Chemistry: Introduction to the Periodic Table
The periodic table is the most powerful tool chemists have for organizing chemical information. Without it, chemistry would be a chaotic, confusing jumble of seemingly random observations. What makes the periodic table really invaluable is its use as a predictive tool. You can predict a lot about the chemical behavior of an element if you know where it is on the periodic table.
We give credit to Dmitri Mendeleev for the first Periodic Table. He organized the elements in his table in order of atomic mass. Henry Moseley modified the table, ordering the elements in terms of atomic number. This is the periodic table we use today.
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BREAKING NEWS: The Periodic Table now has a FULL SEVENTH ROW! #113, #115, #117, and #118
You can click on the links below to jump to sections in the lesson:
0:34 What does each square tell you about each element – name, chemical symbol, atomic number, atomic mass
1:10 Metals – where metallic elements are found on the periodic table
1:22 Nonmetals – where non-metallic elements are found on the periodic table
1:37 Metalloids – where metalloids are found on the periodic table
1:54 Elements are listed in order of increasing atomic number
2:04 Each element has a unique atomic number
2:11 Why elements are organized into columns – periodicity of chemical behavior/ Periodic Law
2:48 Columns are called groups or families – elements in the same group have similar chemical properties (valence electron configurations)
3:02 7 Rows called Periods – correspond to energy levels
3:15 Alkali metals and alkali Earth metals – s orbitals being filled
3:27 p orbitals being filled on right side of periodic table
3:34 Noble gases have filled valence shell
3:42 Transition metals – d orbitals being filled
3:50 Inner Transition metals – Lanthanides and Actinides – f orbitals being filled
4:09 How Groups are numbered
5:09 Changes to the periodic table
5:24 The first periodic table (in Mendeleev’s handwriting)
5:54 The work of Dmitri Mendeleev 1869 – in order of increasing atomic mass
6:07 Lothar Meyer
6:25 Mendeleev left gaps in his table and proposed missing elements
7:14 Henry Moseley modified periodic table – re-ordered by atomic number instead of atomic mass
8:38 92 Naturally occurring elements
8:41 synthesized elements
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We recommend the following books:
Brown and LeMay Chemistry: The Central Science
13th edition:
14th edition:
McGraw/Hill Chemistry by Chang & Goldsby
Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood by Oliver Sacks
Napoleon’s Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History
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Written and Produced by Kimberly Hatch Harrison
About our instructor:
Kimberly Hatch Harrison received degrees in Biology and English Literature from Caltech before working in pharmaceuticals research, developing drugs for autoimmune disorders. She then continued her studies in Molecular Biology (focusing on Immunology and Neurobiology) at Princeton University, where she began teaching as a graduate student. Her success in teaching convinced her to leave the glamorous world of biology research and turn to teaching full-time. Kimberly taught AP Biology and Chemistry at an exclusive prep school for eight years. She is now the head writer and producer of Socratica Studios.
Creative Commons Picture Credits:
Dmitri Mendeleev Periodic Table monument in Saint Petersburg
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Plasma globe video
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