As the central science that bridges biology and physics, chemistry explains the diversity of all things tangible at a molecular level. Chemistry is the science of matter – its composition, structure, properties, and how it changes. Understand chemistry, and you'll know why some things oxidize and others explode; why food is good to eat and coal is not. Understand chemistry and know what reasonable expectations you can have of a product, and how to separate fact from fiction. Chemistry is the heart of cooking, it can keep you safe, and it explains why things work. 30-Second Chemistry brings the subject out of the lab and boils it down to its essential elements – in just 30 seconds.