Understanding the periodic table of chemical elements is critical for success in the chemistry classroom and laboratory. In today's classroom, students not only need to understand the properties of the chemical elements, but how these elements play such an integral role in industry, the earth and the environment, and in modern life. This book provides an ideal introduction, with extensive new and updated examples on the use of the chemical elements. The elements are examined within their groups, enabling students to make connections between elements of similar structure. In addition, the discovery and history of each element - from those known from ancient times to those created in the modern laboratory - is explained clearly and concisely. In addition to the handy "Guide to the Chemical Elements" that comprises the body of the work, the book includes the following useful features: introductory material on the basics of chemistry and the Periodic Table; appendices on the people who discovered the chemical elements; a glossary of words commonly used in chemistry and chemical engineering; and a complete bibliography of useful resources, including websites.