Components of the periodic table

The periodic table is composed of several key components that organize and classify the chemical elements:

1. Elements: The fundamental substances, each with a unique atomic number.
2. Periods (Rows): Horizontal rows that represent the principal energy levels (electron shells) of atoms. There are 7 periods.
3. Groups (Columns): Vertical columns that contain elements with similar chemical properties due to having the same number of valence electrons. There are 18 groups.
4. Blocks: Regions classifying elements based on the type of orbital being filled (s-block, p-block, d-block, f-block).
5. Classification by Properties: Elements are broadly categorized into metals, nonmetals, and metalloids based on their physical and chemical characteristics.
6. Individual Element Information: Each element's box typically includes its atomic number, element symbol, element name, and atomic mass.