Complete Element Table with Names and Symbols

What Is the Periodic Table of Elements?

The periodic table is a systematic arrangement of all 118 known chemical elements. Each element gets a unique symbol, atomic number, and position that tells you exactly what you're working with. No guessing, no confusion—just hard data organized in rows and columns.

Scientists developed this system over 150 years ago when they realized elements follow predictable patterns. Group them right, and you can forecast their behavior. Get it wrong, and you're flying blind in a chemistry lab.

This guide gives you the complete element table with names and symbols, plus the context you need to actually use it.

How the Periodic Table Is Organized

The table isn't random. It's structured around two key properties:

• Atomic number — The number of protons in an element's nucleus. This defines what the element IS.
• Electron configuration — How electrons arrange themselves around the nucleus. This determines how the element behaves.

Rows are called periods. Columns are called groups. Elements in the same group share similar chemical properties because they have the same number of electrons in their outer shell.

Periods (Horizontal Rows)

There are 7 periods. Each period represents a new electron shell being filled. As you move across a period, elements become less metallic and more non-metallic.

Groups (Vertical Columns)

There are 18 groups. Elements in the same group react similarly. This is the whole point—the table predicts behavior based on position.

The Complete Element Table with Names and Symbols

Here's every element you'll encounter in standard chemistry, from hydrogen (1) through the transition metals and beyond:

Element Categories You Need to Know

The table divides into distinct blocks. Each block shares physical and chemical properties.

Alkali Metals — Group 1

Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr. These are soft, highly reactive metals that don't occur freely in nature. Sodium chloride (table salt) is the most common compound. Handle with care—they explode on contact with water.

Alkaline Earth Metals — Group 2

Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra. Less reactive than alkali metals but still plenty energetic. Calcium makes up your bones. Magnesium keeps your muscles working. These elements form 2+ cations easily.

Transition Metals — Groups 3-12

Sc through Zn, plus the two rows below the main table. These include iron (Fe), copper (Cu), gold (Au), and silver (Ag). They're dense, conductive, and form colored compounds. Most industrial applications rely on these elements.

Post-Transition Metals

Al, Ga, In, Sn, Tl, Pb, Bi. These look metallic but are softer and have lower melting points. Lead and tin have been used since ancient times. Aluminum dominates modern manufacturing.

Metalloids

B, Si, Ge, As, Sb, Te, Po. These straddle the line between metals and non-metals. Silicon is the backbone of all computer chips. Germanium started the semiconductor revolution before silicon took over.

Non-Metals

H, C, N, O, P, S, Se. These don't conduct electricity and tend to form covalent bonds. Carbon is the foundation of organic chemistry. Oxygen keeps you alive. Nitrogen makes up 78% of the atmosphere.

Halogens — Group 17

F, Cl, Br, I, At. The most reactive elements on the table. Fluorine is so aggressive it attacks glass. Chlorine disinfects water supplies. Iodine is essential for thyroid function.

Noble Gases — Group 18

He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn, Og. These don't react with anything under normal conditions. Their outer electron shells are full. Helium fills balloons. Neon lights up signs. Argon protects welding joints from oxidation.

Lanthanides and Actinides

The two rows pulled out below the main table. Lanthanides (La-Lu) power稀土 magnets in electric vehicles. Actinides (Ac-Lr) include all radioactive elements, including uranium and plutonium used in nuclear reactors.

How to Read Element Symbols

Element symbols aren't random. Most derive from the element's Latin or Greek name:

• Fe (Ferrum) — Latin for iron
• Au (Aurum) — Latin for gold
• Cu (Cuprum) — From Cyprus, historically the source of copper
• Na (Natrium) — Latin for sodium
• K (Kalium) — Latin for potassium

Single-letter symbols come from the English name: H, B, C, N, O, F, P, S, K, V, Y, I, W, U.

Two-letter symbols always start with a capital letter followed by lowercase. Co is cobalt. CO is carbon monoxide—a compound, not an element.

Getting Started: Using the Element Table

Here's how to actually use this table in practice:

Finding an Element by Symbol

Search the table for the symbol. The atomic number tells you how many protons it has. The position tells you its properties.

Predicting Chemical Behavior

Elements in the same group behave similarly. All alkali metals (Group 1) form +1 ions. All halogens (Group 17) form -1 ions. This is why the table exists—to make predictions possible.

Understanding Compounds

Sodium (Na, Group 1) gives up one electron. Chlorine (Cl, Group 17) accepts one electron. They form NaCl—table salt. The charges balance because Group 1 +1 matches Group 17 -1.

Reading Chemical Formulas

H₂O means two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen. CO₂ means one carbon bonded to two oxygens. The subscript number tells you how many of that element are in the molecule.

Quick Reference: Most Common Elements

If you only memorize 20 elements, make them these:

The Bottom Line

The periodic table isn't optional knowledge if you're doing anything with chemistry, physics, or materials science. It's the entire foundation. Memorize the first 20 elements, understand how groups work, and you can predict chemical behavior without looking up every single reaction.

Bookmark this page. You'll reference it constantly.