Chemists in Action

The “Scientists in Action” series examines the work done by scientists in particular fields of study. Even within a specific field, there are several offshoots. Each title shows readers some of the history behind the science as well as how scientists are working towards a better future through the development of materials and equipment that could provide more information or improve the quality of human life.

Averaging 13 chapters each, the titles feature scientists at work, tools of the trade, recent discoveries, global collaborations and sharing of information, peer reviews of theories, and scientific practices. All of the books have instructions for an experiment related to the topic, but some of the experiments require days or weeks of observation and note-taking, and it is unlikely that most readers will persevere unless they are really keen. Text boxes provide additional information, while mini-biographies highlight the work done by scientists in the field. (One example is Olivia Harper Wilkins, an astrochemist, who has identified more than 200 different molecules in the interstellar medium, the space between galaxies. Her research has led to evidence that life might be possible in other parts of the solar system.)

There is a balanced representation of both genders in the mini-bios as well as in the photographs that appear throughout the series. The text varies in its complexity, making it easier to comprehend in some of the titles compared to others, largely due to the technical aspect of the topic. Among the eight titles in the series, there is quite a bit of repetition, especially as it pertains to steps in the inquiry process and to peer review and the sharing of information among scientists. Illustrations consist of diagrams and both black and white and colour photographs. Though all of them are labelled, some of the descriptions require more detail, and a couple of the illustrations are too complicated for the target age group. For example, in the title about food scientists, there is a diagram showing the molecular structure of Vitamin C. Unless readers are familiar with molecular structure, this diagram will be of no use. A table of contents, a glossary, an index, and a list of books, websites and places to visit for further study are included.

Chemistry, the science of matter and its properties, can be divided into different types: organic, biochemistry, inorganic and physical. Chemists in Action explains that chemists can create new medicines, help with forensic investigations, invent new materials (one example is Kevlar), or work in the fields of energy production, food preservation and pollution control. Sometimes, seemingly good inventions turn out not to be as beneficial as originally thought, one instance being chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which helped air conditioners to cool and made aerosol tins functional. It was discovered that CFCs released into the environment were destroying the ozone layer, and, as a result, they have been banned worldwide. This is an important lesson to share with readers- that scientists occasionally have to go back to the drawing board when results of their work are not as expected. In this title, there is also information about the tools of the trade, such as spectrometers, electron microscopes and centrifuges, though the explanations are not thorough. The experiment involves boiling red cabbage to make an indicator in order to test soil samples to see whether they are acidic or basic. It is doubtful that many readers will try it.

Generally, “Scientists in Action” series provides a fairly good introduction to the various types of scientists, but there is a lot of repetition among the books’ texts, and some of the experiments are questionable.