This book is dedicated to Dmitri Mendeleev, the creator of the Periodic Table.

Families of the Periodic Table

The Vertical Columns on the Periodic Table known as Families, because of their similar chemical behavior. Elements of the same family have the same number of outermost, or valence electrons, and they share similar chemical properties with one another. There are 18 numbered groups on the periodic table. The names of each family are the Alkali Metals, Alkaline Earth Metals, Transition Metals, Noble Gases, Halogens, Oxygen Family, Carbon Family, Nitrogen Family, and Boron Family.

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Periods of the Periodic Table

A Periods in the periodic table is a row of chemical elements. Each element in a row have the exact same amount of electron shells. Each next element in a period has one more proton than its predecessor. There are 7 total periods in the periodic table.

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The number of protons in an element is referred to as the atomic number of that element.The number of protons defines what element it is and also determines the chemical behavior of the element. All elements on the periodic table have a different Atomic Number.

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Metals are on the left side of the Periodic table. Metals are malleable, good conductors of heat, ductile, and good conductors of electricity. 

Nonmetals are found on the right side of the periodic table. They are Non-Malleable and Ductile, and very brittle, meaning that they can't be made into wire or rolled into sheets. They are also very poor conductors of heat and electricity

Metalloids are found in the dividing side between the metals and nonmetals on the periodic table. They are very brittle and they share characteristics of both Metals and Nonmetals.

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Valence Electrons

Valence, or Outermost Electrons are very important to determine the reactivity of an atom and also determine its tendency to form the chemical bonds. The number of valence electrons in an atom is reflected by its position in the periodic table of the elements (see the periodic table in the Figure below). Across each row, or period, of the periodic table, the number of valence electrons in groups 1–2 and 13–18 increases by one from one element to the next. If an atom has full electron shells it is likely to have lower reactivity than that of one with emptier electron shells.

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Families and Groups

Alkali Metals

Alkaline Earth Metals

Transition Metals

Boron Family

Carbon Family

Nitrogen Family

Oxygen Family

Halogens

Noble Gases

Alkali Metals

The elements found in Group A of the Periodic Table are called Alkali Metals. They are extremely reactive, as to why they combine with many other elements. They are also very soft and are easily malleable and ductile. Unlike other elements, they can never be found in their uncombined form in nature because of that reactivity. All elements in this family have one valence electron, though they have varying electron shells. The most common element in this family, Sodium, is famous for it's role in the compound sodium chloride (table salt). Potassium, famous for it's presence in bananas is a silvery-white metal that is soft enough to be cut with a kitchen knife. Rubidium, another alkali metal is the first alkali metal in the group to have a higher density than water, so it sinks.

Alkaline Earth Metals

The elements found in group 2 of the periodic table are called Alkaline Earth Metals. They have low melting and boiling points, low densities, and are reactive and standard pressure and temperature. Just like their cousin family, the alkali metals, they can't be found in their pure form in nature. Calcium, a member of this family, is found in human bones and milk. Magnesium, found in water is crucial to our muscle and nerve function and energy production. Radium is a very soft, shiny, and radioactive metal found at the very bottom of this family. It isn't used commonly anymore, but it was once used for luminous paints found in clock and watch dials.

Transition Metals

Transition Metals are found from groups 3 to 12 in the Periodic Table. They are good conductors of heat and electricity, are very malleable and ductile, and share high melting points and densities. They have 2-4 valence electrons. Some transition metals can be found in their pure form in natures, while some can't. Some important transition metals are Iron, Gold, and Copper. Iron is not only used for buildings and all sorts of objects, it is also a mineral that our bodies need for many functions. For example, Iron is part of hemoglobin, a protein which carries oxygen from our lungs throughout our bodies. It helps our muscles store and use oxygen. Another transition Metal, Gold, is very versatile and helpful to humans in many ways. A few examples of this are it's use for jewelry, medals and awards, medicines, and electronics and computers. Finally, copper is used in electrical equipment such as wiring and motors. It also is mixed with zinc to form pennies.

Boron Family

The elements found in group 13 of periodic table are known as the Boron Family. Every element in this family has 3 valence electrons. These are considered to be post-transition metals. Boron is the only metalloid in this family; the others are classified as metals. All of the elements in this family can conduct electricity (except for nihonium.) A member of this family, Aluminum, is very malleable (easy to roll into thin sheets) so it is used as foil and used to make pans. Indium, another member of this family, is a very good conductor so it is used to make tin oxide, which is found in touch screens, flatscreen TVs, and solar panels. Finally, Gallium is a soft, silvery metal which is used for semiconductors, thermometers, and barometers.