Chemistry is a visual science. While one can describe the many physical and chemical changes that occur, words frequently fail to clearly describe to the listener exactly what the narrator has in mind. So the narrator, filled with clear visions of a reaction, describes to an audience, "Sodium reacts vigorously with water." The listener can only imagine what "reacts" and "vigorously" means. The chemical laboratory is a place in which one can SEE what wondrous colors and smells exist, and SEE what "reacts vigorously" means to each individual. This textbook has been designed to provide support for the laboratory manual, CH100 Laboratory Manual, published by Great River Learning. It contains information about the laboratory as well as additional material not contained in the laboratory manual. We hope that you find it helpful, useable, and easy to navigate.

Dr. Catherine H. Banks is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Peace College, Raleigh NC. She received a B.A. in Chemistry from Wittenberg University and a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. After a five year postdoctoral position at Texas A&M University synthesizing organoarsenical compounds, she taught at Texas State University-San Marcos. She then joined the faculty at Peace College where she teaches General and Organic Chemistry as well as Biochemistry. During this time she has been involved with Science House and taught Organic Chemistry at North Carolina University. She is also the science content advisor for Invention Education, a division of the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation. Her research interests are in chemical education, synthesis of organosulfur compounds, and water quality.