When physics is presented not as applied mathematics but as the study of the fundamental rules of nature, it becomes quite relevant to everyday life-while serv­ing as a building block to the more complex sciences of chemistry and biology. Physics deals with such basic topics as motion, energy, electricity and magnetism, light, sound, and nuclear processes all providing a necessary foundation from which a student can reach for his or her personal stars. Built upon the concepts of physics, chemistry is the study of how atoms combine to form new materials. Chemistry is a science with a very practical outlook. By under­standing and controlling the behavior of atoms, chemists have been able to produce a broad range of new and useful materials-alloys, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, polymers, computer chips, recombinant DNA, and more. These materials have raised our standards of living to unprecedented levels. Learning chemistry, therefore, is worthwhile simply because of the impact this field has on society. Understanding chemistry also empowers us to protect the natural environment.