Interactive Periodic Table
Explore the periodic table of elements. Click on any element to view detailed information, or use the controls below to change the visualization.
About the Periodic Table
The periodic table is a tabular arrangement of chemical elements, organized based on their atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties. The structure of the table shows periodic trends.
How to Read the Periodic Table
Elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number (the number of protons in an atom's nucleus). The rows, called periods, represent the number of electron shells. The columns, called groups, contain elements with similar electron configurations and chemical properties.
Element Categories
Elements can be broadly categorized into metals, nonmetals, and metalloids based on their properties:
- Metals (including alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, and post-transition metals) are typically good conductors of heat and electricity, malleable, and shiny.
- Nonmetals (including halogens and noble gases) are generally poor conductors of heat and electricity, and many are gases at room temperature.
- Metalloids have properties of both metals and nonmetals and are often semiconductors.
Periodic Trends
Several trends can be observed as you move across and down the periodic table:
- Atomic Radius: Generally decreases as you move from left to right across a period and increases as you move down a group.
- Electronegativity: Generally increases as you move from left to right across a period and decreases as you move down a group.
- Ionization Energy: Generally increases as you move from left to right across a period and decreases as you move down a group.
Modern Applications
The periodic table is not just a historical classification system but a vital tool in modern science and technology. Understanding elemental properties has enabled advances in materials science, semiconductor technology, medicine, energy production, and environmental protection.