The Periodic Table

The periodic table is a big chart used by scientists. It lists all the elements that make up everything around us. Each element has its own box with a letter symbol and a number. The elements are sorted by how they act and what they are made of.

How It Is Arranged

The table has rows that go across and columns that go up and down. Rows are called periods, and columns are called groups. Elements in the same group often act alike. For example, the elements in one column are all soft metals that react with water.

Colorful cloud shapes show where electrons might be inside atoms.
Colorful cloud shapes show where electrons might be inside atoms. (Geek3 / Wikimedia Commons)

Who Made It

A Russian scientist named Dmitri Mendeleev made the first good periodic table in 1869. He left empty spaces for elements that had not been found yet. Later, scientists found those missing elements just like he said. Today, the table has 118 elements.

Fun Facts

  • Hydrogen is the very first element on the table.
  • Some elements, like gold and silver, have been known for thousands of years.
  • The newest elements were made by scientists in labs.

Did You Know?

Every atom in your body is made of elements from the periodic table. You are made of stardust!