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periodic-table

An interactive periodic table presents the 118 known chemical elements arranged by atomic number into rows (periods) and columns (groups) reflecting recurring patterns in electron configuration and chemical behaviour, letting students click any element to read its physical / chemical properties without flipping through a textbook. The ZTools Periodic Table runs entirely in the browser, shows symbol, atomic number, atomic mass, group / period, electron configuration, common oxidation states, melting / boiling points, electronegativity, and discovery year for each element, with colour-coding by element category (alkali metals, halogens, noble gases, etc.).

Use cases​

Chemistry homework lookup​

Click iron (Fe) for atomic mass 55.845, electron config [Ar] 3d⁢ 4sΒ², common oxidation states +2, +3 β€” everything needed for a stoichiometry or balancing problem in one view.

Trend visualisation​

Toggle "atomic radius" or "electronegativity" colour overlay to see periodic trends across rows and columns at a glance β€” far clearer than a list of numbers.

Lab class reference​

Quick lookup during titrations or unknown-element identification: density, melting point, common compounds β€” replaces searching textbooks mid-experiment.

Exam revision​

Quiz mode (where supported) covers element symbol, name, group identification β€” useful for the memorisation portion of high-school and intro college chemistry.

How it works​

  1. Render the grid β€” 7 periods Γ— 18 groups, with the lanthanide and actinide rows split below the main table per IUPAC convention.
  2. Click any element β€” Opens a detail panel: name, symbol, atomic number, atomic mass, electron configuration, oxidation states, common compounds, discovery year.
  3. Filter / colour overlay β€” Highlight by category (alkali, alkaline earth, transition, metalloid, halogen, noble gas, lanthanide, actinide) or by trend (electronegativity, atomic radius, melting point).
  4. Search by name or symbol β€” Quick filter; type "neon" or "Ne" to highlight the element in the grid.
  5. Compare two elements β€” Pick two; tool shows side-by-side property table β€” useful for predicting bond polarity (electronegativity difference) or reactivity.

Examples​

Input: Click Carbon (C)

Output: Atomic # 6, mass 12.011, group 14, period 2, electron config 1sΒ² 2sΒ² 2pΒ², oxidation states -4 to +4, melting point 3550 Β°C.

Input: Compare Sodium and Chlorine

Output: Electronegativity Ξ” β‰ˆ 2.1 (Pauling) β€” predicts ionic bonding in NaCl.

Input: Filter: noble gases

Output: Highlights He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn, Og β€” all in group 18, nsΒ² np⁢ valence, low reactivity.

Frequently asked questions​

How many elements are on the table?

118 confirmed (as of 2026), through Oganesson (Og, atomic number 118). New superheavy elements remain candidates for synthesis but are not yet IUPAC-approved.

Why are the lanthanides and actinides shown below?

Visual convenience. They belong in periods 6 and 7 between groups 2 and 3; pulling them out keeps the main table compact while preserving sequence.

What does the colour mean?

Element category β€” alkali metals (red), alkaline earth (orange), transition metals (yellow), metalloids (green), nonmetals (blue), halogens (light blue), noble gases (purple), lanthanides + actinides (separate hues).

Why does atomic mass not match atomic number Γ— 2?

Atomic mass averages all naturally occurring isotopes weighted by abundance. It is not a simple multiple of the proton count.

What are oxidation states?

Common charges an element takes when bonded β€” useful for predicting compounds. E.g. Na: +1 (Na⁺ in NaCl); O: -2 (in Hβ‚‚O); Fe: +2 or +3 (FeO vs Feβ‚‚O₃).

Where do new elements get added?

IUPAC reviews evidence from accelerator experiments (e.g. JINR Dubna, GSI Darmstadt) and assigns names. Process can take years from synthesis to official naming.

Tips​

  • Memorise periods 1-3 (1-18 elements) cold β€” they appear in nearly every general-chem problem.
  • For organic chemistry focus on H, C, N, O, F, P, S, Cl, Br, I β€” the second-row + halogens cover most of the territory.
  • Use trend overlays during exam prep; visual patterns are more recall-friendly than memorising individual numbers.
  • When predicting bond type, electronegativity difference > 1.7 β‰ˆ ionic; 0.5–1.7 β‰ˆ polar covalent; < 0.5 β‰ˆ non-polar covalent.
  • Bookmark this page for use during lab classes; the comparison view is faster than separate textbook lookups.

Try it now​

The full periodic-table runs in your browser at https://ztools.zaions.com/periodic-table β€” no signup, no upload, no data leaves your device.

Open the tool β†—

Last updated: 2026-05-05 Β· Author: Ahsan Mahmood Β· Edit this page on GitHub