See how chemistry works in everything from soaps to medicines to petroleum

We're all natural born chemists. Every time we cook, clean, take a shower, drive a car, use a solvent (such as nail polish remover), or perform any of the countless everyday activities that involve complex chemical reactions we're doing chemistry! So why do so many of us desperately resist learning chemistry when we're young?

Now there's a fun, easy way to learn basic chemistry. Whether you're studying chemistry in school and you're looking for a little help making sense of what's being taught in class, or you're just into learning new things,Chemistry For Dummies gets you rolling with all the basics of matter and energy, atoms and molecules, acids and bases, and much more!

Full of modern, relevant examples and updated to mirror current teaching methods and classroom protocols,Chemistry For Dummies puts you on the fast-track to mastering the basics of chemistry.

John T. Moore, EdD, is regents professor of Chemistry at Stephen F. Austin State University, where he is also the director of the Teaching Excellence Center. He is the coauthor ofBiochemistry For Dummies andOrganic Chemistry II For Dummies.

Part I: The Basic Concepts of Chemistry.

Chapter 1: What Is Chemistry, and Why Do I Need to Know Some?.

Chapter 2: Contemplating Chemical Calculations.

Chapter 3: Matter and Energy.

Chapter 4: Something Smaller Than an Atom? Atomic Structure.

Chapter 5: The Periodic Table (But No Chairs).

Chapter 6: Balloons, Tires, and Scuba Tanks: The Wonderful World of Gases.

Part II: A Cornucopia of Chemical Concepts.

Chapter 7: Chemical Cooking: Chemical Reactions.

Chapter 8: The Mole: Can You Dig It?

Chapter 9: Mixing Matter Up: Solutions.

Chapter 10: Thermochemistry: Hot Stuff.

Chapter 11: Sour and Bitter: Acids and Bases.

Part III: Blessed Be the Bonds That Tie.

Chapter 12: Where Did I Put That Electron? Quantum Theory.

Chapter 13: Opposites Do Attract: Ionic Bonding.

Chapter 14: Sharing Nicely: Covalent Bonding.

Chapter 15: What Do Molecules Really Look Like? Molecular Geometry and Hybridization.

Chapter 16: Tackling Periodic Trends.

Chapter 17: Examining the Link between Intermolecular Forces and Condensed States.

Part IV: Environmental Chemistry: Benefits and Problems.

Chapter 18: Cough! Cough! Hack! Hack! Air Pollution.

Chapter 19: Examining the Ins and Outs of Water Pollution.

Chapter 20: Nuclear Chemistry: Itll Blow Your Mind.

Part V: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 21: Ten Serendipitous Discoveries in Chemistry.

Chapter 22: Ten (Or So) Great Chemistry Nerds.

Chapter 23: Ten Terrifi c Tips for Passing Chem I.

Chapter 24: The Top Ten Industrial Chemicals.

Glossary.

Index.