Chemistry: a Very Short Introduction

Most people remember chemistry from their schooldays as largely incomprehensible a subject that was fact-rich but understanding-poor smelly and so far removed from the real world of events and pleasures that there seemed little point except for the most introverted in coming to terms with its grubby concepts spells recipes and rules. Peter Atkins wants to change all that. In this Very Short Introduction to Chemistry he encourages us to look at chemistry anew through a chemist's eyes in order to understand its central concepts and to see how it contributes not only towards our material comfort but also to human culture. Atkins shows how chemistry provides the infrastructure of our world through the chemical industry the fuels of heating power generation and transport as well as the fabrics of our clothing and furnishings. By considering the remarkable achievements that chemistry has made and examining its place between both physics and biology Atkins presents a fascinating clear and rigorous exploration of the world of chemistry - its structure core concepts and exciting contributions to new cutting-edge technologies. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

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• ISBN Chemistry: A Very Short Introduction 128 pages English