The Periodic Table is arranged according to the atomic number of each element, and each atomic number explains the amount of protons that an atom has. Each atom has the same amount of electrons as protons, so it also lets us know how many protons and electrons there are. The Periodic Table is also sorted by recurring chemical properties, and electron configurations.
The elements in the Periodic Table can also be divided into 4 groups. Main group elements, transition metals, lanthanides, and actinides. Main group elements include the active metals on the very left side of the table, as well as metals, metalloids, and non-metals on the far right side. Transition metals include metallic elements that serve as a bridge, or as a transition between the 2 sides of the table. The lanthanides and actinides are at the very bottom of the table, and are sometimes known as inner-transition metals, because they have atomic numbers that fall between the first and second elements in the last 2 rows of the transition metals.
Metals are materials that have good electrical and thermal conductivity, and are generally hard, opaque, and shiny. They are normally malleable, and are found in the middle of the Periodic Table.
Metalloids are chemical elements which have properties between metals and non-metals, or is a mixture of both. Metalloids take up the place on the right side of the Periodic table.
Non-metals are chemical elements that lack the properties and attributes that a metal has. Non-metals are good insulators of heat and electricity, but they have low elasticity.
Families are vertical columns in the Periodic Table that have similar properties. They are normally numbered 1 through 18, but some scientists use roman numerals. IA is made of alkali metals, but IIA is made up of alkaline earth metals, VIIA is made up of halogens, and VIIIA is made of noble gases. The families have the same amount of valance electrons, and looking at the Bohr models, you can see that the second family, which has Beryllium, Magnesium and Calcium all have full outer shells, plus 2 valance electrons, and the rule applies for the rest in the family.
Periods are horizontal rows that are numbered 1 to 7, 1 being where hydrogen is, and 7 at the bottom on the left side of the table. Elements in the same period have chemical properties that are not that similar. In period 3, sodium (Na) and magnesium (Mg), both tend to lose electrons when they react, but sodium loses 1 electron while magnesium loses 2.
Ion charges affect the element in many ways. For example, Group I, or alkali metals, have a +1 ionic charge, Group II (alkaline earth metals) has a +2 charge, Group VII (halogens) has a -1 charge, and Group VIII (noble gases) has a 0 charge, a neutral charge. To find the ionic charge of an element, you have to look at the Periodic Table, often, elements found to the left, which are metals, will be positive, while elements to the right, which are non-metals, are positive. Some metals have more than 1 ionic charge. Transition metals normally have more than 1 ionic charge.
All elements in nature are reactive chemically, except for Noble gases. The elements’ atoms tend to either gain, lose, or share electrons in order to make sure they have full outer valence shells. The highest reacting elements include potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, carbon, zinc, and iron. The least reactive elements include tin, lead, hydrogen, copper, silver, gold, and platinum. Elements who are willing to give, take, or share electrons to complete their incomplete valance shells are more reactive than noble gases, who have full valance shells and do not wish to take, give, or share their electrons, which are therefore nonreactive.