The
basic unit of an elements 元素 yuán
sù
is
called the atom 原子 yuán zǐ. To make it easier to
study these elements 元素 yuán
sù, scientists 科学家 kē xué jiā
have arranged them in a table based upon the following
properties 性质 xìng zhì:
o physical 物理性质 wù
lǐ xìng zhì,
o chemical 化学性质 huà
xué xìng zhì, and
o atomic /
subatomic
This table is known as The
Periodic Table 周期表 zhōu qí biǎo and it is divided
into
o 7 rows (periods)
周期 zhōu qí and
o 18 groups 族 zú.
The first entry in the Periodic
Table is hydrogen 氢 qīng. Elements
元素 yuán
sù
of certain groups are given names as follows