•Every element has its own square

•Every square has its own floor plan

•Lets poke around a typical square…

Paulium234.56

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ATOMIC NUMBER: •This is the element’s address

•Elements are arranged on the periodic table by atomic number.

•Tells the number of protons in the element

•Tells the number of electrons in the element (if the element is not an ion)

ATOMIC SYMBOL•1 or 2 letters•First letter upper case•Second letter lower case

ELEMENT NAME

ATOMIC MASS

•The weight of the atom in atomic mass units (AMU)

•Mass minus the number of protons equals the number of neutrons

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Periods

•Horizontal rows

•7 periods on the table

•Period number tells how many energy levels an element has

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

By looking around at the table, you discover that it is pretty easy to navigate your way around if you use the period and the group/family as your coordinates.

Group/Family

•Vertical columns

•Labeled with numerals that tell the group number

•Some tables use 1 to 18 and others use a numbering system that includes an “A” or a “B”

•If labeled with an “A” or “B”, that is the family. Members of the same family have similar properties.

•Group numbers for “A” families tell the number of electrons in the outer energy level

•Numbers in the ones column (if numbered 1-18) tell the number of electrons in the outer energy level

Now things are beginning to look up for you. You can navigate to most any element on the periodic table just by knowing its symbol, or its atomic number, or by plotting your course based on its period and group number.

Unfortunately, you have run into a few pretty nasty elements. Most of the elements seem pretty calm, but some are very reactive and are ready to grab on to any other element that goes near them. In order to avoid any ugly scenes, you figure that it might be to your advantage to learn about the different regions of the periodic table and the properties of the elements in those regions.

Watch out for nasty elements

AB

C

D

E

Light Metals Heavy MetalsNon-Metals

Inert Gases

Semi-metals or MetalloidsRare Earth Elements