Chemical technology has fostered the development of civilizations, altered the course of wars, generated the industrial revolution, and created the petroleum products and plastics that fuel the modern world. This history of chemistry from its most ancient beginnings celebrates theories and breakthroughs through the 20th century, and also looks at the alchemists, swindlers, monks, heretics, kitchen-table inventors and giants of the scientific world. An introduction for lay readers as well as professional chemists. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc. , Portland, Or.