Updated 11 May 2020
The periodic table, sometimes called the periodic table of elements, is a visual depiction of all the known chemical elements. Each element is listed in order according to its atomic number, which is a measure of the number of protons found in the nucleus of an atom of that element. The rows and columns of the periodic table, called periods and groups, are organized in a way that helps scientists understand and find patterns in the similarities and differences between the chemical properties of the elements.
