EONS LEARNING

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    • Resources >
      • Study Skills
      • Periodic Table
      • Common Ion Sheet
      • The Scientific Method
      • Doing Background Research
    • Introduction and Course Philosophy
    • Unit 1: Beginning Chemistry >
      • Lesson 1: The Atom >
        • What is an Atom?
        • The Structure of Atoms
        • The Periodic Table
        • Modeling Atoms
      • Lesson 2: Chemical Bonding >
        • Why Do Atoms Form Bonds?
        • Ionic Bonding
        • Covalent Bonding
        • Intermolecular Attraction
      • Lesson 3: Chemical Nomenclature >
        • Octet Rule
        • Ionic Compounds
        • Covalent Molecules
      • Lesson 4: Molecular Molecules >
        • Modeling Ionic Compounds
        • Modeling Covalent Molecules
      • Lesson 5: States of Matter >
        • States of Matter
        • Phase Changes
      • Lesson 6: Density >
        • What is Density?
        • Calculating Density
      • Lesson 7: Thermodynamics >
        • Temperature
        • Heat
        • Gas Laws
      • Lesson 8: Solution Chemistry >
        • Diffusion
        • Solutions and Molarity
        • Semi-Permeable Membranes
      • Lesson 9: Thermal Expansion >
        • Thermal Expansion
    • Unit 2: Earth Science >
      • Lesson 10: Earth at a Glance >
        • Perspective
        • Maps
      • Lesson 11: Layers of the Earth >
        • Layers of the Earth
      • Lesson 12: Plate Tectonics >
        • Plate Tectonics
      • Lesson 13: Rocks and Minerals >
        • Rocks and Minerals
      • Lesson 14: Particle Sorting >
        • Differentiation
        • Deposition of Sediment
      • Lesson 15: The Atmosphere >
        • Composition of the Atmosphere
        • Layers of the Atmosphere
        • Change Over Time
        • Atmospheric Disruption
    • Unit 3: The Cell >
      • Lesson 16: Life >
        • What is Life?
        • Structural Hierarchy of Living Things
      • Lesson 17: Biochemistry >
        • Intro to Biochemistry
        • Water
        • Micromolecules
        • Energy, Carbohydrates, Lipids
        • Protein and Nucleic Acid
      • Lesson 18: Cells >
        • What are Cells?
        • Microscopy
        • Plant and Animal Cells
      • Lesson 19: Membrane Transport >
        • A Special Environment
        • The Structure of Membranes
        • Membrane Transport
      • Lesson 20: Energy and Cell Respiration >
        • Energy in Biology
        • Energy Diagrams
        • Glycolysis and Anaerobic Respiration
        • Aerobic Cellular Respiration
      • Lesson 21: Photosynthesis >
        • Plants Get Energy From The Sun
        • Photosynthesis Process
        • Energy, Ecosystems, and the Environment
    • Unit 4: Anatomy and Physiology >
      • Lesson 22: The Human Body >
        • What Are Bodies Made Of?
        • What Do Bodies Do?
      • Lesson 23: The Nervous System >
        • The Nervous System
        • Neuronal Communication
        • The Central Nervous System
      • Lesson 24: The Endocrine System >
        • The Endocrine System
        • Hormones
        • Hormones, Puberty, and Reproduction
      • Lesson 25: The Integumentary System >
        • The Integumentary System
      • Lesson 26: The Musculoskeletal System >
        • The Skeletal System
        • The Muscular System
        • Anatomy Of The Musculoskeletal System
      • Lesson 27: The Cardiovascular System >
        • Blood and Blood Vessels
        • The Heart
      • Lesson 28: The Respiratory System >
        • The Respiratory System
      • Lesson 29: The Digestive System >
        • The Digestive System
        • Nutrition
      • Lesson 30: The Excretory System >
        • The Excretory System
      • Lesson 31: The Immune System >
        • Disease and Infection
        • Immunity
    • Units 5-6 Coming Soon
  • Workbench
    • Unit 1 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 1: Atoms
        • Lesson 2: Chemical Bonding
        • Lesson 3: Chemical Nomenclature
        • Lesson 4: Molecular Models
        • Lesson 5: States of Matter
        • Lesson 6: Density
        • Lesson 7: Thermodynamics
        • Lesson 8: Solution Chemistry
        • Lesson 9: Thermal Expansion
      • Unit 1: Project
      • Unit 1: Exam Review
      • Unit 1: Exam
    • Unit 2 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 10: Earth at a Glance
        • Lesson 11: Layers of the Earth
        • Lesson 12: Plate Tectonics
        • Lesson 13: Rocks and Minerals
        • Lesson 14: Particle Sorting
        • Lesson 15: The Atmosphere
      • Unit 2: Project
      • Unit 2: Exam Review
      • Unit 2: Exam
    • Unit 3 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 16: Life
        • Lesson 17: Biochemsitry
        • Lesson 18: Cells
        • Lesson 19: Membrane Transport
        • Lesson 20: Energy and Cell Respiration
        • Lesson 21: Photosynthesis
      • Unit 3: Project
      • Unit 3: Exam Review
      • Unit 3: Exam
    • Unit 4 >
      • EIS >
        • 22: The Human Body
        • 23: The Nervous System
        • 24: The Endocrine System
        • 25: The Integumentary System
        • 26: The Musculoskeletal System
        • 27: The Cardiovascular System
        • 28: The Respiratory System
        • 29: The Digestive System
        • 30: The Excretory System
        • 31: The Immune System
      • Unit 4 Project
      • Unit 4 Exam Review
      • Unit 4 Exam
    • Units 5-6 Coming Soon
  • Donate
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Classroom
    • Resources >
      • Study Skills
      • Periodic Table
      • Common Ion Sheet
      • The Scientific Method
      • Doing Background Research
    • Introduction and Course Philosophy
    • Unit 1: Beginning Chemistry >
      • Lesson 1: The Atom >
        • What is an Atom?
        • The Structure of Atoms
        • The Periodic Table
        • Modeling Atoms
      • Lesson 2: Chemical Bonding >
        • Why Do Atoms Form Bonds?
        • Ionic Bonding
        • Covalent Bonding
        • Intermolecular Attraction
      • Lesson 3: Chemical Nomenclature >
        • Octet Rule
        • Ionic Compounds
        • Covalent Molecules
      • Lesson 4: Molecular Molecules >
        • Modeling Ionic Compounds
        • Modeling Covalent Molecules
      • Lesson 5: States of Matter >
        • States of Matter
        • Phase Changes
      • Lesson 6: Density >
        • What is Density?
        • Calculating Density
      • Lesson 7: Thermodynamics >
        • Temperature
        • Heat
        • Gas Laws
      • Lesson 8: Solution Chemistry >
        • Diffusion
        • Solutions and Molarity
        • Semi-Permeable Membranes
      • Lesson 9: Thermal Expansion >
        • Thermal Expansion
    • Unit 2: Earth Science >
      • Lesson 10: Earth at a Glance >
        • Perspective
        • Maps
      • Lesson 11: Layers of the Earth >
        • Layers of the Earth
      • Lesson 12: Plate Tectonics >
        • Plate Tectonics
      • Lesson 13: Rocks and Minerals >
        • Rocks and Minerals
      • Lesson 14: Particle Sorting >
        • Differentiation
        • Deposition of Sediment
      • Lesson 15: The Atmosphere >
        • Composition of the Atmosphere
        • Layers of the Atmosphere
        • Change Over Time
        • Atmospheric Disruption
    • Unit 3: The Cell >
      • Lesson 16: Life >
        • What is Life?
        • Structural Hierarchy of Living Things
      • Lesson 17: Biochemistry >
        • Intro to Biochemistry
        • Water
        • Micromolecules
        • Energy, Carbohydrates, Lipids
        • Protein and Nucleic Acid
      • Lesson 18: Cells >
        • What are Cells?
        • Microscopy
        • Plant and Animal Cells
      • Lesson 19: Membrane Transport >
        • A Special Environment
        • The Structure of Membranes
        • Membrane Transport
      • Lesson 20: Energy and Cell Respiration >
        • Energy in Biology
        • Energy Diagrams
        • Glycolysis and Anaerobic Respiration
        • Aerobic Cellular Respiration
      • Lesson 21: Photosynthesis >
        • Plants Get Energy From The Sun
        • Photosynthesis Process
        • Energy, Ecosystems, and the Environment
    • Unit 4: Anatomy and Physiology >
      • Lesson 22: The Human Body >
        • What Are Bodies Made Of?
        • What Do Bodies Do?
      • Lesson 23: The Nervous System >
        • The Nervous System
        • Neuronal Communication
        • The Central Nervous System
      • Lesson 24: The Endocrine System >
        • The Endocrine System
        • Hormones
        • Hormones, Puberty, and Reproduction
      • Lesson 25: The Integumentary System >
        • The Integumentary System
      • Lesson 26: The Musculoskeletal System >
        • The Skeletal System
        • The Muscular System
        • Anatomy Of The Musculoskeletal System
      • Lesson 27: The Cardiovascular System >
        • Blood and Blood Vessels
        • The Heart
      • Lesson 28: The Respiratory System >
        • The Respiratory System
      • Lesson 29: The Digestive System >
        • The Digestive System
        • Nutrition
      • Lesson 30: The Excretory System >
        • The Excretory System
      • Lesson 31: The Immune System >
        • Disease and Infection
        • Immunity
    • Units 5-6 Coming Soon
  • Workbench
    • Unit 1 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 1: Atoms
        • Lesson 2: Chemical Bonding
        • Lesson 3: Chemical Nomenclature
        • Lesson 4: Molecular Models
        • Lesson 5: States of Matter
        • Lesson 6: Density
        • Lesson 7: Thermodynamics
        • Lesson 8: Solution Chemistry
        • Lesson 9: Thermal Expansion
      • Unit 1: Project
      • Unit 1: Exam Review
      • Unit 1: Exam
    • Unit 2 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 10: Earth at a Glance
        • Lesson 11: Layers of the Earth
        • Lesson 12: Plate Tectonics
        • Lesson 13: Rocks and Minerals
        • Lesson 14: Particle Sorting
        • Lesson 15: The Atmosphere
      • Unit 2: Project
      • Unit 2: Exam Review
      • Unit 2: Exam
    • Unit 3 >
      • EIS >
        • Lesson 16: Life
        • Lesson 17: Biochemsitry
        • Lesson 18: Cells
        • Lesson 19: Membrane Transport
        • Lesson 20: Energy and Cell Respiration
        • Lesson 21: Photosynthesis
      • Unit 3: Project
      • Unit 3: Exam Review
      • Unit 3: Exam
    • Unit 4 >
      • EIS >
        • 22: The Human Body
        • 23: The Nervous System
        • 24: The Endocrine System
        • 25: The Integumentary System
        • 26: The Musculoskeletal System
        • 27: The Cardiovascular System
        • 28: The Respiratory System
        • 29: The Digestive System
        • 30: The Excretory System
        • 31: The Immune System
      • Unit 4 Project
      • Unit 4 Exam Review
      • Unit 4 Exam
    • Units 5-6 Coming Soon
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The Periodic Table

Introduction

The Periodic Table of the Elements (which we just call the Periodic Table, for short) is basically the holy grail of science—only instead of dreaming to one day discover it, it is conveniently printed in the back of virtually all chemistry textbooks. (Check under the resources tab if you haven't seen ours yet!)

This video gives a fantastic overview of the Periodic Table:
So, the Periodic Table is pretty cool and super useful. But, what makes the Periodic Table so cool and useful, you ask? Why do scientists love it so much? The answer is quite simple—we love it because it makes our lives easier. By conveniently organizing every element known to man into periods and groups based on their distinct properties, we can predict exactly how an element will behave without actually knowing anything about that particular element. Though you may not be able to fully understand this point now, it will become increasingly apparent as you journey on in your chemistry career, periodic table in tow.

Here are the most important things you should understand about the Periodic Table, which will make it a useful tool to you as you continue in your Chemistry learning:

5 Things You Should Know About the Periodic Table

1. The Periodic Table is Divided into periods and groups. Periods are the rows. Elements in the same period share the same maximum energy level. Groups are the columns. Elements in the same group share similar reactivity patterns, because they share the same number of valence electrons, which are the electrons in the outermost shell or "rung" of the atom. Because they are closest to the outside and highest in energy, they are most readily available to interact with other atoms.
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2. Elements on the Periodic Table are divided into metals, nonmetals, and metalloids. Metals tend to be malleable, shiny, and ductile. They fall to the left of the zig-zaggy separation line seen in the picture. Nonmetals tend to be either gases or brittle solids. Unlike metals, they are poor conductors of heat and electricity. They fall to the right of the zig-zag line. Metalloids consist of all the elements that touch the zig-zag line (except aluminum!). They have some properties of metals and some properties of nonmetals.
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3. Elements are organized by atomic number, which tend to correspond to mass number. An element's atomic number is the number of protons that it has. Unless something is an ion, meaning it has extra or fewer electrons than usual, the number of electrons is the same as the number of protons, which is the same as the atomic number. The atomic number gets bigger as you go across a period—hydrogen's is 1, helium's is 2, lithium's is 3, and so on. The atomic mass is the weight of the element in atomic mass units (amu). It is about equal to the number of protons plus the number of neutrons, and tends to get bigger with atomic number.
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4. There are several families of elements, which all have similar properties. They are: 
  • Alkali metals: Lithium, sodium, potassium, etc. These metals are highly reactive—you'd have a hard time even finding them by themselves in nature. They like to bind to the halogens.
  • Alkaline earth metals: Beryllium, magnesium, calcium, etc. Also very highly reactive, but not quite as much as the Alkali metals.
  • Transition Metals: What you typically think of as metals. Include gold, silver, platinum, and chrome (chromium). Strong, malleable, and make great conductors.
  • Halogens: The next to last column on the periodic table. Include fluorine, chlorine, and iodine. Very reactive, especially with alkali and alkaline earth metals. They are generally found in nature as diatomic gases.
  • Noble gases: The "royalty" of the periodic table. Think they’re too good to react with anything else, so they stick all by their lonesomes and don’t bother with any of those other low class elements. If you prefer more scientific terms, they are highly stable because they have a full valence shells (every electron in the valence shell already has enough friends, so they don't need to go hang out with other atoms), so they are unreactive.
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5. Each element is given a 1- to 2-letter symbol. Some of them are logical—hydrogen is H, helium is He, oxygen is O, and so forth. Some of them do not make as much sense—for example, the symbol for sodium (Na) is based off of the Latin word natrium rather than the English word. Don't feel like you need to memorize all of them, but it will be very useful in  your chemistry career if you know the symbols for at least the first 20 elements. (You do not have to memorize them for this class).

Summary

You should understand:
  • The relationship between and element's location on the periodic table, its group, the number of valence electrons that it has, and its reactivity patterns.
  • The differences between metals, nonmetals, and metalloids, and where each of these are found on the periodic table.
  • The differences between alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, halogens, and noble gases—especially in terms of their reactivity—and where each of these are found on the periodic table.
  • Where to find an element's atomic name, atomic symbol, atomic number, and atomic mass, and how atomic number and atomic mass​ relate to the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

​You will have more practice with using the Periodic Table throughout this unit, so don't worry if you aren't quite yet perfect. But, the sooner you figure it out, the easier the rest of Chemistry will become!

Learning Activity

Now is your chance to get acquainted with your new best friend, the Periodic Table! (And those first 20 elements!) Either print off the following periodic table and color it in by hand or upload it to a computer-based illustrator program like Paint.

Each element should be identified as either a metal, a nonmetal, or a metalloid by coloring in the box (or half of the box, if there's a diagonal line running through it). You can choose whatever color scheme you want, just be sure to fill in the legend with the same color that you use to identify each element. Be sure to choose distinct colors for each classification so it's easy to tell what's what.

Each box with a diagonal line running through it should be marked as both a metal/nonmetal/metalloid AND according to its family, as illustrated in the example. Those with no diagonal line need only be marked as a metal/nonmetal/metalloid. 

Also fill in the chemical symbol of the first 20 elements. Since you don't have to memorize them, you can just look them up online or using the Periodic Table included in our Resources section. This will help you to get more familiar with the elements we use most often.

​Have fun!

Tip: Right-click the image to see the drop down box, which (depending on what browser you use) should give you the option to "Download Image," "Save Image As," or "Print". 
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Next: Modeling Atoms

Content contributors; Emma Moulton and Emily Zhang
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