Archie Collins introduces chemistry, first by examining the marvels of air and water, and then revealing the many exciting processes and products discovered by humankind. Written with genuine affection for the subject, the scope of this book gradually expands to encompass the major industries and roles chemistry and chemical processes carry. We learn the basics of combustion, acids, metals and plant life. Gradually, a picture is assembled, demonstrating how chemical processes are crucial to everyday living and human civilization - simply put, from the earliest makings of fire to the most advanced chemical reactions of modern times, human progress has been wedded to advances and discoveries in chemistry. The crops we grow and foods we eat, the clothes we wear and dye, the energy powering our society - all are born of chemical reactions and knowledge. Perhaps uniquely for an educational textbook, Archie Collins demonstrates the importance and scope of chemistry by framing it in a story of human endeavor.