The volume as a whole covers the subjects of alchemy, early chemistry, and chemical technology (which includes military invention, especially gunpowder; paper and printing; textiles; mining and metallurgy; the salt industry; and ceramics).

    This text presents a treatment of aromatic chemistry allowing for continuity in the coverage of the aromatic ring and aliphatic and aromatic amines; covers spectroscopy and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance; provides a review of basic chemistry and an organic reactivity review which covers acids and bases and coverage of DNA, catalytic antibodies and environmental issues.

    

    New to this updated edition: improved treatment of atomic orbitals and properties such as electronegativity, novel approaches to the depiction of ionic structures, nomenclature for transition metal compounds, quantitative approaches to acid-base chemistry, Wade's rules for boranes and carboranes, the chemistry of major new classes of substances including fullerenes and silenes plus a chapter on the inorganic solid state.