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The Periodic Table is a simple list of all of the elements. The elements are arranged by their atomic number. The information given for each element includes the atomic number, symbol, name and mass number. The vertical columns of the table are called groups and the horizontal rows are called periods.
The Periodic Table works by setting out elements in a way that highlights their similarities. Elements in the same group (column) have similar properties. The properties change gradually along periods (rows) in the table. You will see that the elements on the left are metals and the elements on the right are non-metals, but these groupings are rather large. Therefore, the metals are divided up into three groups – alkali metals such as magnesium; the transition metals such as iron; and the inner transition metals such as uranium. As you work your way across the periods, the atomic number increases. Also, you will find that at the start of a period elements have one electron in their outer shell but by the end they have eight!
The video below gives a detailed explanation of the Periodic Table and how it works.
Understanding the terms used in the Periodic Table.
The following keywords are described with an ‘EASY’ and a ‘MORE DETAILED’ definition.
Element
EASY – Whether something is living, like a person, or not living, like a rock, it’s made of elements. An element is a pure substance. Meaning, that it contains only one type of atom and cannot be broken down. Copper, gold, lead and silver are examples of elements.
MORE DETAILED – An element is a type of matter composed of atoms that all have exactly the same positive charge on their nuclei. In other words, all atoms of an element have the same atomic number. Scientists have identified 92 elements that occur natrally. The heaviest element is uranium. Two elements are liquid at room temperature – bromine and mercury. Every other element is either a gas or a solid. Substances in which elements combine are called compounds.
Atom
EASY – Atoms are the basis of chemistry. They are the basis for everything in the Universe. You should start by remembering that matter is composed of atoms. There are three basic parts of an atom, electrons, protons and neutrons. The thing that makes each element different is the number of electrons, protons and neutrons it has. The protons and neutrons are always in the center of the atom. Scientists call the center of the atom the nucleus. The electrons are always found whizzing around the center in areas called orbitals.
MORE DETAILED – The atom is a basic unit of matter that consists of a dense central nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. The atomic nucleus contains a mix of positively charged protons and electrically neutral neutrons (except in the case of hydrogen-1, which is the only stable nuclide with no neutrons). The electrons of an atom are bound to the nucleus by the electromagnetic force. Likewise, a group of atoms can remain bound to each other, forming a molecule. An atom containing an equal number of protons and electrons is electrically neutral, otherwise it has a positive charge if there are fewer electrons (electron deficiency) or negative charge if there are more electrons (electron excess). A positively or negatively charged atom is known as an ion. An atom is classified according to the number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus: the number of protons determines the chemical element and the number of neutrons determines the isotope of the element.
Atomic Number
EASY – Atomic Number is the term used to describe the number of protons and/or neutrons found in the nucleus of an atom.
MORE DETAILED – The atomic number is equal to the number of protons in an atom’s nucleus. The atomic number determines which element an atom is. For example, any atom that contains exactly 47 protons in its nucleus is an atom of silver. See the diagram below
*The atomic number must not to be confused with the mass number which describes the total number of protons and neutrons when added together.*
The Periodic Table is useful to Scientists as it gives them details about the properties of an element, even before they do experiments, by looking at its position in the Periodic Table. They can decide whether it will be a metal or non-metal and judge how well it may be able to conduct electricity and predict how it will react with other elements.
