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 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.
All Cards in This Deck
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Hydrogen?
Answer
Symbol: H · Atomic number: 1 · Group: 1 · Period: 1. Lightest element. Most abundant in the universe. Forms water (H₂O) and acids. Diatomic gas (H₂).
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Helium?
Answer
Symbol: He · Atomic number: 2 · Group: 18 (Noble gas). Lightest noble gas. Used in balloons and MRI machines. Completely unreactive.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Lithium?
Answer
Symbol: Li · Atomic number: 3 · Group: 1 (Alkali metal). Softest metal, stored in oil (reacts with water). Used in batteries and psychiatric medications.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Carbon?
Answer
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.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Nitrogen?
Answer
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.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Oxygen?
Answer
Symbol: O · Atomic number: 8 · Group: 16. Makes up 21% of Earth's atmosphere. Essential for cellular respiration. Highly electronegative. Diatomic (O₂).
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Fluorine?
Answer
Symbol: F · Atomic number: 9 · Group: 17 (Halogen). Most electronegative element on the periodic table. Most reactive nonmetal. Forms HF (hydrofluoric acid).
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Neon?
Answer
Symbol: Ne · Atomic number: 10 · Group: 18 (Noble gas). Colorless, odorless, unreactive gas. Used in neon signs (glows red-orange).
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Sodium?
Answer
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.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Magnesium?
Answer
Symbol: Mg · Atomic number: 12 · Group: 2 (Alkaline earth metal). Burns with brilliant white light. Used in alloys, fireworks, and chlorophyll.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Aluminum?
Answer
Symbol: Al · Atomic number: 13 · Group: 13. Most abundant metal in Earth's crust. Lightweight, corrosion-resistant. Used in aircraft, cans, and foil.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Silicon?
Answer
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).
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Phosphorus?
Answer
Symbol: P · Atomic number: 15 · Group: 15. Essential in DNA, ATP, and cell membranes. White phosphorus is highly toxic and flammable. Found in fertilizers.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Sulfur?
Answer
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.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Chlorine?
Answer
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).
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Argon?
Answer
Symbol: Ar · Atomic number: 18 · Group: 18 (Noble gas). Third most abundant gas in atmosphere (~1%). Used in welding to prevent oxidation. Completely unreactive.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Potassium?
Answer
Symbol: K · Atomic number: 19 · Group: 1 (Alkali metal). Symbol from Latin Kalium. Reacts explosively with water. Essential electrolyte for nerve and muscle function.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Calcium?
Answer
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.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Iron?
Answer
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.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Copper?
Answer
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).
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Zinc?
Answer
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.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Silver?
Answer
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.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Gold?
Answer
Symbol: Au · Atomic number: 79 · Group: 11 (Transition metal). Symbol from Latin Aurum. Extremely unreactive — resists corrosion. Used in electronics, jewelry, and currency.
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Mercury?
Answer
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).
Question
What is the symbol, atomic number, and group of Lead?
Answer
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.
Question
What is electronegativity and which element has the highest?
Answer
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.
Question
What is ionization energy and how does it trend on the periodic table?
Answer
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.
Question
What is atomic radius and how does it trend on the periodic table?
Answer
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).
Question
What are the alkali metals and their key property?
Answer
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.
Question
What are the halogens and their key property?
Answer
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.
Question
What are noble gases and why are they unreactive?
Answer
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.
Question
What are transition metals and where are they on the periodic table?
Answer
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.
Question
What is the difference between a period and a group on the periodic table?
Answer
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.
Question
What is Avogadro's number and what is a mole?
Answer
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.
Question
What is the Aufbau principle?
Answer
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.