Periodic Table

The Periodic Table (formally the Periodic Table of the Elements) is the canonical tabular arrangement of all 118 IUPAC-recognized chemical elements, ordered by increasing atomic number (Z, the number of nuclear protons from Hydrogen at Z = 1 to Oganesson at Z = 118) and organized into 7 horizontal periods and 18 vertical groups so that elements with homologous valence electron configurations align in columns. Formulated empirically by Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869 and grounded in quantum mechanics by Niels Bohr, Henry Moseley, and Wolfgang Pauli, the periodic law reveals how discrete quantum numbers (n, l, m_l, m_s) govern atomic radii, ionization enthalpy, Pauling electronegativity, oxidation states, and biological essentiality.

⚛️ Launch the Interactive Periodic Table Lab: Open the CRV Science Dynamic Periodic Table of the Elements to explore all 118 elements with animated Bohr electron shells, a live 0–6,000 K phase simulator, Pauling electronegativity heatmaps, biochemistry filters, and Element Detective mode.

The Pauli Exclusion Principle and Madelung (n + l) Aufbau Ordering

Every row (Period 1 through Period 7) corresponds to the filling of a new principal quantum shell (n = 1 to 7), while the four structural blocks reflect the azimuthal quantum number (l) of the highest-energy subshell being populated:

• s-block (Groups 1–2 and Helium): Populates the spherical ns^1–2 orbital (capacity 2 electrons), comprising Hydrogen, the electropositive Alkali Metals (Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Rubidium, Cesium, Francium), and the Alkaline Earth Metals (Beryllium, Magnesium, Calcium, Strontium, Barium, Radium).
• d-block (Groups 3–12): Populates the five (_n_−1)_d_^1–10 orbitals (capacity 10 electrons), forming the Transition Metals—including key biological and industrial catalysts such as Titanium, Chromium, Manganese, Iron, Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Molybdenum, Silver, Tungsten, Platinum, Gold, and Mercury.
• p-block (Groups 13–18): Populates the three directional np^1–6 orbitals (capacity 6 electrons), spanning Post-Transition Metals (Aluminum, Gallium, Indium, Tin, Thallium, Lead, Bismuth), Metalloids (Boron, Silicon, Germanium, Arsenic, Antimony, Tellurium), Reactive Nonmetals (Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Sulfur, Selenium), Halogens (Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine, Astatine, Tennessine), and Noble Gases (Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, Radon, Oganesson).
• f-block (Lanthanides & Actinides): Populates the seven (_n_−2)_f_^1–14 inner orbitals (capacity 14 electrons), comprising the 15 Lanthanides (Lanthanum Z = 57 through Lutetium Z = 71, including Neodymium, Europium, and Gadolinium) and 15 Actinides (Actinium Z = 89 through Lawrencium Z = 103, including Thorium, Uranium, Plutonium, and Americium).

Quantitative Summary of the 10 Element Families

Every element in the CRV Science Dynamic Periodic Table has a dedicated Wiki reference article:

• Z = 1 — Hydrogen (H) • Nonmetal (1s¹) — Inspect H in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 2 — Helium (He) • Noble Gas (1s²) — Inspect He in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 3 — Lithium (Li) • Alkali Metal ([He] 2s¹) — Inspect Li in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 4 — Beryllium (Be) • Alkaline Earth ([He] 2s²) — Inspect Be in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 5 — Boron (B) • Metalloid ([He] 2s² 2p¹) — Inspect B in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 6 — Carbon (C) • Nonmetal ([He] 2s² 2p²) — Inspect C in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 7 — Nitrogen (N) • Nonmetal ([He] 2s² 2p³) — Inspect N in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 8 — Oxygen (O) • Nonmetal ([He] 2s² 2p⁴) — Inspect O in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 9 — Fluorine (F) • Halogen ([He] 2s² 2p⁵) — Inspect F in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 10 — Neon (Ne) • Noble Gas ([He] 2s² 2p⁶) — Inspect Ne in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 11 — Sodium (Na) • Alkali Metal ([Ne] 3s¹) — Inspect Na in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 12 — Magnesium (Mg) • Alkaline Earth ([Ne] 3s²) — Inspect Mg in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 13 — Aluminum (Al) • Post-Transition ([Ne] 3s² 3p¹) — Inspect Al in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 14 — Silicon (Si) • Metalloid ([Ne] 3s² 3p²) — Inspect Si in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 15 — Phosphorus (P) • Nonmetal ([Ne] 3s² 3p³) — Inspect P in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 16 — Sulfur (S) • Nonmetal ([Ne] 3s² 3p⁴) — Inspect S in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 17 — Chlorine (Cl) • Halogen ([Ne] 3s² 3p⁵) — Inspect Cl in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 18 — Argon (Ar) • Noble Gas ([Ne] 3s² 3p⁶) — Inspect Ar in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 19 — Potassium (K) • Alkali Metal ([Ar] 4s¹) — Inspect K in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 20 — Calcium (Ca) • Alkaline Earth ([Ar] 4s²) — Inspect Ca in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 21 — Scandium (Sc) • Transition Metal ([Ar] 3d¹ 4s²) — Inspect Sc in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 22 — Titanium (Ti) • Transition Metal ([Ar] 3d² 4s²) — Inspect Ti in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 23 — Vanadium (V) • Transition Metal ([Ar] 3d³ 4s²) — Inspect V in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 24 — Chromium (Cr) • Transition Metal ([Ar] 3d⁵ 4s¹) — Inspect Cr in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 25 — Manganese (Mn) • Transition Metal ([Ar] 3d⁵ 4s²) — Inspect Mn in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 26 — Iron (Fe) • Transition Metal ([Ar] 3d⁶ 4s²) — Inspect Fe in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 27 — Cobalt (Co) • Transition Metal ([Ar] 3d⁷ 4s²) — Inspect Co in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 28 — Nickel (Ni) • Transition Metal ([Ar] 3d⁸ 4s²) — Inspect Ni in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 29 — Copper (Cu) • Transition Metal ([Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s¹) — Inspect Cu in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 30 — Zinc (Zn) • Transition Metal ([Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s²) — Inspect Zn in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 31 — Gallium (Ga) • Post-Transition ([Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p¹) — Inspect Ga in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 32 — Germanium (Ge) • Metalloid ([Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p²) — Inspect Ge in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 33 — Arsenic (As) • Metalloid ([Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p³) — Inspect As in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 34 — Selenium (Se) • Nonmetal ([Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁴) — Inspect Se in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 35 — Bromine (Br) • Halogen ([Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁵) — Inspect Br in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 36 — Krypton (Kr) • Noble Gas ([Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶) — Inspect Kr in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 37 — Rubidium (Rb) • Alkali Metal ([Kr] 5s¹) — Inspect Rb in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 38 — Strontium (Sr) • Alkaline Earth ([Kr] 5s²) — Inspect Sr in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 39 — Yttrium (Y) • Transition Metal ([Kr] 4d¹ 5s²) — Inspect Y in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 40 — Zirconium (Zr) • Transition Metal ([Kr] 4d² 5s²) — Inspect Zr in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 41 — Niobium (Nb) • Transition Metal ([Kr] 4d⁴ 5s¹) — Inspect Nb in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 42 — Molybdenum (Mo) • Transition Metal ([Kr] 4d⁵ 5s¹) — Inspect Mo in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 43 — Technetium (Tc) • Transition Metal ([Kr] 4d⁵ 5s²) — Inspect Tc in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 44 — Ruthenium (Ru) • Transition Metal ([Kr] 4d⁷ 5s¹) — Inspect Ru in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 45 — Rhodium (Rh) • Transition Metal ([Kr] 4d⁸ 5s¹) — Inspect Rh in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 46 — Palladium (Pd) • Transition Metal ([Kr] 4d¹⁰) — Inspect Pd in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 47 — Silver (Ag) • Transition Metal ([Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s¹) — Inspect Ag in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 48 — Cadmium (Cd) • Transition Metal ([Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s²) — Inspect Cd in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 49 — Indium (In) • Post-Transition ([Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p¹) — Inspect In in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 50 — Tin (Sn) • Post-Transition ([Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p²) — Inspect Sn in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 51 — Antimony (Sb) • Metalloid ([Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p³) — Inspect Sb in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 52 — Tellurium (Te) • Metalloid ([Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁴) — Inspect Te in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 53 — Iodine (I) • Halogen ([Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁵) — Inspect I in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 54 — Xenon (Xe) • Noble Gas ([Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶) — Inspect Xe in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 55 — Cesium (Cs) • Alkali Metal ([Xe] 6s¹) — Inspect Cs in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 56 — Barium (Ba) • Alkaline Earth ([Xe] 6s²) — Inspect Ba in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 57 — Lanthanum (La) • Lanthanide ([Xe] 5d¹ 6s²) — Inspect La in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 58 — Cerium (Ce) • Lanthanide ([Xe] 4f¹ 5d¹ 6s²) — Inspect Ce in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 59 — Praseodymium (Pr) • Lanthanide ([Xe] 4f³ 6s²) — Inspect Pr in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 60 — Neodymium (Nd) • Lanthanide ([Xe] 4f⁴ 6s²) — Inspect Nd in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 61 — Promethium (Pm) • Lanthanide ([Xe] 4f⁵ 6s²) — Inspect Pm in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 62 — Samarium (Sm) • Lanthanide ([Xe] 4f⁶ 6s²) — Inspect Sm in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 63 — Europium (Eu) • Lanthanide ([Xe] 4f⁷ 6s²) — Inspect Eu in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 64 — Gadolinium (Gd) • Lanthanide ([Xe] 4f⁷ 5d¹ 6s²) — Inspect Gd in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 65 — Terbium (Tb) • Lanthanide ([Xe] 4f⁹ 6s²) — Inspect Tb in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 66 — Dysprosium (Dy) • Lanthanide ([Xe] 4f¹⁰ 6s²) — Inspect Dy in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 67 — Holmium (Ho) • Lanthanide ([Xe] 4f¹¹ 6s²) — Inspect Ho in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 68 — Erbium (Er) • Lanthanide ([Xe] 4f¹² 6s²) — Inspect Er in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 69 — Thulium (Tm) • Lanthanide ([Xe] 4f¹³ 6s²) — Inspect Tm in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 70 — Ytterbium (Yb) • Lanthanide ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 6s²) — Inspect Yb in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 71 — Lutetium (Lu) • Lanthanide ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹ 6s²) — Inspect Lu in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 72 — Hafnium (Hf) • Transition Metal ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d² 6s²) — Inspect Hf in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 73 — Tantalum (Ta) • Transition Metal ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d³ 6s²) — Inspect Ta in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 74 — Tungsten (W) • Transition Metal ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴ 6s²) — Inspect W in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 75 — Rhenium (Re) • Transition Metal ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁵ 6s²) — Inspect Re in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 76 — Osmium (Os) • Transition Metal ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁶ 6s²) — Inspect Os in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 77 — Iridium (Ir) • Transition Metal ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁷ 6s²) — Inspect Ir in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 78 — Platinum (Pt) • Transition Metal ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁹ 6s¹) — Inspect Pt in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 79 — Gold (Au) • Transition Metal ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s¹) — Inspect Au in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 80 — Mercury (Hg) • Transition Metal ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s²) — Inspect Hg in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 81 — Thallium (Tl) • Post-Transition ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p¹) — Inspect Tl in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 82 — Lead (Pb) • Post-Transition ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p²) — Inspect Pb in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 83 — Bismuth (Bi) • Post-Transition ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p³) — Inspect Bi in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 84 — Polonium (Po) • Post-Transition ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁴) — Inspect Po in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 85 — Astatine (At) • Halogen ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁵) — Inspect At in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 86 — Radon (Rn) • Noble Gas ([Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p⁶) — Inspect Rn in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 87 — Francium (Fr) • Alkali Metal ([Rn] 7s¹) — Inspect Fr in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 88 — Radium (Ra) • Alkaline Earth ([Rn] 7s²) — Inspect Ra in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 89 — Actinium (Ac) • Actinide ([Rn] 6d¹ 7s²) — Inspect Ac in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 90 — Thorium (Th) • Actinide ([Rn] 6d² 7s²) — Inspect Th in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 91 — Protactinium (Pa) • Actinide ([Rn] 5f² 6d¹ 7s²) — Inspect Pa in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 92 — Uranium (U) • Actinide ([Rn] 5f³ 6d¹ 7s²) — Inspect U in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 93 — Neptunium (Np) • Actinide ([Rn] 5f⁴ 6d¹ 7s²) — Inspect Np in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 94 — Plutonium (Pu) • Actinide ([Rn] 5f⁶ 7s²) — Inspect Pu in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 95 — Americium (Am) • Actinide ([Rn] 5f⁷ 7s²) — Inspect Am in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 96 — Curium (Cm) • Actinide ([Rn] 5f⁷ 6d¹ 7s²) — Inspect Cm in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 97 — Berkelium (Bk) • Actinide ([Rn] 5f⁹ 7s²) — Inspect Bk in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 98 — Californium (Cf) • Actinide ([Rn] 5f¹⁰ 7s²) — Inspect Cf in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 99 — Einsteinium (Es) • Actinide ([Rn] 5f¹¹ 7s²) — Inspect Es in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 100 — Fermium (Fm) • Actinide ([Rn] 5f¹² 7s²) — Inspect Fm in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 101 — Mendelevium (Md) • Actinide ([Rn] 5f¹³ 7s²) — Inspect Md in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 102 — Nobelium (No) • Actinide ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 7s²) — Inspect No in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 103 — Lawrencium (Lr) • Actinide ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 7s² 7p¹) — Inspect Lr in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 104 — Rutherfordium (Rf) • Transition Metal ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d² 7s²) — Inspect Rf in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 105 — Dubnium (Db) • Transition Metal ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d³ 7s²) — Inspect Db in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 106 — Seaborgium (Sg) • Transition Metal ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁴ 7s²) — Inspect Sg in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 107 — Bohrium (Bh) • Transition Metal ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁵ 7s²) — Inspect Bh in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 108 — Hassium (Hs) • Transition Metal ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁶ 7s²) — Inspect Hs in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 109 — Meitnerium (Mt) • Transition Metal ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁷ 7s²) — Inspect Mt in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 110 — Darmstadtium (Ds) • Transition Metal ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁹ 7s¹) — Inspect Ds in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 111 — Roentgenium (Rg) • Transition Metal ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s¹) — Inspect Rg in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 112 — Copernicium (Cn) • Transition Metal ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s²) — Inspect Cn in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 113 — Nihonium (Nh) • Post-Transition ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p¹) — Inspect Nh in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 114 — Flerovium (Fl) • Post-Transition ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p²) — Inspect Fl in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 115 — Moscovium (Mc) • Post-Transition ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p³) — Inspect Mc in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 116 — Livermorium (Lv) • Post-Transition ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p⁴) — Inspect Lv in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 117 — Tennessine (Ts) • Halogen ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p⁵) — Inspect Ts in Dynamic Periodic Table →
• Z = 118 — Oganesson (Og) • Noble Gas ([Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p⁶) — Inspect Og in Dynamic Periodic Table →

Why does atomic radius decrease across a period but increase down a group?

Moving left to right across a period, protons are added to the nucleus while electrons enter the same principal shell (n). Because electrons within the same shell shield one another poorly, the effective nuclear charge (Z_eff) felt by valence electrons increases steadily, pulling the electron cloud closer to the nucleus and increasing both ionization energy and Pauling electronegativity. Moving down a group adds an entire new principal quantum shell, increasing atomic radius.

Why do the Elements of Life (CHNOPS) cluster in the upper-right nonmetal corner?

Living systems rely on Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur because Period 1–3 nonmetals have small covalent radii that permit strong, kinetically stable single, double, and triple bonds—and in Carbon's case, unlimited catenation—while Period 3 Phosphorus and Sulfur provide tunable group-transfer bioenergetics in adenosine triphosphate and redox-active iron-sulfur clusters.

How can I interactively test phase transitions and electron orbitals for all 118 elements?

Visit the CRV Science Dynamic Periodic Table Lab on Learn to click any of the 118 elements, watch its animated Bohr electron shells, slide the temperature from 0 K to 6,000 K to see every element freeze, melt, or vaporize, and test your knowledge in Element Detective mode.