Periodic table

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Periodic Table
Periodic table | Image: Learnool

The periodic table, commonly referred to as the periodic table of elements, presents all chemical elements in a tabular form. It consists of 118 elements arranged by ascending atomic numbers, with the table comprising the s-block, p-block, d-block, and f-block. Its eighteen vertical columns are known as groups, while the seven horizontal rows are termed periods.

The periodic table is widely used in physics, chemistry, and various other sciences as a visual guide to the fundamental principles of chemistry. It illustrates the periodic law, which states that the properties of chemical elements follow a recurring pattern based on their atomic numbers. Dmitri Mendeleev, a Russian chemist, introduced this law, connecting chemical properties to atomic mass. Despite gaps in Mendeleev’s table due to undiscovered elements, he successfully predicted properties using the periodic law.

The periodic table is dynamic and continues to evolve with scientific advancements. Elements with atomic numbers up to 94 are naturally occurring, while those beyond must be artificially created or synthesized in a laboratory setting. Although the first seven rows of the periodic table now encompass all 118 initial elements, ongoing chemical characterization of the heaviest elements is crucial to ensure that their properties align with their respective positions on the table.

Interactive periodic table

group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
period
1 1
H
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Hydrogen
2
He
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Helium
2 3
Li
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Lithium
4
Be
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Beryllium
5
B
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Boron
6
C
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Carbon
7
N
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Nitrogen
8
O
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Oxygen
9
F
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Fluorine
10
Ne
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Neon
3 11
Na
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Sodium
12
Mg
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Magnesium
13
Al
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Aluminium
14
Si
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Silicon
15
P
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Phosphorus
16
S
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Sulfur
17
Cl
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Chlorine
18
Ar
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Argon
4 19
K
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Potassium
20
Ca
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Calcium
21
Sc
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Scandium
22
Ti
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Titanium
23
V
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Vanadium
24
Cr
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Chromium
25
Mn
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Manganese
26
Fe
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Iron
27
Co
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Cobalt
28
Ni
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Nickel
29
Cu
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Copper
30
Zn
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Zinc
31
Ga
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Gallium
32
Ge
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Germanium
33
As
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Arsenic
34
Se
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Selenium
35
Br
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Bromine
36
Kr
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Krypton
5 37
Rb
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Rubidium
38
Sr
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Strontium
39
Y
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Yttrium
40
Zr
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Zirconium
41
Nb
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Niobium
42
Mo
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Molybdenum
43
Tc
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Technetium
44
Ru
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Ruthenium
45
Rh
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Rhodium
46
Pd
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Palladium
47
Ag
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Silver
48
Cd
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Cadmium
49
In
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Indium
50
Sn
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Tin
51
Sb
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Antimony
52
Te
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Tellurium
53
I
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Iodine
54
Xe
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Xenon
6 55
Cs
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Caesium
56
Ba
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Barium
72
Hf
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Hafnium
73
Ta
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Tantalum
74
W
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Tungsten
75
Re
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Rhenium
76
Os
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Osmium
77
Ir
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Iridium
78
Pt
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Platinum
79
Au
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Gold
80
Hg
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Mercury
81
Tl
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Thallium
82
Pb
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Lead
83
Bi
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Bismuth
84
Po
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Polonium
85
At
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Astatine
86
Rn
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Radon
7 87
Fr
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Francium
88
Ra
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Radium
104
Rf
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Rutherfordium
105
Db
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Dubnium
106
Sg
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Seaborgium
107
Bh
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Bohrium
108
Hs
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Hassium
109
Mt
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Meitnerium
110
Ds
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Darmstadtium
111
Rg
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Roentgenium
112
Cn
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Copernicium
113
Nh
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Nihonium
114
Fl
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Flerovium
115
Mc
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Moscovium
116
Lv
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Livermorium
117
Ts
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Tennessine
118
Og
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Oganesson
57
La
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Lanthanum
58
Ce
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Cerium
59
Pr
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Praseodymium
60
Nd
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Neodymium
61
Pm
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Promethium
62
Sm
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Samarium
63
Eu
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Europium
64
Gd
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Gadolinium
65
Tb
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Terbium
66
Dy
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Dysprosium
67
Ho
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Holmium
68
Er
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Erbium
69
Tm
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Thulium
70
Yb
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Ytterbium
71
Lu
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Lutetium
89
Ac
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Actinium
90
Th
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Thorium
91
Pa
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Protactinium
92
U
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Uranium
93
Np
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Neptunium
94
Pu
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Plutonium
95
Am
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Americium
96
Cm
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Curium
97
Bk
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Berkelium
98
Cf
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Californium
99
Es
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Einsteinium
100
Fm
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Fermium
101
Md
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Mendelevium
102
No
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Nobelium
103
Lr
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Lawrencium
– s block – p block
– d block – f block

Classification

Groups in periodic table | Image: Learnool

There are many terms used to describe groups of elements that behave similarly. Alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, pnictogen, chalcogen, halogen, and noble gas are six of the group names recognized by the IUPAC.[1]

Although there is no official IUPAC definition of which elements are metals, nonmetals, or metalloids, the periodic table organizes elements into distinct groups, each with its unique characteristics. Alkali metals, for example, are known for their exceptional reactivity, ready to form alkaline solutions when they react with water. On the other hand, noble gases exhibit remarkable inertness and rarely participate in chemical reactions.

The terms “post-transition metal” and “poor metal” have been suggested as alternatives for categorizing certain metals that appear after the transition metals. These elements, positioned between the main-group and transition metals, often showcase unique properties, with zinc, cadmium, and mercury sometimes included in the post-transition metal category. However, despite these proposed terms, a consensus has not been reached within the scientific community. This ongoing debate highlights the challenge in appropriately classifying these metals.

The elements from La to Lu, collectively known as the lanthanides, share striking similarities. Originally, this group included elements from Ce to Lu, but over time, lanthanum was added due to its analogous properties. Lanthanides exhibit magnetic properties and find applications in technologies like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). On the other hand, the elements from Ac to Lr (previously, Th to Lr) are referred to as actinides. Unlike the lanthanides, the actinides showcase a broader range of properties. Some actinides, such as uranium and plutonium, play crucial roles in nuclear technology, demonstrating their significance beyond their lanthanide counterparts. This diverse behavior among actinides reflects the broader variation within this group.

History

Carbon, sulfur, iron, copper, silver, tin, gold, mercury, and lead are some of the chemical elements known since ancient history. These elements exist in their natural state and were relatively easy to mine using primitive tools. Meanwhile, zinc, arsenic, antimony, and bismuth were among the elements recognized during the age of alchemy.

In 1817, Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner, a German physicist, made one of the first attempts to categorize the elements. By 1829, he discovered a method to organize certain elements into groups of three, where each group’s members shared similar properties. These groupings, termed “triads,” consisted of chlorine, bromine, and iodine; calcium, strontium, and barium; lithium, sodium, and potassium; and sulfur, selenium, and tellurium.[2]

Dmitri Mendeleev | Image: Wikipedia

Dmitri Mendeleev, a Russian chemist, made a pivotal discovery in the development of the periodic table. Mendeleev, who was deeply committed to refine and champion his framework, left an indelible mark on the scientific community. Despite contemporaneous discoveries by other chemists, including Meyer, who proposed alternative variations of the periodic system, Mendeleev’s systematic approach to organizing elements based on their atomic weights, initiated in February 1869, had the most significant impact.

Mendeleev’s 1869 periodic table | Image: Wikipedia

His printed table first appeared in the publication of the Russian Chemical Society in May 1869, following Mendeleev’s settlement on an acceptable arrangement. Mendeleev openly acknowledged that instances where an element appeared to be missing from the system meant that the element had not yet been discovered. In 1871, he published a comprehensive article featuring an updated version of his table and publicly shared his predictions for undiscovered elements.

Mendeleev’s 1871 periodic table | Image: Wikipedia

Once the periodic table was ultimately organized, the descriptive value of the relationship between elements was recognized. However, this appreciation wasn’t universal. In 1881, Mendeleev and Meyer engaged in a heated exchange of papers, published in the British newspaper Chemical News, where they debated the significance of the periodic table. These papers, not only from Mendeleev and Meyer but also from others, contained critiques of the idea of periodicity.

In 1882, the Royal Society in London honored Mendeleev and Meyer with the Davy Medal for their groundbreaking work in classifying the elements. Remarkably, two of Mendeleev’s predicted elements had already been discovered by that time. It is important to highlight that his predictions weren’t explicitly acknowledged in the justification for the award. Despite this lack of recognition for his predictions, by 1890, Mendeleev’s periodic table had gained widespread acceptance as a fundamental cornerstone of chemical knowledge.[3]

Elements list

Refer to the provided table for a concise presentation of all 118 chemical elements arranged in sequential order.

Periodic table elements
Element 1: Hydrogen (H)
s block
Element 2: Helium (He)
s block
Element 3: Lithium (Li)
s block
Element 4: Beryllium (Be)
s block
Element 5: Boron (B)
p block
Element 6: Carbon (C)
p block
Element 7: Nitrogen (N)
p block
Element 8: Oxygen (O)
p block
Element 9: Fluorine (Fl)
p block
Element 10: Neon (Ne)
p block
Element 11: Sodium (Na)
s block
Element 12: Magnesium (Mg)
s block
Element 13: Aluminium (Al)
p block
Element 14: Silicon (Si)
p block
Element 15: Phosphorus (P)
p block
Element 16: Sulfur (S)
p block
Element 17: Chlorine (Cl)
p block
Element 18: Argon (Ar)
p block
Element 19: Potassium (K)
s block
Element 20: Calcium (Ca)
s block
Element 21: Scandium (Sc)
d block
Element 22: Titanium (Ti)
d block
Element 23: Vanadium (Va)
d block
Element 24: Chromium (Cr)
d block
Element 25: Manganese (Mg)
d block
Element 26: Iron (Fe)
d block
Element 27: Cobalt (Co)
d block
Element 28: Nickel (Ni)
d block
Element 29: Copper (Cu)
d block
Element 30: Zinc (Zn)
d block
Element 31: Gallium (Ga)
p block
Element 32: Germanium (Ge)
p block
Element 33: Arsenic (As)
p block
Element 34: Selenium (Se)
p block
Element 35: Bromine (Br)
p block
Element 36: Krypton (Kr)
p block
Element 37: Rubidium (Rb)
s block
Element 38: Strontium (Sr)
s block
Element 39: Yttrium (Yt)
d block
Element 40: Zirconium (Zr)
d block
Element 41: Niobium (Nb)
d block
Element 42: Molybdenum (Mo)
d block
Element 43: Technetium (Tc)
d block
Element 44: Ruthenium (Ru)
d block
Element 45: Rhodium (Rh)
d block
Element 46: Palladium (Pd)
d block
Element 47: Silver (Ag)
d block
Element 48: Cadmium (Cd)
d block
Element 49: Indium (In)
p block
Element 50: Tin (Sn)
p block
Element 51: Antimony (Sb)
p block
Element 52: Tellurium (Te)
p block
Element 53: Iodine (I)
p block
Element 54: Xenon (Xe)
p block
Element 55: Caesium (Cs)
s block
Element 56: Barium (Ba)
s block
Element 57: Lanthanum (La)
f block
Element 58: Cerium (Ce)
f block
Element 59: Praseodymium (Pr)
f block
Element 60: Neodymium (Nd)
f block
Element 61: Promethium (Pm)
f block
Element 62: Samarium (Sm)
f block
Element 63: Europium (Eu)
f block
Element 64: Gadolinium (Gd)
f block
Element 65: Terbium (Tb)
f block
Element 66: Dysprosium (Dy)
f block
Element 67: Holmium (Ho)
f block
Element 68: Erbium (Er)
f block
Element 69: Thulium (Tm)
f block
Element 70: Ytterbium (Yb)
f block
Element 71: Lutetium (Lu)
d block
Element 72: Hafnium (Hf)
d block
Element 73: Tantalum (Ta)
d block
Element 74: Tungsten (W)
d block
Element 75: Rhenium (Re)
d block
Element 76: Osmium (Os)
d block
Element 77: Iridium (Ir)
d block
Element 78: Platinum (Pt)
d block
Element 79: Gold (Au)
d block
Element 80: Mercury (Hg)
d block
Element 81: Thallium (Tl)
p block
Element 82: Lead (Pb)
p block
Element 83: Bismuth (Bi)
p block
Element 84: Polonium (Po)
p block
Element 85: Astatine (At)
p block
Element 86: Radon (Rn)
p block
Element 87: Francium (Fr)
s block
Element 88: Radium (Ra)
s block
Element 89: Actinium (Ac)
f block
Element 90: Thorium (Th)
f block
Element 91: Protactinium (Pa)
f block
Element 92: Uranium (U)
f block
Element 93: Neptunium (Np)
f block
Element 94: Plutonium (Pu)
f block
Element 95: Americium (Am)
f block
Element 96: Curium (Cm)
f block
Element 97: Berkelium (Bk)
f block
Element 98: Californium (Cf)
f block
Element 99: Einsteinium (Es)
f block
Element 100: Fermium (Fm)
f block
Element 101: Mendelevium (Md)
f block
Element 102: Nobelium (No)
f block
Element 103: Lawrencium (Lr)
d block
Element 104: Rutherfordium (Rf)
d block
Element 105: Dubnium (Db)
d block
Element 106: Seaborgium (Sg)
d block
Element 107: Bohrium (Bh)
d block
Element 108: Hassium (Hs)
d block
Element 109: Meitnerium (Mt)
d block
Element 110: Darmstadtium (Ds)
d block
Element 111: Roentgenium (Rg)
d block
Element 112: Copernicium (Cn)
d block
Element 113: Nihonium (Nh)
p block
Element 114: Flerovium (Fl)
p block
Element 115: Moscovium (Mc)
p block
Element 116: Livermorium (Lv)
p block
Element 117: Tennessine (Ts)
p block
Element 118: Oganesson (Og)
p block

Related

References

  1. Nomenclature of Inorganic Chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 2005) – IUPAC
  2. Development of the periodic table – Royal Society of Chemistry
  3. The Periodic Table: Its Story and Its Significance (pg 156-169) – Google Books

External links

Deep

Learnool.com was founded by Deep Rana, who is a mechanical engineer by profession and a blogger by passion. He has a good conceptual knowledge on different educational topics and he provides the same on this website. He loves to learn something new everyday and believes that the best utilization of free time is developing a new skill.

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