As you work your way through Book 9
which looks at the chemistry
of the main group elements,
the first thing
that probably strikes you
is the large volume of information.
And, yes, the chemistry
of the elements is a vast subject.
But the task is made easier
because we know there are trends and
relationships between the elements,
across periods and down groups.
In other words,
we can make connections
between the different elements
and their chemical properties
and even predict the behaviour
of others as a consequence.
The sequences that follow
show you some of the chemistry
covered in Book 9.
Hopefully, as well as illustrating
some of the chemistry
you've read about,
you'll see that many
of the properties of the elements
can be very visual,
colourful and even spectacular.
For example, here we mix
silver nitrate with magnesium.
A drop of water
and...
