Chemistry 101: The Periodic Table

The Periodic Table

Chemistry 101: 8th Grade Science

 

The Periodic Table of Elements is an extremely useful tool when studying chemistry. The periodic table is an organization of all elements based on different chemical properties in the form of a table. The horizontal rows, also known as periods, order the elements by increasing atomic number from left to right. The vertical columns are also referred to as groups.

 

Each element has its own box on the periodic table which reveals some very important information. First, each element is written in shorthand notation. This is usually a one or two letter symbol with that contains a capitalized first letter and a lower case second letter. Every element differs from all others according to how many protons it contains. This value is also referred to as the atomic number. (The number of protons is equal to the number of electrons, thus if we are given either the number of protons or electrons of any given element, we can find the atomic number and identify it) The atomic number of an element usually appears as a small above the element symbol. As stated above, the elements are organized into periods of increasing atomic number from left to right.  

 

There is also a small number printed below the element symbol, which signifies the atomic mass of that specific element. The atomic mass is the weighted average mass of an element’s atoms. Lastly, the periodic table can also show what sub group a certain element is in. Usually these subgroups are colored differently. The main subgroups include: Main group elements, transition metal elements, and inner transition metal elements.