Teachers and Students Nationwide Receive the Merck Index During National Chemistry Week

Teachers and Students Nationwide Receive the Merck Index During National
Chemistry Week

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- High school chemistry teachers
and students nationwide are receiving copies of The Merck Index this week,
through a partnership between the American Chemical Society and Merck & Co,
Inc., for the Society's National Chemistry Week celebration, Oct. 18-24.

More than 12,000 copies of The Merck Index, published and donated by Merck,
are being distributed to teachers and students by local sections of the
American Chemical Society. The Merck Index is an internationally recognized
handbook of chemical, pharmaceutical and biomedical information. It contains
essential data on more than 18,000 compounds we know as drugs, fragrances,
cosmetics, food supplements, pesticides and standard laboratory reagents.

Madeleine Jacobs, ACS Executive Director and CEO, said "This book has been on
the scientists' bestseller list for decades, and is very important for anyone
studying chemistry or anyone who simply wants to know more about the millions
of compounds that make up our world. We're delighted to make it the
cornerstone of this year's National Chemistry Week celebration."

"Science education is key to the future of our country," said Maryadele
O'Neil, Editor, The Merck Index. "The Merck Index continues to be a premier
reference book used by generations of educators and students for authoritative
information on thousands of compounds used in scientific research. The book
features the periodic table of the elements which is an important component in
learning how chemical compounds are formed. Understanding these principles
will help us find solutions to the global challenges of clean water, safe
food, energy, national security and sustainability."

The theme of National Chemistry Week is "Chemistry -- It's Elemental" in
celebration of the 140th anniversary of the periodic table of the elements.
For more information, visit www.acs.org/ncw.

SOURCE American Chemical Society

Charmayne Marsh of American Chemical Society, +1-202-872-4445,
c_marsh@acs.org