Properties of the Periodic Table

Noble gases

Nonreactive nonmetals with 8 valence electrons

Valence electrons

Electrons on the outermost energy level of an atom

Metal

Elements that are good conductors of heat and electricity, shiny, malleable and ductile, and have high boiling/melting points

Periodic table

A chart that organizes the elements by their chemical properties and increasing atomic number. There are a total of 18 groups.

Elements

A molecule composed of one kind of atom; cannot be broken into simpler units by chemical reactions.

Periods

Horizontal rows on the periodic table.

Metalloids or Semimetals

Elements with properties that have properties of both metals and nonmetals

Nonmetals

Elements that are poor conductors of heat and electricity, dull, brittle, and low boiling/melting point

Families or Groups

Vertical columns on the periodic table in which the elements share similar characteristics

Alkali metals

Has 1 valence electron, react violently with water, and contains the elements Sodium and Cesium

Halogens

Very reactive nonmetals with 7 valence electrons

Alkaline earth metals

These elements are shiny and good conductors, they have 2 valence electrons.