"Written by a seasoned teacher, speaker, and writer in the field of chemistry, this text provides a guidance on chemicals that make life possible and enrich the senses, as well as those that endanger it. It combines the science and history of certain molecules and deals with the chemistry of each substance in an interesting and easily understandable manner. Topics covered include substances found in air and water, food, hydrocarbons, acids and alkalis, natural killers, unnatural killers, destructive molecules, pleasure molecules, natural healers, man-made healers, giant molecules, and vitamins"-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 211-243) and index.

Atmosphere and water -- Nitrogen (Dinitrogen, N₂) -- Oxygen (Dioxygen, O₂) -- Ozone (Trioxygen, O₃) -- Carbon Dioxide, CO₂ -- Noble Gases -- Water -- Deuterium Oxide (heavy water) -- Hydrogen peroxide -- Carbohydrates and artificial sweetners -- Introduction -- Trehalose -- Polysaccharides -- Hydrocarbons -- Acids and alkalis -- Acids -- Alkalis -- Steroids and sex -- Introduction -- Testosterone -- Man-made anabolic steroids -- Contraception -- Sex means more than steroids -- The senses -- Carotene and vision -- Taste -- Smell -- Chiral molecules and smell -- Pyrazines and smell -- Pheromones -- Human pheromones? -- Cosmetics and perfumes -- Shampoo -- Hair colouring and waving -- Nail varnish -- Face powder -- Lipstick -- Mascara and eye shadow -- Sunscreen and tanning -- Toothpaste -- Bad breath and mouthwash -- Body odours and deodorants -- Perfumes -- Rose -- Musks -- Nitromusks -- Polycyclic musks -- Macrocyclic musks -- Vanillin -- Aldehydes and 2-methylundecanal -- Natural killers -- Curare -- Frog venoms -- Tetrodotoxin -- Cone snail venoms (conotoxins) -- Spider venoms -- Scorpion venoms -- Snake venoms -- Strychnine -- Unnatural killers -- Dimethylmercury -- Tetraethyllead -- Nerve agents -- CS and mustard gas -- Mustard gas -- Thalidomide -- Explosives -- Detecting explosives -- Pleasure molecules -- Phenylethylamine -- Amphetamine -- Methamphetamine -- Ecstasy -- Ritalin (Methylphenidate) -- Caffeine -- Cocaine -- Designer drugs -- Ethanol -- LSD -- Nicotine -- Natural healers -- Galantamine -- Opium and morphine -- Heroin -- Penicillin -- Quinine and antimalarials -- Taxol (Paclitaxel) -- Tetracycline -- Vancomycin -- Vinca alkaloids -- Man-made healers -- Aspirin -- Ibuprofen -- Phenacetin -- Acetanilide -- Acetaminophen -- Acyclovir -- Beta-blockers and atenolol -- Azidothymidine -- Cisplatin and other platinum anticancer drugs -- Linezolid -- Antidepressants -- Antiulcer drugs -- Sulfanilamide and the sulfonamides -- Antiflu drugs -- Synthetic polymers -- Polythene (or Polyethylene) -- Polyvinyl chloride, poly(chloroethene) -- Tefitm, Poly(tetrafluoroethen) PTFE -- Polystyrene (Poly(phenylethene)) -- Poly(methyl cyanoacrylate) -- Poly(rnethyl methacrylate) (PMMA) -- Nylon -- Terylene -- Kevlar -- Polyurethane.