2007-09-26 16:32:09 · 3 answers · asked by Black Light Burns 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Hydrogen is floating off to the left top because it doesn't really have a place in the periodic table that it fits into perfectly so they just placed it at the top. At least that what my Chemistry teacher told us.
2007-09-26 17:12:40 · answer #1 · answered by ~Mrs. D~ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure why in some tables it is floating off in the middle, it has one s orbital electron, so it could be put on the far left; but it's also the only one I know of that has significant tunneling probability in reactions, so maybe that earned it it's special place. Or maybe it's to emphasize that it belongs over with the other non-metals, or that it can also gain an electron to fill it's s orbital.
In modern periodic tables it is on the far left in group and period 1 like you'd expect.
2007-09-26 23:44:38 · answer #2 · answered by bagalagalaga 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first period consists of two elements, since there is one orbital and that orbital can accomodate a maximum of 2 electrons. Hydrogen is the element with 1 electron; helium, the element with 2.
2007-09-26 23:35:45 · answer #3 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋