In 1869, Dmitri Mendeleev presented the world with the Periodic Table. It contained 63 elements, many more than the four--earth, water, fire, and air--established in the ancient world, but less than half the total in our modern table. Mendeleev believed there were many elements still to come. He was right. With over 300 illustrations, this essential guide to the Periodic Table, tracks the history of a powerful yet elegant tool that lays bare the building...