Preface

When I wrote the preface for the previous edition of this book, I considered the challenges of preparing students in a rapidly changing, technology-driven time in our history. A few years later, the challenges remain the same -- How do we inspire and instruct students about the basic facts of chemistry, while taking advantage of all that technology has to offer? The answer is clear -- we use many tools, and extract the best that each tool can offer. Technology can push learners to visualize chemistry and explore ideas in an interactive environment. But before that exploration, students need to build a foundation, a framework for ideas. The textbook is still the best tool for students to use as they learn new concepts in chemistry.

The strength of the seventh edition is the integration of many tools that truly are designed to inspire both students and instructors. The textbook is the foundation for the technology. The technology, most totally new for the seventh edition, takes students beyond the confines of the traditional textbook. I hope that the revisions to the seventh edition textbook and technology answer many of your challenges as you teach general chemistry.