Fireworks light up the summer night sky with their colorful displays, forensic experts use DNA to help solve crimes, and deep-sea creatures illuminate the depths of the ocean in search of their next meal. All these things happen because of chemical reactions, but what exactly is a chemical reaction? Filled with intriguing full-color photographs, insightful sidebars, and other essential features, this insightful new book helps students fully understand how chemical reactions happen - covering atomic structure, chemical bonding, reaction rates, and more.