The Puzzle -- The First Chemists? -- Earth, Air, Fire, Water -- The Alchemists -- "This Spirit, Hitherto Unknown" -- The Atomists Return -- The Strange Tale of Phlogiston, the Element That Wasn't -- Mr. Priestly Clears Things Up -- Mr. Cavendish and Inflammable Air -- Chemistry's French Revolution -- A Revolution in Names -- "Nature Never Creates Other Than Balance in Hand" -- Mr. Dalton and His Atoms -- The Shocking Mr. Davy -- Guy-Lussac and Avogadro to the Rescue -- Things Fall into Place: Triads and Octaves -- The Mystery Solved -- The Mystery Continues -- Elements Listed by Date of Discovery.

Author Benjamin Wiker leads the reader on a delightful and absorbing journey through the ages, on the trail of the elements of the Periodic Table as we know them today. He introduces the young reader to people like Von Helmont, Boyle, Stahl, Priestly, Cavendish, Lavoisier, and many others, all incredibly diverse in personality and approach, who have laid the groundwork for a search that is still unfolding to this day. The first part of Wiker's witty and solidly instructive presentation is most suitable to middle school age, while the later chapters are designed for ages 12-13 and up, with a final chapter somewhat more advanced.