John Evans holds a BSc (Imperial College) and PhD (University of Cambridge) in Chemistry. Following further periods of research at Princeton University and Cambridge he moved to the University of Southampton in 1976 as a Royal Society Pickering Research Fellow. He became Professor of Inorganic Chemistry in 1990. There he has served as Head of Teaching, Head of Department and Dean of Science. He was also Science Program Advisor at the Diamond Light Source

• 1 Planet Earth 1.1: Planetary resources 1.2: Differential pressure on land, freshwater and oceans 1.3: Effects of CO2 increases 1.4: Solar energy supply 1.5: Solar radiation spectrum 1.6: Absorption of the energy emission from Earth 1.7: Radiative Forcing 1.8: Atmospheric lifetime 1.9: Global Warming Potential 1.10: The energy balance 1.11: A sustainable approach 1.12: Questions Palette of the Elements 2.1: Natural abundance of the elements 2.2: Mineral availability 2.3: Element Transmutation 2.4: Element supply 2.5: Elemental Properties 2.6: Element extraction: solubility 2.7: Oxidation State Stability 2.8: Terms and States 2.9: Embodied energy, carbon and water 2.10: Questions Earth: Minerals to Materials 3.1: s elements 3.2: p-elements 3.3: d-elements 3.4: f -elements 3.5: Structural Materials 3.6: Questions Air 4.1: The volatile elements 4.2: Atmospheric components 4.3: Atmospheric solution: wind turbines 4.4: Question Fire 5.1: Petrochemicals from carbon oxides 5.2: Polymers 5.3: Chemicals from biomass alternatives 5.4: Solar energy conversion 5.5: Nuclear energy conversion 5.6: Hydrogen as a fuel 5.7: Batteries and supercapacitors 5.8: Questions Water 6.1: Properties of water 6.2: Distribution of water 6.3: Distribution of elements in water 6.4: Water in processing 6.5: Desalination of water 6.6: Seawater as a source of elements 6.7: Water remediation from heavy metals and organics 6.8: Other organic contaminants of water 6.9: Questions Prospects for Planet Earth 7.1: Chapter 1: Planet Earth 7.2: Chapters 2 and 3: Palette of the Elements and Earth 7.3: Chapter 4: Air 7.4: Chapter 5: Fire 7.5: Chapter 6: Water 7.6: Questions Study Guide Overview Chapter 1: Planet Earth Chapter 2: Palette of the Elements Chapter 3: Earth Chapter 4: Air Chapter 5: Fire Chapter 6: Water Chapter 7: Prospects