Guide to Periodic Tables

Finding good periodic tables is elemental when working with or studying chemicals

By Rachel Kuptz

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In the world of chemicals, periodic tables come in handy. With 117 elements, if you aren’t working with specific chemicals on a regular basis, it’s not always practical to memorize every element name, atomic number, or group and period. Luckily, there are a variety of sources on the Internet which allow you to look up periodic tables quickly and efficiently.

Whether you’re a student studying for a test or a professional in need of more information on a specific chemical, periodic tables can be useful. When using or looking for periodic tables, you want to ensure that:

Periodic tables come from a credible source.
Periodic tables list at a minimum the atomic number and symbol.
Periodic tables are updated. As of January 2008, there were 117 elements.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Finding periodic tables on the Web

A number of websites offer information on periodic tables. Some tables are descriptive and interactive, allowing you to click on each element to get detailed information on the specific element, while other websites are static and simplistic, offering printable versions of periodic tables.

I recommend: For a detailed periodic table, visit WebElements, a site that shows a periodic table and allows you to click through to landing pages with more information specific to the element that you selected. The Chemicool and Chemical Elements.com websites also offer up interactive periodic tables with additional information when you click on a specific element.

Find printable periodic tables for portability

Although interactive websites can offer a wealth of information, if you're looking for periodic tables to refer to when you're away from your computer, a printable periodic table or printable periodic table chart is what you need. Many college and university websites offer free printable periodic tables for students to print for study purposes, but these periodic tables are not free to all.

I recommend: ScienceGeek offers a printable periodic table if you're in search of a tangible version. Swanson Technologies also provides a periodic table of scientific elements that can be viewed online, in non-interactive form, and printed. Printable periodic tables are useful for studying or making notes next to elements with which you frequently work.

Find a descriptive and interactive periodic table

If you're looking for more information about periodic tables, such as the naming convention for elements, why elements are grouped together, or the history of periodic tables, there are many sites that offer up detailed backgrounds.

I recommend: The Science Department at Widener University offers a periodic table with element names in a printable PDF version whereas most periodic tables only list the symbol and atomic numbers. Chemtutor, a website that specializes in all things chemical, supplies a periodic table with information on periodic table groups and information on the scientific periodic table of elements.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

If you think that you've found all the information you need from periodic tables, why not test your knowledge? Some websites offer interactive games that test your expertise of the Periodic Table of Scientific Elements. With timed versions, you can type in the symbol, names, or atomic numbers of elements into a blank periodic table.

The official source of Periodic Tables is the Periodic Tables page at Business.com

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