Introduction

How does a hybrid vehicle work? Could a voyage to Mars become a reality in the near future? How does our body function? How do medicines cure illnesses? How do we get energy from the food we eat? Do we really face climate change? What transformations does food undergo during cooking? How does bleach clean and disinfect our kitchen surfaces? What happens to my body when I exercise? These are among the myriad of questions that we might ask ourselves in our everyday lives. To answer these questions, we naturally turn to science, where chemistry stands as a fundamental cornerstone.  Chemistry has not only facilitated our exploration and discovery of answers to questions such as these, but it also propels the relentless pursuit of knowledge, which in turn enables us to gain a better understanding of the world we live in.

Learning chemistry will enrich your life by having a deeper comprehension of the scientific and technological questions that now confront us. This book covers a comprehensive exploration of fundamental chemical concepts that will help you develop a more profound understanding of how chemistry shapes our everyday experiences: atomic theory and structure, electron configuration, the periodic table of elements, chemical nomenclature, chemical bonding, the mole concept, stoichiometry, acids and bases, gases, and electrochemistry.

It is a known fact that we live in a chemical world – a world of fuels, fertilizers, drugs, cosmetics, plastics, metals, even toxic wastes, polluted air and water, and other dangerous toxins. Knowledge of chemistry will help you become well informed of the benefits and hazards of this world and will enable you to make intelligent decisions in the future. As such, we should not fear chemicals – we should learn about them!