<select name="element">
<?php

    try
    {
        /*** query the database ***/
        $result = DB::getInstance()->query("SELECT atomicnumber, english FROM elements");

        /*** loop over the results ***/
        foreach($result as $row)
        {
            /*** create the options ***/
            echo '<option value="'.$row['atomicnumber'].'"';
            if($row['atomicnumber']==42)
            {
                echo ' selected';
            }
            echo '>'. $row['english'] . '</option>'."\n";
        }
    }
    catch(PDOException $e)
    {
        echo 'No Results';
    }
?>
</select>