The periodic table of elements organizes all 118 known chemical elements by atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties. Rows (periods) represent electron shells; columns (groups) group elements with similar valence electrons and chemical behavior. Click any element to explore its atomic mass, electron configuration, electronegativity, melting/boiling point, and oxidation states.
Electron Configuration
Physical Properties
| State at room temp | |
| Density | |
| Melting point | |
| Boiling point | |
| Electronegativity | |
| Oxidation states |
How to Use the Interactive Periodic Table
This interactive periodic table displays all 118 elements in the standard 18-column layout, color-coded by element category. Use it to quickly look up element properties, compare trends across periods and groups, and understand electron configurations.
Browsing Elements
Click any element tile to open the detail panel below the table. The panel shows atomic number, atomic mass, electron configuration (full and noble gas shorthand), physical properties (density, melting/boiling points), electronegativity, oxidation states, and electron shell distribution. Lanthanides (elements 57-71) and actinides (elements 89-103) appear in the two separate rows below the main table — this is standard convention to keep the table compact.
Searching and Filtering
Use the search bar to find elements by name (e.g., "iron"), symbol (e.g., "Fe"), or atomic number (e.g., "26"). Non-matching elements dim out, making it easy to spot your target. The category filter highlights only the selected element family (e.g., transition metals). The state filter (Solid/Liquid/Gas) shows elements by their room-temperature phase — useful for understanding which elements are naturally gaseous. The block filter (s/p/d/f) shows elements in each electron orbital block.
Understanding Periodic Trends
The periodic table is organized to reveal chemical trends. Atomic radius increases going down a group (more electron shells) and decreases going left to right across a period (more protons pull electrons closer). Electronegativity increases going right and up — fluorine (F) is the most electronegative element at 3.98 on the Pauling scale. Ionization energy increases going right and up — noble gases have the highest ionization energies because their full outer shells are extremely stable.
Reading Electron Configurations
Electron configurations show how electrons fill atomic orbitals. The subshell filling order follows the Aufbau principle: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p. For example, Iron (Fe, Z=26) is [Ar] 3d6 4s2 — Argon's 18 electrons plus 8 more in the 3d and 4s subshells. The noble gas shorthand [Ar] replaces the core electron configuration with the symbol of the preceding noble gas, making it easier to see the valence electrons that drive reactivity.
Mobile Usage
On mobile devices, the table scrolls horizontally. Element tiles shrink to show only the atomic number and symbol — tap any tile to see the full name and properties in the detail panel below.
For a detailed walkthrough, see our guide: Understanding the Periodic Table.
FAQ
How many elements are in the periodic table?
The periodic table currently contains 118 confirmed elements, ranging from Hydrogen (atomic number 1) to Oganesson (atomic number 118). Elements 1-94 occur naturally on Earth; elements 95-118 are synthetic and were created in laboratories.
How are elements organized in the periodic table?
Elements are arranged by increasing atomic number (number of protons). The rows (periods) reflect the number of electron shells, while the columns (groups) group elements with similar chemical properties and valence electron configurations.
What do the colors on the periodic table represent?
Each color represents an element category: alkali metals (red), alkaline earth metals (orange), transition metals (yellow), post-transition metals (green), metalloids (teal), nonmetals (sky blue), halogens (violet), noble gases (purple), lanthanides (pink), and actinides (rose).
What is electronegativity and why does it matter?
Electronegativity (Pauling scale) measures how strongly an atom attracts electrons in a chemical bond. Fluorine has the highest electronegativity (3.98). Differences in electronegativity determine bond polarity: large differences create ionic bonds, small differences create covalent bonds.
What are lanthanides and actinides?
Lanthanides (elements 57-71) and actinides (elements 89-103) are the f-block elements shown separately below the main table. Lanthanides are rare earth metals used in magnets and electronics. Most actinides are radioactive; uranium and plutonium are the most well-known.
How do I read electron configurations from the periodic table?
Electron configurations describe how electrons are distributed in orbitals (1s, 2s, 2p, etc.). The noble gas shorthand replaces the core electrons with the previous noble gas symbol in brackets — for example, Iron (Fe) is [Ar] 3d6 4s2, meaning it has Argon's configuration plus 8 additional electrons.
Is this periodic table tool free?
Yes, completely free. No account, no signup, and no installation needed. All element data loads directly in your browser.