William L. Masterton received his PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1953. Two years later he began to work at the University of Connecticut, where he taught general chemistry and a graduate course in chemical thermodynamics. He has received numerous teaching awards, including an award from the Student Senate at the University of Connecticut, of which he was most proud. Dr. Masterton is co-author of the all-time best-selling general chemistry textbook CHEMICAL PRINCIPLES, which has sold well over 1.5 million copies. Dr. Masterton's field of research, solution thermodynamics, prepared him well for making maple syrup each March at the family farmhouse in New… Hampshire.