中文简介：

发现并理解支撑化学核心科学的关键思想，并了解揭开这些思想的伟大人物。本书通俗易懂，对科学中一些最具历史意义的时刻进行了简短精辟的解释，从原子理论的诞生到聚乙烯的发现，再到对抗COVID-19的新疫苗技术的开发。利用简单图形支持文本，如流程图和思维导图，让关键概念更易于理解。该书按时间顺序排列，涵盖了物理和自然科学的关键主题，如地球化学和元素。在每一章中，都有一系列文章追溯科学思想的历史，介绍影响该主题的科学家，如约翰·道尔顿、玛丽·居里、德米特里·门捷列夫、凯瑟琳·朗斯代尔和斯蒂芬妮·库尔勒克。一路走来，本书探讨了科学中一些最基本的问题，如宇宙是由什么构成的，物质是如何产生的，以及使生命成为可能的化学键是什么？无论你是化学新手，还是科学专业生，或者只是想跟上并了解最新的新闻和科学辩论，这本书都适合你。

英文简介：

Discover and understand the key ideas that underpin the core science of chemistry and learn about the great minds who uncovered themWritten in plain English, The Chemistry Book is packed with short, pithy explanations of some of the most historic moments in science, from the birth of atomic theory to the discovery of polyethylene and the development of new vaccine technologies to combat COVID-19. Simple graphics, such as flowcharts and mind maps, support the text and make the explanation of key concepts easy to follow.Arranged in chronological order, the book covers key themes in the physical and natural sciences, such as geochemistry and the elements. Within each chapter, a series of articles traces the history of scientific thought and introduces the work of the scientists who have shaped the subject such as John Dalton, Marie Curie, Dmitri Mendeleev, Kathleen Lonsdale, and Stephanie Kwolek. Along the way, the book addresses some of the most fundamental questions in science, such as what is the universe made of, how is matter created, and what are the chemical bonds that make life possible?Whether you are new to chemistry, a student of the sciences, or just want to keep up with and understand the latest news and scientific debates, The Chemistry Book is for you.