Microbiology Demystified

Introduction xiii

Acknowledgments xix

CHAPTER 1 The World of the Microorganism 1

Types of Microorganisms 2

What Is a Microorganism? 4

What’s in a Name: Naming and Classifying 5

How Small Is a Microorganism? 7

Your Body Fights Back 7

History of the Microscope 9

How Do Organisms Appear? 10

Germ Theory 12

Vaccination 15

Killing the Microorganism 16

Quiz 19

CHAPTER 2 The Chemical Elements of Microorganisms 23

Everything Matters 24

Chemical Elements and the Atom 24

A Dinner Table of Elements:

The Periodic Table 27

The Glowing Tale of Isotopes 27

Around They Go: Electronic Configuration 29

Before James There Was Bond...

Chemical Bond 29

Decoding Chemical Shorthand 31

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CONTENTS

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