Sodium and the Alkali Metals

Children's Literature

This entry in "The Periodic Table" series uses compelling color photos, informative captions, and forthright explanation to differentiate this element and its group from other elements. The series explores the characteristics, properties, uses, relevant historical or economical information, and common isotopes of the element. Along with sodium, lithium, potassium rubidium, cesium, and francium are presented with the more commonly found first two getting about half of the discussion space. Each volume begins with a helpful overview of the reason for grouping of elements, what traits the group shares, what each of the elements in this group looks like, where it's found, and what its main uses are. The following discussions are readable, interesting, and worthy of school reports. The discussion of Lithium, for instance, includes its role in scrubbing recycled air, batteries, and making glass. Back matter includes tables with more information, such as melting and boiling points, natural state (solid, gas, liquid), chemical compounds and their formulas, a glossary, timeline of discovery and key uses, references including websites (with a valuable site for clip art for those reports), and an index. This series is informative enough to be used in introductory high school chemistry classes, while it is readable and approachable as a general resource for middle-schoolers interested in learning more about an element. 2003, Heinemann, Ages 13 to 16.
—Susan Hepler, Ph.D.