The periodic table

• A row on the periodic table is called a period
• A column on the periodic table is called a group
• The periodic table is arranged with the atoms in order of atomic number
• You can deduce the electronic configuration of an atom by looking at the position on the table: whichever group it is in is how many electrons in the outer shell, and whichever period is how many shells it has
• Metals


  • Generally conduct electricity well due to the presence of free electrons that can move and carry an electric current
  • Form basic oxides that react with acids to form salts and water
• Nonmetals


  • Are poor conductors of electricity as they lack free electrons
  • Form acidic oxides that react with bases to form salts and water
• Elements that conduct electricity well and form basic oxides


  Are typically metals
• Elements that do not conduct electricity effectively and produce acidic oxides


  Are usually nonmetals
• There is a line on the periodic table from boron to astatine, separating the metals from the non metals - metals on the left, non metals on the right
• All elements in a particular group have the same number of electrons in their outer shells, meaning they have similar reactions
• Elements in the same group of the periodic table have similar chemical properties because they have the same number of electrons in their outer shell
• Elements in Group 0 (Noble Gases) do not readily react due to already having a full outer shell