In our previous topic (Matter and Measurement), we began our look at matter at a large, macroscopic scale by classifying it into heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures, compounds, and elements. In this topic, we will quickly drill down to look at matter on a very tiny scale, essentially beginning our study of chemistry. Before doing that, we will look briefly at how chemists arrived at the way we look at matter on this very tiny scale, because looking at that provides an excellent example on the differences and relationship between laws and theories discussed in our last chapter.
