Dedicated to all the people who need to learn more about atoms and the periodic table!

A 'period' is a row on the periodic table. There are 7 periods in total, with each one beginning at the far left. Elements in the same period have the same number of energy shells

The vertical columns on the periodic table are called 'groups' or 'families' because of their similar chemical behavior. Elements in the same group have the same number of valence electrons, and hence, the same levels of reactivity. There are 18 groups on the periodic table.

PERIODS AND FAMILIES

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Protons are a stable subatomic particle with a positive charge. They are found in an atom's nucleus. The atomic number, or the number of protons in an atom, defines the element of the atom. In other words, protons indicate what the kind of atom an atom is! In the periodic table, elements are listed in order of increasing atomic number. So the placement of elements in the periodic table depends on an atom's proton count!

THE ROLE OF PROTONS IN THE PLACEMENT OF ELEMENTS

The image shows how elements are arranged according to atomic number.

Image from teachersprintables.net

Metals, non-metals, metalloids

Metals are the elements that readily form positive ions and has metallic bonds. They are opaque, lustrous, and are good conductors of heat and electricity. Most metals are malleable and ductile. Metals are found to the left of the "stair-step" line of the metalloids in the periodic table.

A metalloid is an element that has properties that are intermediate between those of metals and non-metals. They are semiconductors, not very ductile, and not very malleable. They are a "stair-step" line starting from Boron all the way down to Astatine.

Non-metals are the elements that cannot conduct heat and electricity, and are brittle. They have little or no metallic luster. They have high ionization energies and have the ability to gain electrons easily. They are found to the right of the "stair-step" metalloid line on the periodic table.

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Valence electrons are the outer-shell electrons in an atom. Valence electrons determine the reactivity of the atom and also the tendency to form chemical bonds. (The closer the electron shells are to being empty or full, the more reactive the element is. Like for examples, alkali metals and the halogens are very reactive because alkali metals have one valence electrons and halogens have 7 valence electrons).  Valence electrons also give insight into an atom's chemical properties. Valence electrons also help to determine where the elements should be placed in the periodic table. As aforementioned, elements in the same group share the same amount of valence electrons. Hence, the role of valence electrons in periodic table placement is that elements with the same amount of valence electrons will be placed in the same groups.

VALENCE ELECTRONS

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Now introducing...

the periodic table families!

(Alkali Metals, Alkaline Earth Metals, Transition Metals, Boron Family, Carbon Family, Nitrogen Family, Oxygen Family, Halogens, and Noble Gases)

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ALKALI METALS

Group one one the periodic table is the alkali metals. Alkali Metals are very reactive and can react with oxygen and water vapor in the air. They have high thermal and electrical conductivity. They all have one valence electron. They are shiny, silvery, and soft. They have low melting and boiling points. The Alkali Metals bond well with all elements except the noble gases. The alkali metals are Lithium (Li), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Rubidium (Rb), Caesum (Cs), and Francium (Fr). Sodium is used for table salt, Lithium is used for batteries, and Cesium is used for Atomic clocks.

Digital  bohr model from https://www.thoughtco.com/atoms-diagrams-electron-configurations-elements-4064658? Table salt image from healthyeating.sfgate.com

ALKALINE EARTH METALS

Group 2 of the periodic table are the Alkaline Earth Metals. They are shiny, silvery-white, and somewhat reactive metals at standard temperature and pressure. They readily lose their 2 valence electrons to form cations with a 2+ charge. They have low densities, melting points, and boiling points. The Alkaline Earth Metals are Beryllium (Be), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Strontium (Sr), Barium (Ba), and Radium (Ra). Calcium is in bones and shells and Beryllium is in emeralds.

Digital bohr model from https://www.thoughtco.com/atoms-diagrams-electron-configurations-elements-4064658? Skeleton image from verywellhealth.com

TRANSITION METALS

Transition metals are located in groups 3-12 on the periodic table. They are good conductors of heat and electricity, and are also malleable and ductile. They are usually hard and tough. They have high densities. They don't react quickly with water or oxygen, which explains why they resist corrosion. Most transition metals have two valence electrons. There are 38 transition metals in total, but the most known are Iron (Fe), Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), and Nickel (Ni). Gold and silver are both used for jewelry, silverware, and medals. Iron is used to make machines and vehicles.

Digital bohr model from https://www.thoughtco.com/atoms-diagrams-electron-configurations-elements-4064658? Silver spoon image from goldenflamingo.us

BORON FAMILY

The boron group are the chemical elements in group 13 of the periodic table. Elements in the boron family have 3 valence electrons. Boron is the lightest of the group and is a metalloid. Aluminium, gallium, indium, and thallum are silvery white metals. Boron is a bad conductor, but this changes its temperature rises. The boron family has 6 elements which are Boron (B), Aluminium (Al), Gallium (Ga), Indium (In), Thallium (Tl), and Nihonium (Nh). Boron is used as a rocket fuel igniter and in pyrotechnic flares. Aluminium is used for CDs, cars, refrigerators, electric power lines, medicine, computers, aircrafts, and kitchenware.