G8 – A Method to the Madness: The Periodic Table 800-900L -04

The characteristics of the elements are derived by the numbers of electrons in the outermost orbit or valence shell. Every element in each column shares the same number of valence electrons in each of the elements atoms. For instance, in column one, all atoms have one electron in its valence shell. All atoms in column two have two electrons in their valence shell and so on.

The modern periodic table is one of the most powerful tools used by scientists. Mendeleev’s vision made it possible to predict undiscovered elements. It also helps scientists foresee how elements may react with each other. What started as a bunch of cards on a wall is now present in almost every Chemistry lab in the world. Mendeleev certainly had an eye for patterns. It’s probably a good thing he is not playing cards with you. You could have been taking out the garbage and cutting the lawn for a year.