There have been some extraordinary developments in chemistry during the 20th century. Cutting Edge Chemistry explains some of these advances and describes some that are likely to happen in the future. These include the many remarkable discoveries made in the life sciences, and the wide variety of technological applications of chemistry - liquid crystals, batteries, catalysts and exciting new electronic materials. This book also deals with the practical aspects of chemistry - for example, methods of making and analysing molecules, ways of calculating their properties and studying how and why chemical reactions occur. Developed from the highly successful Age of the Molecule and illustrated in full colour throughout, Cutting Edge Chemistry has been written by a group of leading young chemists in industry and universities. It is aimed at post-16 chemistry students and shows how the principles of chemistry learned in post-16 courses still apply in the most advanced research. Each chapter includes questions which it is hoped will both test students' understanding of the subject and provoke debate.