This book (Part 1) examines the establishment of the primordial earth especially the atmosphere and crust. My conclusions differ somewhat from the starting point used in the Urey-Miller experiments and assumptions about abiogenesis that follow. I present what I think are the important reactions leading up to the establishment of rudimentary cells. In subsequent discussions (Part 2) I hope to cover the RNA world, transition to DNA, and evolution up to photosynthesis.