periodic table: Quick Facts

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Oct. 1, 2026

Facts

Also Known As	periodic table of the elements

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Periodic table of the elements displaying each element's atomic number, symbol, and atomic weight, with color-coded categories for alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, transition metals, other metals, other nonmetals, halogens, noble gases, rare-earth elements, and actinoid elements.

A simplified periodic table highlights metals in pink, nonmetals in blue, and metalloids in green, showing their distinct regions and groupings within the table.

A periodic table chart displays the electronegativity values for each element, with values increasing from left to right and decreasing from top to bottom, highlighting how strongly atoms attract shared electrons.

A color-coded periodic table displays each element's atomic number, symbol, and electron configuration, with a legend identifying categories such as alkali metals, noble gases, and transition metals.

A periodic table of the elements with element symbols and atomic numbers, organized by subshells being filled as atomic number increases; subshells are labeled in the left column, and the table highlights groups, periods, and electron configurations.

Diagram of the periodic table with each element's position marked by boxes and labeled with electron subshells, using arrows to indicate the order in which valence shells fill with electrons.

Periodic table of the elements showing atomic number and symbol for each element, with color coding to indicate physical state at room temperature: pink for gases, blue for liquids, and yellow-green for solids.

A color-coded periodic table of the elements displays each element's symbol and atomic number, with categories such as alkali metals, noble gases, halogens, transition metals, and actinoid elements distinguished by different background colors.

Mendeleev's periodic table

Diagram of the periodic table of elements arranged in rows ending with noble gases, with each element color-coded by chemical group such as alkali metals, transition metals, and noble gases. A legend at the top left explains the color categories.

Understanding the Organization of the Periodic Table

What Is the Periodic Law?

Who Created the Periodic Table?

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Topics

period Today in History—March 6: The Introduction of the Periodic Table When Was the Periodic Table Invented?group atom periodic law chemical element chemical symbol subatomic particle rare-earth element radioactivity Atomism isotope transition metal hydrogen alkali metal actinoid element

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Key People

Dmitri Mendeleev

Dmitri Mendeleev

Russian scientist

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Lothar Meyer

German chemist

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Paul-Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran

French chemist

Periodic table of the elements. Left column indicates the subshells that are being filled as atomic number Z increases. The body of the table shows element symbols and Z. analysis and measurement

Periodic Table of the Elements

Model of a molecule. Atom, Biology, Molecular Structure, Science, Science and Technology. Homepage 2010 arts and entertainment, history and society

Science Quiz

Periodic Table of the elements concept image (chemistry)

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Periodic table of the elements. Left column indicates the subshells that are being filled as atomic number Z increases. The body of the table shows element symbols and Z. analysis and measurement

Periodic Table of the Elements

Concept artwork on the periodic table of elements.

118 Names and Symbols of the Periodic Table Quiz

Periodic table of the elements. Left column indicates the subshells that are being filled as atomic number Z increases. The body of the table shows element symbols and Z. analysis and measurement

Periodic Table of the Elements