Still remember your first time to come in contact with Chemistry? In my memory, it started with the image of an atom, H2O – the chemical formula of water and the most remarkable – the Periodic Table. How amazing and puzzling to find that all the blocks required to build up the entire universe is shown in ONE table – the Periodic table containing 118 elements. From simple molecules, air we breathe mainly consists of oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2); to inorganic compounds, salt we eat which is mostly sodium chloride (NaCl); and to complex organic organism, the human body which is made up of oxygen (O), carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P), all the elements are listed in the Periodic Table.

The author, Tom Jackson is a journalist and a non-fiction writer for over 20 years. He has written over 100 books related to science especially on children scientific books. In this book, it begins to introduce the idea of an atom and tell how the information of elements are presented on the periodic table. Elements in the periodic table are arranged in an order that help you understand the properties and features of each element and their relationship with each other.

Apart from scientific information on physical and chemical properties, the involvement of each element in our history and daily life is illustrated in the later part of the book. Have you thought of the element, silicon (Si) which is used in pottery and porcelain in early times, is also the ingredient for making cement of your wall and semiconductor for your computer? Or fluorine in your toothpaste (fluoride compounds) is also contained in Teflon (non-stick) pans for cooking?