The Periodic Table

Science

The 14 elements after actinium in the periodic table

Actinide series

The 14 elements after actinium in the periodic table actinide series. The actinide series consists of heavy, radioactive elements used in nuclear energy and research.

Elements in Group 1 of the periodic table, like lithium, sodium and potassium

Alkali metal

Elements in Group 1 of the periodic table, like lithium, sodium, and potassium, are alkali metals. Alkali metals are soft, highly reactive metals that can easily lose one electron to form a positive ion.

An element in Group 2 of the periodic table. it is a reactive metal

Alkaline earth metal

An element in Group 2 of the periodic table. It is a reactive metal. Alkaline earth metals are a group of shiny, silvery metals that are highly reactive and are commonly found in various minerals.

A mixture of two metals or of a metal and a nonmetal

Alloy

A mixture of two metals or of a metal and a nonmetal. Alloy. An alloy is a combination of metals, or a metal mixed with a nonmetal, that creates a new material with improved properties.

An ion that has a negative charge

Anion

An ion that has a negative charge. Anion. An anion is a type of ion that gains electrons, which gives it a negative charge.

Half the distance between the nuclei of two adjacent atoms of an element

Atomic radius

Half the distance between the nuclei of two adjacent atoms of an element is called the atomic radius. The atomic radius is the size of an atom.

A positive ion

Cation

A positive ion. Cation. A cation is an atom or molecule that has lost one or more electrons, resulting in a positive charge.

The ability of an atom to attract electrons when the atom is in a compound

Electronegativity

The ability of an atom to attract electrons when the atom is in a compound. Electronegativity. Electronegativity is how strongly an atom pulls on electrons in a chemical bond.

Elements in the same vertical column of the periodic table

Group

Elements in the same vertical column of the periodic table. group. In science, a group is a column in the periodic table where elements have similar chemical properties.

An element in Group 17 of the periodic table, like chlorine

Halogen

An element in Group 17 of the periodic table, like chlorine. Halogen. Halogens are a group of reactive nonmetal elements that include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine.

Lanthanoids and actinoids in the f-block of the periodic table, they have full outermost orbitals and filled or partially filled 4f and 5f orbitals

Inner transition metal

Lanthanoids and actinoids in the f-block of the periodic table, they have full outermost orbitals and filled or partially filled 4f and 5f orbitals. Inner transition metals are elements in the f-block of the periodic table that have electrons filling their inner f orbitals.

An atom that is charged because it gained or lost an electron

Ion

An atom that is charged because it gained or lost an electron. Ion. An ion is an atom or molecule with an electrical charge.

The energy required to remove an electron from a gaseous atom or ion

Ionization energy

The energy required to remove an electron from a gaseous atom or ion ionization energy. Ionization energy is the amount of energy needed to take an electron away from an atom.

A group of 14 f-block elements following lanthanum on the periodic table

Lanthanide series

A group of 14 f-block elements following lanthanum on the periodic table. Lanthanide series. The lanthanide series consists of elements with atomic numbers 58 to 71 that are shiny and often used in electronics.

An element that is a good conductor of heat and electricity

Metal

An element that is a good conductor of heat and electricity. Metal. Metals are shiny, solid materials that can easily conduct heat and electricity.

An element that shares properties with metals and nonmetals, like a semiconductor

Metalloid

An element that shares properties with metals and nonmetals, like a semiconductor, is a metalloid. Metalloids are elements that have characteristics of both metals and nonmetals, often used as semiconductors in electronic devices.

An element in Group 18 of the periodic table, like helium, neon and argon

Noble gas

An element in Group 18 of the periodic table, like helium, neon, and argon. Noble gases are a group of nonreactive gases that have a full outer electron shell.

An element that is a poor conductor of heat and electricity

Nonmetal

An element that is a poor conductor of heat and electricity. Nonmetal. Nonmetals are elements that usually have low electrical conductivity and are often gases or brittle solids at room temperature.

States that atoms gain, lose or share electrons to fill their outermost energy shell with 8 valence electrons

Octet rule

States that atoms gain, lose or share electrons to fill their outermost energy shell with 8 valence electrons. Octet rule. The octet rule is a guideline that atoms are most stable when they have eight electrons in their outer shell.

A horizontal row of elements of the periodic table

Period

A horizontal row of elements of the periodic table. Period. In Science, a period is a row in the periodic table where elements have the same number of electron shells.

States that the properties of elements are periodic and based on their atomic numbers

Periodic law

States that the properties of elements are periodic and based on their atomic numbers. Periodic law. Periodic law means that elements show repeating patterns of properties when arranged by their atomic numbers.

A chart of all the elements, arranged by their physical and chemical properties

Periodic table

A chart of all the elements, arranged by their physical and chemical properties. Periodic table. The periodic table organizes elements based on increasing atomic number and recurring chemical properties.

Elements in groups 1A to 8A of the periodic table, they exhibit a wide range of physical and chemical properties

Representative element

Elements in groups 1A to 8A of the periodic table, they exhibit a wide range of physical and chemical properties. Representative element. Representative elements are the elements in the s and p blocks of the periodic table that display a wide variety of properties and behaviors.

An element in Group 3 to Group 12 of the periodic table, they are all metals

Transition element

An element in Group 3 to Group 12 of the periodic table, they are all metals. Transition element. Transition elements are metals that have the ability to form various oxidation states and often make colorful compounds due to their electron configurations.