Meaning & use
periodic table
Last updated
Meaning
nounsingularchemistry
A chart that shows all known chemical elements arranged by increasing atomic number and by similar properties.
Grammar: Usually used with the definite article: the periodic table.
Patterns
- the periodic table
- on the periodic table
- in the periodic table
The periodic table is divided into rows called periods and columns called groups.
Hydrogen is at the top left of the periodic table.
Students often memorize the first twenty elements of the periodic table.
Common combinations
- on the periodic table
- Gold appears on the periodic table with the symbol Au.
- elements of the periodic table
- There are 118 confirmed elements of the periodic table.
- periodic table group
- Group 1 of the periodic table contains the alkali metals.
- periodic table period
- Each period of the periodic table corresponds to a new electron shell.
Word family
- periodic adjective
- Happening at regular intervals.
- periodic law noun
- The principle that the properties of elements repeat periodically.
Commonly confused: periodic table or periodic law?
periodic table vs periodic law
The periodic table is the chart; the periodic law is the rule it demonstrates.
Practice
In the periodic table, elements are arranged mainly by increasing ______.
Choose one answer.
The modern periodic table is ordered by atomic number (the number of protons). Atomic mass was used in early versions but led to misplaced elements.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “periodic table”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.