This new edition of the fundamentals textbook for science students maintains the conversational writing style of the previous editions, while including up-to-date treatments of important and current topics. Emphasis is put on descriptive chemistry - chemical reactions and properties - while maintaining a solid treatment of chemical principles. Common chemicals are used, whenever possible, as examples in both theoretical discussions and in problems and exercises. Many pedagogical aids are incorporated: each chapter begins with a brief table of contents, and each section begins with a preview of topics covered. Chapters include frequent margin comments, figures, and photographs.