One way to understand the world is by looking at its most basic building blocks. All the substances in the world are made up of atoms, which interact with each other by exchanging or sharing electrons. All atoms can be organized into the periodic table of elements, which groups atoms by their chemical properties. Deep within the atom lies the nucleus, which itself contains the elementary particles called quarks. By building powerful particle accelerators and enormous detectors, physicists are able to probe the most fundamental constituents of matter.

Filled with full-color photographs and illustrations and bolstered by its readable text and helpful references, The Nature of Matter, Third Edition is a compelling guide that identifies the essential qualities and characteristics by which matter is recognized.