Exploring the Table Of Elements

A Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev was the first scientist to create a periodic table of the elements 1869 similar to the one we use today. The periodic table of the chemical elements is a tabular method of displaying the chemical elements. The elements were ordered by increasing atomic weight, a pattern appeared where properties of the elements repeated periodically. This periodic table is a chart that groups the elements according to their similar properties.

The periodic table is now ubiquitous within the academic discipline of chemistry, providing an extremely useful framework to classify, systematize and compare all the many different forms of chemical behavior. The table has also found wide application in physics, biology, engineering, and industry. The current standard table contains 117 elements as of January 27, 2008 (elements 1-116 and element 118).

The most important difference between Mendeleev's table and today's table is the modern table is organized by increasing atomic number, not increasing atomic weight. Why was the table changed? In 1914, Henry Moseley learned you could experimentally determine the atomic numbers of elements. Before that, atomic numbers were just the order of elements based on increasing atomic weight. Once atomic numbers had significance, the periodic table was reorganized. Each square on the periodic table gives information about an element. On many printed periodic tables you can find an element's symbol, atomic number, and atomic weight.

Seeing that you are forced to memorize all the elements and their respective positions in the table back in high school, it is understandable if you are not so fond of the table of elements. However, this time around, there is no force involved. Take a second look at the table of elements and see the periodic table in a different light. The periodic table of elements is supposed to be your ally not an accomplice to your failure. To use it to its best advantage, we advise you to follow some tips when it comes to mastering the periodic table.

1.Take note of the atomic number.
2.Know about the periods and families.
3.Remember the Octet Rule


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