Though the world is varied and complex, everything in it is made up of only a limited number of chemical elements. They range from hydrogen, the lightest element, to uranium, the heaviest, while only 91 of which are found naturally on Earth.

Each element has its unique property and is determined by its number of protons, neutrons, and electrons. They not only give the properties of a pure chemical element, but also determine how each element behaves in a chemical reaction.

This book is perfectly a clear guide devoted to making information about elements easily available and understandable. It is a succinct compendium to all chemical elements. It begins with an introductory section that explains some of the basic concepts of chemistry and traced the history and development of the periodic table of elements. In clear, not-so-technical language, using historical anecdotes and everyday examples, the author makes complex ideas regarding element amusing and well-understandable. Each element is discussed in a separate article accompanied by photographs-many in full colour-of practical applications of the element.

Take Carbon as an example, the book introduces this element in around eight pages, giving the readers a comprehensive framework about the different forms of Carbon, like graphite, diamond and fullerene, as well as in molecular form of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The history of its discovery and reasons behind its special chemical and physical properties are also discussed.  Well, I enjoyed reading pages introducing those artificially created elements most. I have long been wondering how they could be created, in what way, and what the theories behind are. The creations of new elements are no less very meaningful as elements are the foundations of our livelihood, should new ones be formed and utilized, a whole new world may come. Perhaps, those scenes in movies may come true one day, I mean, maybe we can make objects disappear in thin air by altering the constituent elements!

I guess I have gone too far but to make these dreams come true, no doubt we have to start with this book. Only when we have a full picture with the existing elements, can we go further. Grand dreams aside, to tackle with examinations, students would find this book useful as this is truly an excellent look-it-up resource! Give it a try.