Includes bibliographical references and index.

The age of the earth-- an age-old question -- Atoms old and new -- The banker who lost his head -- From particles to molecules, with a note on homoeopathy -- The discovery of the noble gases-- what's so new about neon? -- Science, war, and morality; the tragedy of Fritz Haber -- The ozone hole story-- a mystery with three suspects -- Rain gauge, thermometer, calendar, warning -- Making metal -- In praise of uncertainty -- Everything is fuzzy -- Why things have shapes -- Why grass is green, or why our blood is red -- Why water is weird -- The sun, the earth, the greenhouse -- In the beginning.

"The book begins with the age of the earth, and concludes with the life cycle of stars. In between, there are atoms old and new, the ozone hole mystery and how it was solved, synthetic fertilisers and explosives, reading the climate record, the extraction of metals, the wetness of water, and how the greenhouse effect on climate really works. A chapter in praise of uncertainty leads on to the fuzziness and sharing of electrons, and from there to molecular shape, grass-green and blood-red, the wetness of water, and molecular recognition as the basis of life. Organised in such a way as to illustrate and develop underlying principles and approaches, this book will appeal to anyone interested in chemistry, as well as its history and key personalities. Where many other titles have failed, this book succeeds brilliantly in capturing the spirit and essence of chemistry and delivering the science in easily digestible terms."--