What are the parts of the Periodic Table?
It will be important for you to understand the parts and structure of the periodic table. To print out a blank Periodic Table to write on, use this link: blank Periodic Table. The rows of elements are called periods, and they are numbered from 1-7 going from the top down (notice that the two separate rows at the bottom are part of the 6th and 7th periods). The columns are called groups or families. Some of the families have names – the first family is called the alkali metals; the second family is called the alkaline earth metals. The second to last family is called the halogens; the last family is called the noble gases. All other families are called after the name of the first element in that family – for example, the carbon family, the chromium family, and so on. There are also some larger sets to be aware of. All of the elements to the upper right of the bold, stair-step line (as well as hydrogen) are nonmetals, and everything to the lower left of the line (except hydrogen) are met
