Famous for its history of numerous element discoverers, Sweden is the origin of this comprehensive encyclopedia of the elements. It provides both an important database for professionals as well as detailed reading ranging from historical facts, discoverers' portraits, colour plates of mineral types, natural occurrences, and industrial figures to winning and refining processes, biological roles and applications in modern chemistry, engineering and industry. Elemental data is presented in fact tables which include numerous physical and thermodynamic properties, isotope lists, radiation absorption characteristics, NMR parameters, and others. Further pertinent data is supplied in additional tables throughout the text. Published in Swedish in three volumes from 1998 to 2000, the contents have been revised and expanded by the author for this English edition. "The publication of per Enghag's book Encyclopedia of the Elements is a project that the Swedish National Committee has decided to support because the book and its message is important for teachers and pupils in senior high schools and also for students and scientists at the universities." "Apart from its considerable scientific and technical value to researchers and professionals in industry, the book is a well-written encyclopedia about the elements, their occurrence and use by mankind. The book is an exciting and also humorous general view of the element discoveries. It lets us meet the discoverers to see how they worked, thought and believed." "History of science deals with people and how they act towards scientific facts. One cannot enough emphasize the importance of this type of history to create interest for andunderstanding of scientific models and ideas. This book is a good example." Bengt Norden, Chairman of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences