Just as the value of reading becomes clear to a child after hearing a good story, so the value of chemistry becomes clear to students when they see how it can help them understand the world around them. Chemistry: The Science in Context tells a story, beginning with the creation of the universe and proceeding through the "evolution of matter, " from the formation of subatomic particles, to atomic structure, to the formation of natural and synthetic polymers. Throughout, the chemistry skills, concepts, and facts standard to the general chemistry course are introduced, but within the context of broader scientific questions and societal applications. Once students grasp the relevance of chemistry to their other science courses and to their own lives, their understanding of chemistry improves. Chemistry is truly the central sciencediscover it with Chemistry: The Science in Context.