What is the best way to study the periodic table?

Answer 1

First, learn the general structure: location of metals, metalloids, non-metals; transition elements, rare earth elements, representative elements. Where are the synthetic elements?

Columns are called groups or families: study the properties of the Noble Gas family (the last column) because all the other elements will try to mimic them. Look at trends as you go down the family: do melting/boiling points increase or decrease? What about size? What about reactivity? What state (solid, liquid, gas) are they? What is unique about this family.

Then study the properties of a typical metal family, the alkali metals (1st column). Look at the same trends. Metals tend to do the opposite of nonmetals. Are there any unique chemical reactions for this famly? Do they gain or lose electrons? Why?

Then study the properties of a typical nonmetal family, the halogens. Look at the same trends. Are they the same as the Noble Gases or the Alkali metals. What is unique about this family? Do they gain or lose electrons? Why?

You now have some general similarities for all metals and all non-metals.

Look at trends as you go across the row - there is a gradual change from metal to nonmetal as you go across. What can you tell from the trends? Look at valence electrons and whether or not they gain or lose electrons.

This will give you a good start. Find a good Chemistry text book and read the chapter on the periodic table. You will find lots of useful information there.

Answer 2

I feel that the best way to study the periodic table is to take about 1 element a day. Study the symbol and the name. Then the oxidation numbers(States) are important. But you really should not have to study the periodic table of elements you just have to learn the tricks which are easy to find.

Answer 3

Learn the trends in periodic properties. They help a lot in chemistry. Learn the characteristics of each group that makes them unique.

If you need to learn the elements and symbols, then the best way is with flash cards.

Learn the layout of the table compared to electron configuration. This will allow you to understand what elements will combine and why.

Answer 4

Two tips:
1. Make a paper chart into a spiral. It makes so much more sense that way!
2. About 45 years ago--not all the elements we know now had been discovered then--a Harvard professor named Tom Lehrer wrote an amazing song about the elements. Here are the lyrics: http://www.leekhigh.staffs.sch.uk/science/chemistry/Chim/PTfolder/TLehrer.html

Tom Lehrer wrote other classic songs--Poisoning Pigeons in the Park, I Hold Your Hand in Mine, Oedipus Rex, The Vatican Rag--he's a brilliant musical satirist. I wonder what he's doing these days.

Answer 5

Learn the traits of the columns, rows, and groups. Each section has a trait that increases or decreases in a given direction. Look on goggle for some notes from a college lecture course or pick up a chemistry text book...they usually address that in first chemistry class in college or some good high schools will emphasize traits rather than make you memorize every bloodly elements and its location-I never remember exactly where they are, only their traits based on the approximate location.

Answer 6

1. take transition metals... they form different colored compounds, and yet, all of then can conduct electricity and can conduct heat. 2. no idea 3. he made the X-ray spectrometer and Moseley's discovery showed that atomic numbers were not arbitrary but have a physical basis. 4. helium has the structure of the noble gas, so the middle of hydrogen and helium is blank. 5. the proton number