CHEMISTRY CHAPTER ZERO

Why CHAPTER ZERO?

 

 

Because no textbook approved for use in the schools currently has a Chapter Zero. They all start with Chapter One. However, kids ought to have a chance to come to grips with a useful definition of an atom and experimental data for the reality of atoms BEFORE they start in on calculations and atomic structure, so the natural place to put such material is in Chapter Zero.

 

In pushing the Chapter Zero idea, I have accepted that it would be extremely difficult to change enough of the textbook world to get this material to displace the current Chapter One. Instead, I am speaking to the teachers of the world, who -- exercising what little control they still have in choosing how to get concepts into the minds of their students -- may choose to start with Chapter Zero.