The elements in the Periodic Table are arranged in order of increasing atomic number.
Columns are called Groups. They indicate the number of electrons in the outer shell of an atom.
Rows are called Periods. They indicate the number of shells (energy levels) in an atom.
Electrons are found in a series of shells (or energy levels) around the nucleus of an atom.
Each energy level can only hold a certain number of electrons. Low energy levels are always filled up first.
Rules for working out the arrangement (configuration) of electrons:
Example – chlorine (Cl)
1) Use the periodic table to look up the atomic number. Chlorine’s atomic number (number of protons) is 17.
2) Remember the number of protons = number of electrons. Therefore chlorine has 17 electrons.
3) Arrange the electrons in levels (shells):
Therefore the electron arrangement for chlorine (17 electrons in total) will be written as 2,8,7
4) Check to make sure that the electrons add up to the right number
The electron arrangement can also be draw in a diagram.
Electron arrangement for the first 20 elements:
Metals
Non – Metals
Metals on the left of the Periodic Table.
Non-Metals on the top-right, plus Hydrogen.
Elements in the same group have the same number of electrons in their outer shell.
This is why elements from the same group have similar properties.
Elements in the same group of the periodic table have the same number of electrons in their outer shells, which means they have similar chemical properties.
The noble gases are inert (unreactive) because they have a full outer shell of electrons.