The periodic table is a display of chemical elements. To make it easier for scientists around the world to study and work within the same framework, the periodic table is an international system. Even when naming elements, there has to be consistency for research to be organized on a global level. Moreover, each element on the table has an atomic number, which is based on the properties of the elements.

Simple in structure, the table is made up of horizontal rows and vertical columns. The horizontal rows are called periods. There are seven different periods and they are represented by each element’s number of outer electrons. 

The vertical columns are called groups. There are 18 groups of elements and each group is either named by the first element in the group or by a Roman numeral. Known as the Alkali metals, group 1 consists of six different chemical elements. All of these metals are highly reactive and soft. Group 2, the alkaline earth metals, are also composed of six elements and have similar properties to group 1 but are less reactive. Containing some of the most commonly known elements such as Iron (Fe), Silver (Ag), Gold (Au), and Copper (Cu), are groups 3-12. These are transition metals which are harder than the alkali metals. Because they aren’t used often, groups 13-15 aren’t as important. However, group 16, the Chalcogens, are made up of four elements. Chalcogen means “ore forming” because these elements are found in metal ore. This group includes the elements oxygen and sulfur. The final group, the “noble gasses,” are classified as that since they don’t combine with other elements to readily form compounds. 

Formulated by Russian scientist Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869, the periodic table is helpful and well-organized. Without it, science would be more difficult to teach and to understand.