Arrangement of elements
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Periodic Table | 周期表 | zhōu qī biǎo |
| groups | 族 | zú |
| periods | 周期 | zhōu qī |
| metals | 金属 | jīn shǔ |
| non-metals | 非金属 | fēi jīn shǔ |
| metalloids | 准金属 | zhǔn jīn shǔ |
| proton number | 质子数 | zhì zi shù |
The chemist's map
- Over a hundred elements could be chaos — but the Periodic Table 周期表 organises them perfectly.
- Its layout reveals patterns in how elements behave.
Elements in the Periodic Table are arranged in order of increasing:
They are ordered by atomic number.
Rows and columns
- Elements are arranged in order of increasing proton (atomic) number.
- Vertical columns are groups 族; horizontal rows are periods 周期.
The periodic table arranges the elements by atomic number
Elements in the same group have the same number of:
Same outer electrons → similar properties.
The period number equals the number of electron shells.
Each period adds a shell.
The vertical columns of the Periodic Table are called ______.
Groups share outer electrons and properties.
Groups and periods
- Elements in the same group have the same number of outer electrons, so similar properties.
- The period number = the number of electron shells.
Spot a trend across a period
Reading across a period, properties change in a regular, repeating pattern. Switch the trend to watch atomic radius, ionisation energy or melting point change element by element.
In the Periodic Table, metals are found:
Non-metals are on the right; metals left and centre.
Metals 金属 and non-metals 非金属
- Metals are on the left and centre; non-metals on the right.
- A zig-zag line separates them; metalloids 准金属 sit near the boundary.
Worked example. Sodium and potassium are both in Group I, with one outer electron. That's why they react in very similar ways — the group number tells you the chemistry.
You've got it
- the Periodic Table orders elements by proton number 质子数
- groups (columns) share outer electrons and properties; periods (rows) = number of shells
- metals are left/centre, non-metals right, split by a zig-zag line