Why does the periodic table look like this? Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe Cs Ba La Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Pb Bi Po At Rn Fr Ra Ac Rf Ha Be N O C B F Ne Why does the periodic table look like this? PT

The Periodic Table of Elements has the design it does because the elements in the table have common properties and the structure of atoms making up the elements have common characteristics.

Atoms increase in size descending through a group vertical columns are called Groups and demonstrate several common trends. Groups Atoms increase in size descending through a group H He Li Be B C N O F Ne Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Rd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe Cs Ba Lu Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn Fr Ra Lr Atoms in a group have same number of valence electrons so they behave similarly

Many groups have special names that describe their characteristics: Alkali Metals H He Li Be B C N O F Ne Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Rd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe Cs Ba Lu Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn Fr Ra Lr Alkaline Earth Metals Transition Metals Halogens Noble Gases The alkali metals are very reactive metals that do not occur freely in nature. As with all metals, the alkali metals are malleable, ductile, and are good conductors of heat and electricity. The alkali metals are softer than most other metals. Alkali metals can explode if they are exposed to water. The alkaline earth elements are metallic elements that are very reactive. Because of their reactivity, the alkaline metals are not found free in nature. As with all metals, the transition elements are both ductile and malleable, and conduct electricity and heat. They often exhibit several common oxidation states. There are three noteworthy elements in the transition metals family. These elements are iron, cobalt, and nickel, and they are the only elements known to produce a magnetic field. The term "halogen" means "salt-former" and compounds containing halogens are called "salts". The halogens exist, at room temperature, in all three states of matter: Solid- Iodine, Astatine; Liquid- Bromine; Gas- Fluorine, Chlorine The noble gases were considered to be inert gases until the 1960's, because their oxidation number of 0 prevents the noble gases from forming compounds readily. All noble gases have the maximum number of electrons possible in their outer shell (2 for Helium, 8 for all others), making them stable.

Horizontal rows are called Periods and demonstrate trends as well. Atoms increase in size ascending through a period H He Li Be B C N O F Ne Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Rd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe Cs Ba Lu Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn Fr Ra Lr Atoms in a period have the same number of electron shells

The Periodic Table is broken into three basic categories of elements: Metals H He Li Be B C N O F Ne Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Rd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe Cs Ba Lu Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn Fr Ra Lr Nonmetals Metalloids

The table also gives you details about specific elements. 47 Ag Silver 107.87 Atomic Number Symbol Name Atomic Mass