Element Abundances and Galactic Chemical Evolution

Recent developments in the study of element abundances and their impact on our understanding of the evolution of stars and the chemical evolution of the Galaxy are described. In particular, problems that may beneet, or beneet from, work on binary stellar populations are highlighted. These include: diierent mixing processes in globular cluster and eld stars, evidenced by Li and nuclei in the NeNa-and MgAl-cycles. the range of carbon overabundances in metal-poor stars, accompanied by a range of sand r-process element abundances. the timescale for the evolution of SN Ia progenitors is poorly known. the production of nitrogen is very poorly understood. the nucleosynthesis of many iron-peak elements are poorly understood.