement agents for MRI. She teaches the introductory chemistry class every fall to engineering, biology, and other non-chemistry majors. Natalie also regularly teaches a spectral analysis course at the graduate level. Thomas R. Gilbert has a BS in chemistry from Clarkson and a PhD in analytical chemistry from MIT. After 10 years with the Research Department of the New England Aquarium in Boston, he joined the faculty of Northeastern University, where he is currently associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology and associate dean of the Graduate School of Education. His research interests are in chemical and science education. He teaches general chemistry and science education courses and conducts professional development workshops for K'"12 teachers. He has won Northeastern's Excellence in Teaching Award and Outstanding Teacher of First-Year Engineering Students Award. Rein V. Kirss received both a BS in chemistry and a BA in history as well as an M.A. in chemistry from SUNY Buffalo. He received his PhD in inorganic chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where the seeds for this textbook were undoubtedly planted. After 2 years of postdoctoral study at the University of Rochester, he spent a year at Advanced Technology Materials, Inc., before returning to academics at Northeastern University in 1989. He is an associate professor of chemistry with an active research interest in organometallic chemistry.'