Chemistry
35 flashcards
~18 min
Periodic Table - Elements, Symbols & Properties
Build a solid foundation in chemistry by mastering the periodic table with this comprehensive flashcard deck. Each card covers an element's name, symbol, atomic number, group, period, and key physical and chemical properties. Understanding the periodic t...
About this deck
Build a solid foundation in chemistry by mastering the periodic table with this comprehensive flashcard deck. Each card covers an element's name, symbol, atomic number, group, period, and key physical and chemical properties. Understanding the periodic table is the single most important skill in chemistry — it unlocks the logic behind every reaction, bond, and property you will study. This deck covers the first 36 elements in depth, all noble gases, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, halogens, and transition metals frequently tested in AP Chemistry, GCSE, A-Level, and university chemistry courses. Also includes periodic trends such as electronegativity, ionization energy, and atomic radius.
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Symbol: H · Atomic number: 1 · Group: 1 · Period: 1. Lightest element. Most abundant in the universe. Forms water (H₂O) and acids. Diatomic gas (H₂).
Symbol: He · Atomic number: 2 · Group: 18 (Noble gas). Lightest noble gas. Used in balloons and MRI machines. Completely unreactive.
Symbol: Li · Atomic number: 3 · Group: 1 (Alkali metal). Softest metal, stored in oil (reacts with water). Used in batteries and psychiatric medications.
Symbol: C · Atomic number: 6 · Group: 14. Basis of all organic life. Forms diamond (hardest natural substance) and graphite. 4 valence electrons — forms 4 bonds.
Symbol: N · Atomic number: 7 · Group: 15. Makes up 78% of Earth's atmosphere. Diatomic (N₂) with a triple bond. Found in amino acids, proteins, and DNA.
Symbol: O · Atomic number: 8 · Group: 16. Makes up 21% of Earth's atmosphere. Essential for cellular respiration. Highly electronegative. Diatomic (O₂).
Symbol: F · Atomic number: 9 · Group: 17 (Halogen). Most electronegative element on the periodic table. Most reactive nonmetal. Forms HF (hydrofluoric acid).
Symbol: Ne · Atomic number: 10 · Group: 18 (Noble gas). Colorless, odorless, unreactive gas. Used in neon signs (glows red-orange).
Symbol: Na · Atomic number: 11 · Group: 1 (Alkali metal). Soft, silvery metal. Reacts vigorously with water. Found in table salt (NaCl). Essential electrolyte in the body.
Symbol: Mg · Atomic number: 12 · Group: 2 (Alkaline earth metal). Burns with brilliant white light. Used in alloys, fireworks, and chlorophyll.
Symbol: Al · Atomic number: 13 · Group: 13. Most abundant metal in Earth's crust. Lightweight, corrosion-resistant. Used in aircraft, cans, and foil.
Symbol: Si · Atomic number: 14 · Group: 14 (Metalloid). Second most abundant element in Earth's crust. Basis of computer chips and semiconductors. Found in sand (SiO₂).
Symbol: P · Atomic number: 15 · Group: 15. Essential in DNA, ATP, and cell membranes. White phosphorus is highly toxic and flammable. Found in fertilizers.
Symbol: S · Atomic number: 16 · Group: 16. Yellow solid with distinctive smell when burned (sulfur dioxide). Used in sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) — most produced industrial chemical.
Symbol: Cl · Atomic number: 17 · Group: 17 (Halogen). Toxic yellow-green gas. Diatomic (Cl₂). Used to disinfect water and in PVC plastic. Forms NaCl (table salt).
Symbol: Ar · Atomic number: 18 · Group: 18 (Noble gas). Third most abundant gas in atmosphere (~1%). Used in welding to prevent oxidation. Completely unreactive.
Symbol: K · Atomic number: 19 · Group: 1 (Alkali metal). Symbol from Latin Kalium. Reacts explosively with water. Essential electrolyte for nerve and muscle function.
Symbol: Ca · Atomic number: 20 · Group: 2 (Alkaline earth metal). Most abundant mineral in the human body. Found in bones, teeth, chalk (CaCO₃), and limestone.
Symbol: Fe · Atomic number: 26 · Group: 8 (Transition metal). Symbol from Latin Ferrum. Most used metal in the world. Core component of steel. Carries oxygen in hemoglobin.
Symbol: Cu · Atomic number: 29 · Group: 11 (Transition metal). Symbol from Latin Cuprum. Excellent electrical conductor. Used in wiring and plumbing. Forms blue-green patina (verdigris).
Symbol: Zn · Atomic number: 30 · Group: 12 (Transition metal). Used to galvanize steel (prevent rust). Essential trace element in the human diet. Found in batteries.
Symbol: Ag · Atomic number: 47 · Group: 11 (Transition metal). Symbol from Latin Argentum. Best electrical conductor of all metals. Used in jewelry, photography, and antibacterials.
Symbol: Au · Atomic number: 79 · Group: 11 (Transition metal). Symbol from Latin Aurum. Extremely unreactive — resists corrosion. Used in electronics, jewelry, and currency.
Symbol: Hg · Atomic number: 80 · Group: 12 (Transition metal). Symbol from Latin Hydrargyrum. Only metal that is liquid at room temperature. Highly toxic. Used in thermometers (historically).
Symbol: Pb · Atomic number: 82 · Group: 14. Symbol from Latin Plumbum (origin of "plumbing"). Dense, soft metal. Used in batteries. Highly toxic — causes neurological damage.
Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom to attract bonding electrons toward itself. Fluorine has the highest electronegativity (4.0 on Pauling scale). Increases across a period (left→right) and up a group.
Energy required to remove an electron from a gaseous atom. Increases left to right across a period and increases bottom to top up a group. Noble gases have the highest ionization energies.
The size of an atom (distance from nucleus to outermost electron). Decreases left to right (more protons pull electrons closer). Increases top to bottom (more electron shells added).
Group 1 elements: Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr. All have 1 valence electron — highly reactive, especially with water. Reactivity increases down the group. Stored in oil to prevent reaction with air/water.
Group 17 elements: F, Cl, Br, I, At. All have 7 valence electrons — need 1 more to complete their outer shell, making them highly reactive nonmetals. Form salts when reacting with metals.
Group 18 elements: He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn. They have a complete outer electron shell (8 electrons, or 2 for helium) — no tendency to gain, lose, or share electrons.
Elements in groups 3–12, filling the d-block. They have variable oxidation states, form colored compounds, are good conductors, and are often used as catalysts. Examples: Fe, Cu, Zn, Au, Ag.
A period is a horizontal row — elements in the same period have the same number of electron shells. A group (column) contains elements with the same number of valence electrons and similar chemical properties.
Avogadro's number = 6.022 × 10²³. A mole is the amount of substance containing this many particles (atoms, molecules, ions). It links atomic mass (in amu) to grams.
Electrons fill orbitals starting from the lowest energy level to the highest. The order is: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p... Each orbital holds maximum 2 electrons.