In order to understand the periodic table, a basic knowledge in the terminology would be very helpful. A periodic table a chart organizing elements by atomic numbers and chemical properties into groups and periods. The periodic table was created in order to easily find and classify the different elements that are known. Elements are pure substances composed of just one type of atom that cannot be broken down into anything simpler by ordinary chemical means. Some examples are Oxygen, Carbon, Gold, and Silver. [Source A] An atomic number is the number of protons or electrons in an atom, the number that appears over the element symbol. The Periodic Table is a tool used by many to solve different …show more content…
A little known fact is that the first known pure substance was discovered by the Ancient Greeks, who had only discovered the metallic elements. This was considerably very good because the Greeks had no modern technology. So because of this setback, this was the only thing that they could discover. The very first element was discovered in 1649. Hennig Brand discovered the element Phosphorus.[Source F] He considered all other elements that were soon to be discovered were an antiquity. The scientists did not know much about how the elements worked or what made them different from one another. The time period around the nine-teenth century, the field of chemistry had only about fifty known elements. This is a very limited knowledge of the elements, compared to todays knowledge. Advancements in technology was making discovering elements much easier. By 1869, the world had discovered about sixty-three different elements. [Source F] This was a considerable amount of elements compared to just a little more than two hundred years. The scientists are noticing patterns as well as discovering new elements. This helps many people if they are confused or for people who want shortcuts to figuring out the periodic table. One scientists that had a huge part for designing the periodic table was Mendeleev and he said that the gaps in his version of the table were the elements that haven’t been discovered …show more content…
Discovering some of the main elements before constructing the table was a must, they also had to know how to measure the different elements or collect data on the elements. Most all of the current periodic tables are all arranged the same way or very closely.[Source F] This is to avoid confusion and to have the most accurate results when examining the periodic table. Most are divided into metals, non-metals, and metalloids. Antoine Lavoisier had published his idea on how things were categorized. He categorized them into four categories based on their chemical properties, gases, nonmetals, metals, and earths. This was very close to what it is today. Group 1 is referred to alkali metals and group 2 is referred to as the alkaline earth metals. Both of these groups are extremely reactive. Group 3-12 are referred to as transition metals. Groups 13-18 are called the main group non-metals. The metallic group of elements are very common to people in everyday use. Most people don 't even realize how much they are exposed to the different elements. People also know more properties of metals than they realize. They know that metals are shiny, they are solids, and have a metallic look. Alkali Metals is the first group of atoms in the periodic table. These metals have a single electron in the outermost shell. Noble Gases are also known as inert or rare gases. These are gases that are nonreactive gases and form few