ABSTRACT
Chemistry is the study of matter and change. In Chapter 1, readers are given a general sense of what the science of chemistry is and why it is important. As a human endeavor, a brief sketch of the history of chemistry is provided to illustrate its ramifications on diversity, equity, and belonging in the field today. This sketch is given to stress the importance of all people being provided a place and a voice in chemistry as a means of improving the safety and efficacy of chemistry itself. Given the vital importance of sustainability, its necessary role in chemistry and the importance of green chemistry are discussed. Readers are introduced to the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry. Finally, a general discussion of the principles of measurement and precision, scientific units and prefixes, and notes on clear scientific writing is provided to give a summary understanding of these foundational topics.
