An approachable introduction to what chemistry is, how it works and why it is vital to everyday life. Topics include: the periodic table, atom structure and radiation, and the scientific method, all illustrated with humorous illustrations and diagrams. With simple experiments to aid learning and internet links to recommended websites to find out more.

Chapters in this book include:
Introduction
- What's chemistry all about?
- How have chemists changed the world?

What's the world made of?
- What's an atom?
- What's what?
- Getting in a state
- Molecules in the air
- Knowing your properties
- Sorting out substances

How does it all work?
- What's inside an atom?
- The Periodic Table
- How do shells work?
- Sticking together?
- Nuclear reactions
- A brief history of atoms

Lets make things happen!
- Reactions: the basics
- Ready, steady, react!
- Writing down reactions
- Weird and wonderful reactions
- All kinds of reactions

How is chemistry useful?
- Carbon chemistry
- All about metals
- Using gases
- What about non metals?
- Chemical Curiosities
- How to tell what's what

Our chemical Universe
- Where did the elements come from?
- Rocks are chemicals too
- What's up in the air?
- Living chemistry
- How does your body work?

More about chemistry
- Chemistry through the ages
- How does chemistry work?

Illustrated by: Adam Larkum