Periodic Table

The Periodic Table, otherwise known as the periodic table of elements, is a display of all chemical elements in a tabular form, which is arranged by the atomic number, electron configuration, and recurrent chemical properties.

Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids

Metals are an element, which when polished, shine and have a lustrous appearance. Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity, are generally malleable and ductile, are usually found as solids and are on the left side in the table.

Nonmetals are typically almost complete opposite of a metal. They are not good conductors, are brittle and dull, and are found in all 3 states. These are found on the right side of the periodic table.

Metalloids are basically a mixture of both. It has the chemical properties of both. They are semiconductors, and are sort of malleable and ductile. Metalloids are located on the staircase that separate metals and nonmetals.

Groups/Family

Groups/Families of a periodic table are the columns of the periodic table, meaning the vertical lines, going up and down. The determining factor of which element is in which group is the number of valence electrons it has. The elements with the same number of valence electrons go in the same group. Because of this, elements in the same group tend to have similar chemical properties and similar atomic bonding. There are 18 groups in the periodic table and each group of elements have a unique name.

Periods

Periods are the horizontal rows on a periodic table of elements. Elements within the same period have the same number of energy levels, or as they're sometimes called, orbitals. There are seven periods in a periodic table, excluding the lanthanides and actinides. However, they fit in the sixth and seventh periods. Both periods and group are crucial to the bonding of atoms, and are placed in its place for a reason.

Role of Protons 

Protons are essential in the organization of elements in the periodic table and have a positive charge opposed to the electron's negative.. Subatomic particles are what distinguish each atom from each other, and define each different atom. The periodic table is organized by chemical and physical properties. The number of protons determines which element the atom is, there for its chemical properties. The valence electrons determine which group the element and the number of orbitals an element has determines which period the element is in. 

Role of Valence Electrons

Valence electrons are incredibly important to the structure of an atom and the organization of the periodic table. The number of valence electrons an element has is the same as the group number it is in (excluding the transitional metals). Valence electrons are also integral in atomic bonding, or chemical reactions. The farther group from the edge an element is, the less reactive it is, not including Group 18 (the noble gases are not reactive). Therefore, Group 17 and Group 1 are the most reactive. Basically, the closest and farthest atoms to having a full electron shell are more 'desperate' for more electrons.

Groups or Families

Periodic Table

In the

Names of Each Group

There are 18 total groups but 8 main groups.

1. Alkali Metals

2. Alkaline Earth Metals

3-12. Transition Metals

13. Boron Group

14. Carbon Group

15. Nitrogen Group (Pnictogen

16. Oxygen Group (Chalcogen)

17. Halogens

18. Noble Gases

Hydrogen

Alkali Metals

Alkali Metals are one of the most reactive elements, and are found in group one. Alkali metals consist of hydrogen, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium, as well as francium. Alkali metals only have one valence electrons, and are 'desperate' to react with other elements and fill their energy shells. Alkali metals are usually soft, shiny and highly reactive, and have relatively low melting points. There are many everyday uses for alkali metals. A common example is sodium chloride or table salt, which is sodium (alkali metal) combined with chlorine. Hydrogen readily react with oxygen to form water, something essential for human survival. Potassium, largely found in bananas contains something called electrolytes (you might have read that word from a Gatorade label)  which, in simple terms, help you keep active and move freely and quickly. Those are only a few uses, and there are more.

Alkaline Earth Metals

Alkaline Earth Metals are the second group on the periodic table, consisting of beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium. This group is also very reactive but not as reactive as group 1 or 17. Alkaline Earth metals, much like their cousin group, are shiny, soft, highly reactive, and also have low melting points. Again, alkaline earth metals are present in our daily lives, whether we notice or not. As many of us know, our bones are made of calcium, an alkaline earth metal, and is the structure to our body. Milk has lots of calcium, which is why children are told to drink milk. Its to strengthen our bones. Magnesium is another element that we don't notice but always have with us. It is in our phones and laptops and other gadgets that benefit from low weight. It's also used in flares and fireworks as it is easy to ignite and burn. Beryllium is used in gyroscopes, springs or electrical contacts. 

Transition Metals

Transitional metals are your typical, classic metals that you learn about in 5th and 6th grade. There are many transition metals, including titanium, gold, silver, copper, iron, cobalt, and nickel. Those are not all, but are some of the most common.These metals are good conductors of heat and electricity, are shiny and lustrous, malleable, and ductile.They have high densities, are hard and tough, and have high melting points. Transition metals are reactive, but not nearly as much as alkali metals and alkali earth metals. These metals are abundant in you daily life. You see gold and silver in jewelry. You can find titanium in computers and bicycles. Copper is found in wires, as they are excellent conductors.You can find iron multiple things, such as stainless steel, and even food and milk.

Boron Group

The boron family is a unique family, boron being a metalloid, and consists of boron, aluminum, gallium, indium, and thallium. Boron is a metalloid, or a semimetal, containing properties of both metals and nonmetals. It also has the element aluminum, which also touches the staircase, but is widely considered a metal rather than a metalloid. Boron is the lightest of the family, and the rest of the family are silvery, white metals. An obvious daily use for aluminum is aluminum foil, which is widely used in cooking and camping. Boron is found in eye drops and mild antiseptics and washing powders. Gallium is electronic circuits and and semiconductors