The
modern periodic table is a device scientists use to organize the elements with
respect to the atomic numbers of the elements rather than the mass.
The atomic number also relates to the orbital arrangement of the
electrons of the elements. This
arrangement of electrons determines the properties of the elements so that the
periodic table can be used to predict the various characteristics of elements.
Symbols of elements are used to abbreviate the name. The symbol of an element is usually the first letter or the first and second letters of the name. If these letters are used for another element, the second letter of the symbol may be other than the second letter in the name. Some of the symbols do not correspond to the first letters of the element names because the symbols are derived from the Latin or Greek names of the elements.
The atomic number for an element is given by the number immediately above the symbol for that element and represents the number of protons in the nucleus as well as the number of electrons if the atom is not an ion.
The atomic mass is given by the number below the symbol. The atomic mass that is given is not a whole number due to the existence of isotopes for the elements.
Those elements, which exhibit characteristics of metals, are colored white in the following periodic table. Metals are examples of elements that are useful when uncombined with other atoms in the form of molecules. They generally are hard, malleable, ductile and excellent conductors of electricity. They have luster and with the exception of copper and gold are silver white or bluish white in color. Malleability is the property of a metal that allows it to be hammered into a foil. Ductility is the property of a metal that allows it to be drawn into a wire.
Those elements that are considered nonmetals are colored yellow.
Those nonmetals that are the inert gases are colored light blue.
The elements that are colored green are called metalloids and have some of the properties of metals as well as some of the properties of nonmetals.
Click on some of the common elements (your cursor will change when it is over these elements) to find out some interesting facts about these elements.
