periodic table

Elements are arranged by atomic number. This topic is part of Chemistry within Science & Nature. This page currently draws on 24 supporting questions, with answers and bonus facts available below.

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periodic table trivia questions

The periodic table organizes what?

Answer: Chemical elements

Bonus fact: Elements are arranged by atomic number.

Elements in the same vertical column of the periodic table are called what?

Answer: Group

Bonus fact: Group members often have similar chemical properties.

Who created an early periodic table that successfully predicted missing elements?

Answer: Dmitri Mendeleev

Bonus fact: Mendeleev left gaps for elements not yet discovered.

What does the periodic table organize elements primarily by increasing what?

Answer: Atomic number

Bonus fact: Modern periodic tables are arranged by atomic number, the number of protons in an atom.

Which scientist is credited with formulating the modern periodic law and creating an early predictive periodic table?

Answer: Dmitri Mendeleev

Bonus fact: Mendeleev organized elements by recurring properties and successfully predicted several undiscovered elements.

In the periodic table, what does a period represent?

Answer: A horizontal row

Bonus fact: Elements in the same period have electrons occupying the same number of principal energy levels.

Halogens occupy which group of the periodic table?

Answer: Group 17

Bonus fact: Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and related elements are halogens.

Lithium belongs to which periodic-table group?

Answer: Alkali metals

Bonus fact: Lithium is the lightest alkali metal.

Phosphorus belongs to which periodic-table group?

Answer: Group 15

Bonus fact: It is a pnictogen.

Sulfur belongs to which periodic-table group?

Answer: Group 16

Bonus fact: Group 16 is the chalcogen family.

Beryllium belongs to which periodic-table group?

Answer: Alkaline earth metals

Bonus fact: Beryllium is a Group 2 element.

Fluorine belongs to which periodic-table group?

Answer: Halogens

Bonus fact: Fluorine is a Group 17 element.

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