What is Periodic table of elements?
Definition: Periodic table of elements is the row wise and column wise arrangement of chemical elements in the increasing order of their atomic number. This arrangement of elements is done in such a way that the elements lying in the same column have similar properties.
This is the short and simple definition of Periodic table.
Hold on…
You will come to know the meaning of this definition in just a few seconds.
But the question is:
Do you know why it is called Periodic table? Here is your answer.
Why Periodic table is called so?
Explanation:
Periodic + table + elements = Periodic table of elements.
Let me tell you what these 3 terms actually mean?
- Periodic: Periodic means repeating
- Table: Table indicates the arrangement in rows and columns
- Elements: Elements means the chemical elements
Hence, Periodic table of elements means the arrangement of chemical elements in rows and columns such that their properties are repeating in each column.
Finally, I want to say that;
Periodic table is called so because of the arrangement of elements in it.
The elements are arranged in such a way that their properties repeat after regular intervals.
For example,
You know that the Helium (He) is the 2nd element on the Periodic table.
And what type of element helium is? It’s an inert gas, right?
Now if we count the 8th element after helium, then that element is Neon (Ne).
This element has atomic number 10 and it is also an inert gas.
Again if we count the 8th element after Neon (Ne), then that element is Argon (Ar).
This element has atomic number 18 and it is also an inert gas.
Again if we count the 18th element after Argon (Ar), then that element is Krypton (Kr).
This element has atomic number 36 and it is also an inert gas.
Similarly, if we again count the 18th element after Krypton (Kr), then that element is Xenon (Xe).
Xenon has atomic number 54 and it is also an inert gas.
Hence after regular intervals (2, 8, 8, 18, 18, … ), the elements with similar properties appear in the table.
I have explained this similarities in the group 18 elements, but this occurs in all the groups of Periodic table.
For example, first column of Periodic table (also known as group 1) have the metals which are highly reactive. They are known as alkali metals. All these metals of first group have similar properties.
Again, the group 2 of Periodic table are Alkaline earth metals and they also have similar properties.
Similarly each group on the Periodic table have the elements which show similar physical as well as chemical properties.
Also the elements lying in the same group have the same number of valence electrons.
Hence because of the Periodic or repetitive arrangement of elements, this table is known as Periodic table.
Periodic table HD images
Periodic table of elements with names, symbols, atomic number and atomic mass are given below. You can download the HD images from the download button given below the images.
Colored Periodic table
Black and White
With circular tile
Black and White (circular tile)
Block wise elements
Blue colored Periodic table
So this is it for this article.
Now I want to know from your side.
Have you understood all the things that I have explained above?
Let me know by leaving a comment below, whether this article has helped you or not.
Explore our New Interactive Periodic Table (with Rotating Bohr Models and More)
Details about this Periodic table:
- Access detailed info on all elements: atomic mass, electron configurations, charges, and more.
- View rotating Bohr models for all 118 elements.
- Get a free HD image of the Periodic Table.
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