THE PERIODIC TABLE

=The Periodic Table= ===The periodic table is a chart which contains every known type of atom (element).=== [image:http://i.imgur.com/mZJu8QT.png?1] === ===Each element is arranged according to the number of protons it contains (its atomic number). The periodic table can be split into metals (left) and non-metals (right) as indicated by the red ‘stepped’ line. ==Groups== The periodic table has also been arranged into 18 chemical families known as groups. Each column represents a chemical group of elements that all have similar properties (will behave similar ways). Elements in the same group have the same number of valence shell electrons (see later notes on electron configurations) ==Periods== Elements in the same period (row) have very little in common with each other, except that each element has 1 more proton than the one before it. They also have the same number of electron shells (layers), although this doesn’t massively impact on their reactivity or properties [image:http://i.imgur.com/nRYQJOQ.png]