These textbooklike volumes cover advanced physical, organic, and geochemistry topics. Concepts range from standard molecular chemistry to applied chemistry, including such subtopics as the carbon cycle, global warming, rock formation, and industrial products. Numerous charts, photographs, diagrams, and sidebars (including real-world applications) help break up the dense texts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

LEW, Kristi . Acids and Bases . 124p. ISBN 978-0-7910-9783-0 . LC 2008024015. WEST, Krista . Carbon Chemistry . 117p. ISBN 978-0-7910-9708-3 . LC 2007051318. ea vol: (Essential Chemistry Series). charts. diags. illus. photos. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Chelsea House . 2009. RTE $35. Gr 8 Up In the first book, Cobb introduces students to the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the lithosphere, and the biosphere and then discusses how they interact with one another. Lew begins by introducing acids and bases and explains how their existence and reactions are critical to the operations of the Earth. Closing chapters highlight acids and bases in industry, in the human body, and in nature. West kicks off with an introduction to carbon chemistry, followed by a review of atoms and elements. Other subjects include carbon-compound chemistry, biomolecules, the carbon cycle, the atmosphere and climate, global warming, carbon producers, and carbon and energy. Annotated, colorful photographs and illustrations appear on most spreads, and boxed areas and sidebars highlight specific subjects and areas. The explanations are clear and detailed and offer informative introductions to the topics. These comprehensive titles will be useful additions to most libraries. Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA