This carefully prepared, reader-friendly reference is appropriate primarily for students in junior high or high school, but it may appeal as well to college students or curious general readers. Covering the first 100 elements as well as the transfermium elements (101-112), accessibly written text is supported by extensive cross references, sidebars offering supplemental information, and photos and illustrations, most in color, of pertinent products and places. Each element is presented with an overview and then more specific discussion of its discovery and naming, physical and chemical properties, occurrence in nature, isotopes, extraction, uses, compounds, and health effects. Arrangement is alphabetical, and the presentation is in three volumes, each with about 150 pages devoted to identical front & end matter (e.g. tables of contents, introductory essay, chronology, glossary, bibliography, index). Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)