"The elements in the periodic table are the ingredients that make up our world. Explore elements such as carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, and learn why they are essential to our survival. See how precious gold protects astronauts in space, and why the metal mercury can be both a solid and a liquid. Find out about man-made elements, which the smartest chemists are busy figuring out how to use. Learn about scores of other elements, including silver, the...

"Newly updated throughout, and now covering 118 elements, this crystal-clear guide to the periodic table illuminates the basic concepts of chemistry as it traces the history and development of our knowledge of the material world. Albert Stwertka makes complex ideas and terms easily understandable, drawing upon engaging historical anecdotes and everyday examples to clarify the text. Since the second edition, many new elements have been discovered,...

"In chemistry, compounds are made whenever two or more different elements come together. You use compounds every day, probably without realizing it. If you're baking a cake, you're using compounds. If you're swimming, you're using compounds. When you breathe, you're actually making compounds, because you inhale oxygen, and exhale carbon dioxide. What other compounds are there? In this book, elementary readers will explore all four kinds of compounds...

"From the table to the lab to our bodies, this interesting and informative book introduces young readers to the element sodium. Easy-to-understand explanations, colorful illustrations, and examples children can relate to make this a fun way to learn about one of Earth's most abundant elements. Historical information gives the subject context, while discussions of the common uses of sodium, such as in soap making and food preservation, keep it relevant."--...

"Hydrogen is the most widespread element and one of the building blocks of life. First appearing when the Big Bang created the universe, hydrogen is now part of human technologies that could change the future. People have used liquid hydrogen to send astronauts into space and hydrogen gas to drive families to the store. In this informative text, we'll explore the first element in the periodic table, looking at its properties and finding its hiding...

"Oxygen is essential to life on Earth, but what is this tasteless, colorless, element? From how oxygen was discovered to how it supports life, this book answers all your questions about element we all depend on. Readers will learn about atoms, molecules, and how oxygen fits in the Periodic Table. Discussions of photosynthesis, combustion, and oxygen compounds explore the role of oxygen in our world. Interesting and accessible explanations of chemistry...

"When you think of nickel, a 5-cent coin probably comes to mind. But nickel is used for so much more than manufacturing coins. Nickel and nickel-containing alloys are very important in our society. Nickel is used in the construction, transportation, power, high-tech and many other industries. This book tells the fascinating story of how nickel was discovered, how ore containing nickel is mined and extracted, the properties that make nickel so useful,...

"A book of fun chemistry experiments has fallen into the wrong hands. Only Mel can use her knowledge of the periodic table to put an end to a maniacal madman's evil schemes. The periodic table helps us quickly understand the 118 elements, those tiny substances that make up everything in the world. By using the periodic table, we can recognize how these building blocks behave, find trends and patterns in the universe, and make predictions about elements...

Describes the properties and functions of the various groups of chemical elements.