A matter–of–fact guide to mastering the basics of chemistryNow there's a fun, easy way to master the basics of chemistry. If you're confounded by compounds and want a little help making sense of what's being taught in your chemistry course, Chemistry For Dummies gets you rolling with all the basics of matter and energy, atoms and molecules, acids and bases, and much more! Chemistry 101 — get an easy–to–follow intro on the foundations of chemistry, understand where it fits in among the other sciences, and grasp the chemical world around you First there was Atom — delve into the microscopic world of atoms and get the lowdown on how they consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons It's a gas — discover the wonderful world of gases and comprehend Boyle's law, Charles's law, Gay–Lussac's law, the combined gas law, and more Get a reaction — find out everything you need to know about chemical reactions, from the many types you may encounter to the skills you need to balance them The bonds that tie — follow a plain–English explanation of quantum theory and eye an explanation on ionic bonding (and their real–life applications)Open the book and find: Helpful tips for solving problems in high school and college chemistry How to use the periodic table like a pro Guidance on using the mole method Calculations you need to know Environmental pollutants, and what chemistry can do to fix them Basics of thermochemistry Lots of illustrations and figures How chemistry works in everything from soaps to medicine to petroleumLearn to: Grasp basic chemistry principles Make sense of matter and energy, atoms and molecules, and acids and bases Tackle problems you may face in your Chem I course