Periodic Table Interactive

The modern periodic table contains 118 confirmed elements, from hydrogen (atomic number 1) to oganesson (atomic number 118). New superheavy elements continue to be discovered and synthesized in laboratories.

The periodic table is divided into four blocks based on electron configuration: s-block (groups 1-2), p-block (groups 13-18), d-block (transition metals, groups 3-12), and f-block (lanthanides and actinides).

Element states (solid, liquid, gas) depend on temperature and pressure. At room temperature, most elements are solid, 2 are liquid (mercury and bromine), and 11 are gases. Higher temperatures cause more elements to become liquid or gaseous.

Groups are vertical columns (1-18) that contain elements with similar chemical properties due to the same number of valence electrons. Periods are horizontal rows (1-7) where atomic number increases and electron shells are added.

Elements are classified as metals (good conductors, malleable), non-metals (poor conductors, brittle), and metalloids (semi-conductors with intermediate properties). Metals make up about 75% of all elements.

All elements with atomic numbers above 83 (bismuth) are radioactive. Some lighter elements like technetium (43) and promethium (61) are also radioactive. Radioactive elements undergo nuclear decay over time.

Noble gases (group 18) are helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon. They are chemically inert under normal conditions because they have complete outer electron shells, making them very stable.

Superheavy elements (atomic numbers above 103) are artificially created in particle accelerators by bombarding heavy target atoms with lighter ions. These elements are extremely unstable and exist for only fractions of a second.