Mostpeoplerememberchemistryfromtheirschooldaysaslargelyincomprehensible,asubjectthatwasfact-richbutunderstanding-poor,smelly,andsofarremovedfromtherealworldofeventsandpleasuresthatthereseemedlittlepoint,exceptforthemostintroverted,incomingtotermswithitsgrubbyconcepts,spells,recipes,andrules.PeterAtkinswantstochangeallthat.InthisVeryShortIntroductiontoChemistry,heencouragesustolookatchemistryanew,throughachemist’seyes,inordertounderstanditscentralconceptsandtoseehowitcontributesnotonlytowardsourmaterialcomfort,butalsotohumanculture.Atkinsshowshowchemistryprovidestheinfrastructureofourworld,throughthechemicalindustry,thefuelsofheating,powergeneration,andtransport,aswellasthefabricsofourclothingandfurnishings.Byconsideringtheremarkableachievementsthatchemistryhasmade,andexaminingitsplacebetweenbothphysicsandbiology,Atkinspresentsafascinating,clear,andrigorousexplorationoftheworldofchemistry-itsstructure,coreconcepts,andexcitingcontributionstonewcutting-edgetechnologies.ABOUTTHESERIES:TheVeryShortIntroductionsseriesfromOxfordUniversityPresscontainshundredsoftitlesinalmosteverysubjectarea.Thesepocket-sizedbooksaretheperfectwaytogetaheadinanewsubjectquickly.Ourexpertauthorscombinefacts,analysis,perspective,newideas,andenthusiasmtomakeinterestingandchallengingtopicshighlyreadable.
