Periodic table

The periodic table is a tabular display of the chemical elements, arranged by increasing atomic number and organised so that elements with similar properties fall in the same column.

Structure

Rows are called periods and columns are called groups. Elements in the same group tend to share chemical behaviour, such as the reactive alkali metals or the inert noble gases. The table is divided into metals, non-metals and metalloids.

History

The modern table is credited largely to the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev, who in 1869 arranged the known elements and successfully predicted the existence of elements not yet discovered.

Importance

The periodic table is a central tool in chemistry, helping predict how elements react and combine.

Frequently asked questions

Who created the periodic table?

Dmitri Mendeleev is credited with the modern periodic table.

How are elements arranged in the periodic table?

By increasing atomic number and grouped by similar properties.