Interactive Periodic Table

Overview:

The Periodic Table consists of chemical elements organized according to their atomic number, recurring chemical properties and electron configurations. Elements are presented in order of increasing atomic number, which is the number of protons in an atom's nucleus. This systematic layout groups elements into rows, known as periods, and columns, called groups or families. The rows on the periodic table correspond to the number of electron shells in the atoms of the elements. As you move from left to right across a period, each element has one more proton and is generally more electronegative. Columns, or groups, consist of elements with similar chemical behaviors because they have the same number of electrons in their outer shell. These outer or valence electrons play a crucial role in chemical reactions and bonding. Groups include the alkali metals (Group 1), which are highly reactive and have one valence electron, the alkaline earth metals (Group 2), which are also quite reactive and have two valence electrons; the halogens (Group 17), known for their reactivity and seven valence electrons, and the noble gases (Group 18), which are mostly inert due to having a full set of valence electrons. The periodic table also separates metals, nonmetals, and metalloids. Metals on the left and in the center are typically shiny, malleable, and good conductors of electricity and heat. Nonmetals on the right are more varied in appearance and generally poor conductors. Metalloids, which border the division between metals and nonmetals, exhibit mixed properties. Special sections of the periodic table include the lanthanides and actinides, two rows placed below the main body to keep the table compact. These elements, often referred to as rare earth elements and actinoids, respectively, have unique properties and significant applications, particularly in technology and industry. Overall, the periodic table is a powerful tool in chemistry, providing a framework for understanding elemental properties, predicting behaviors, and guiding scientific inquiry into the nature of matter.

Below is a interactive periodic table of elements, refer to provided key for explanation of each value in table and color coding used. Click on an element of interest to navigate to its atomic, chemical, electrical, mechanical, thermal properties: