Preface / CHEMISTRY IN A CAPSULE - What is matter made of?; What are we made of?; Let us observe chemical changes; Let us prepare a few element gases; Atomic and molecular nature of substances; Laws of chemical combination; Man and metals; Classification of substances; Electrolysis; Carbon compounds; States of substances; Materials; Similar looks but different properties; Pure and impure; Explosions and fireworks; The food we eat; Our atmosphere; Water; Conclusions / ELEMENTS AND THE PERIODIC TABLE - Modern concept of elements; The modern atom; Arranging elements; The modern periodic table; Periodic table and properties of elements; Coming back to the story of elements; Conclusions / THE CHEMICAL BOND - How are chemical bonds formed? ; Ionic bond; Covalent bond; Bond distances and bond energies; Resonance; Coordinate bond; Metallic bond; Conclusions / STRUCTURE AND SHAPES OF MOLECULES - What are the factors that determine the shapes of simple molecules?; Hybridization; Shapes of simple molecules; Isomers; Some complex structures and shapes; The hydrogen bond; Molecules of life; Man-made polymers; Conclusions / CHEMICAL ENERGY - Energy changes in chemical reactions; Nature of energy; Heat of reactions; Energy storage; Energy from the sun; Future options; Conclusions / CHEMICAL REACTIONS - Which reactions occur?; Chemical equilibrium; Rates of reactions; Factor that affect reaction rates; How reactions occur; Some reactions; Redox reactions; Catalysis; Chemical synthesis; Supermolecular Chemistry; Conclusions / TWO CHEMISTS - Michael Faraday; Linus Pauling / Some Chemical Records / Index