Tro N.J. Chemistry in Focus. A Molecular View of Our World

3rd edition. — Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2009. — 642 p. — ISBN13: 978-0-495-60547-8Nivaldo J. Tro with special contributions by Don Neu.
According to the authors; “The first goal is essential. Students should leave this course understanding that the world is composed of atoms and molecules and that everyday processes— water boiling, pencils writing, soap cleaning—are caused by atoms and molecules. After taking this course, a student should look at water droplets, salt crystals, and even the paper and ink of their texts in a different way. They should know, for example, that beneath the surface of a water droplet or a grain of salt lie profound reasons for each of their properties. From the opening example to the closing chapter, this text maintains this theme through a consistent focus on explaining the macroscopic world in terms of the molecular world.Each chapter opens with a brief paragraph introducing the chapter’s main topics and explaining to students why these topics are relevant to their lives. These openers pose questions to help students understand the importance of the topics. For example, the opening paragraphs to Chapter 1 state, “As you read these pages, think about the scientific method—its inception just a few hundred years ago has changed human civilization. What are some of those changes? How has the scientific method directly impacted the way you and I live?” The opening paragraphs of each chapter are followed by Questions for Thought directly related to chapter content. These questions are answered in the main body of each chapter; presenting them early provides a context for the chapter material.”