Chemistry Essentials for Dummies

Chemistry Essentials for Dummies

Chapter 1. Matter and Energy: Exploring the Stuff of Chemistry

Knowing the States of Matter and Their Changes

Pure Substances and Mixtures

Measuring Matter

Nice Properties You've Got There

Energy Types

Temperature and Heat


Chapter 2. What's In an Atom?

Subatomic Particles

Centering on the Nucleus

Locating Those Electrons

Isotopes and Ions


Chapter 3. The Periodic Table

Repeating Patterns: The Modern Periodic Table

Arranging Elements in the Periodic Table


Chapter 4. Nuclear Chemistry

Seeing How the Atom's Put Together

Dealing With a Nuclear Breakup: Balancing Reactions

Understanding Types of Natural Radioactive Decay

Half-Lives and Radioactive Dating

Breaking Elements Apart with Nuclear Fission

Coming Together with Nuclear Fusion


Chapter 5. Ionic Bonding

Forming Ions: Making Satisfying Electron Trades

Creating Ionic Compounds

Bonding Clues: Electrolytes and Nonelectrolytes


Chapter 6. Covalent Bonding

Covalent Bond Basics

Naming Covalent Compounds Made of Two Elements

Writing Covalent Compound Formulas

Electronegativities: Which Atoms Have More Pull?


Chapter 7. Chemical Reactions

Reactants and Products: Reading Chemical Equations

Collision Theory: How Reactions Occur

Types of Reactions

Balancing Chemical Equations

Knowing Chemical Equilibrium Backwards and Forwards

Le Chatelier's Principle: Getting More (or Less) Product

Chemical Kinetics: Changing Reaction Speeds

Seeing How Catalysts Speed Up Reactions


Chapter 8. Electrochemistry: Using Electrons

Transferring Electrons with Redox Reactions

Balancing Redox Equations

Exploring Electrochemical Cells


Chapter 9. Measuring Substances with the Mole

Counting by Weighing

Moles: Putting Aoogadro's Number to Good Use

Chemical Reactions and Motes


Chapter 10. A Salute to Solutions

Mixing Things Up with Solutes, Solvents, and Solutions

Understanding Solution Concentration Units

Chapter 11. Acids and Bases

Observing Properties of Acids and Bases

The Bronsted-Lowry Acid-Base Theory

Understanding Strong and Weak Acids and Bases

Acid-Base Reactions: Using the Bronsted-Lowry System

Showing True Colors with Acid-Base Indicators

Phun with the pH Scale


Chapter 12. Clearing the Air on Gases

The Kinetic Molecular Theory: Assuming Things about Gases

Relating Physical Properties with Gas Laws


Chapter 13. Ten Serendipitous Discoveries in Chemistry