🤔 Today's Trivia Question:

How Many Elements Are in Period 1 of the Periodic Table?

Correct Answer: B) 2

 🔬 Period 1 of the Periodic Table: Hydrogen and Helium's Exclusive Zone

Period 1 of the periodic table is unique in that it contains only two elements: hydrogen and helium. This makes it the shortest period in the table, which is structured based on electron configuration. The reason these two elements stand alone in Period 1 is that both require only two electrons to fill their outer electron shell, adhering to what is known as the "duet rule."

The periodic table is arranged in horizontal rows called periods and vertical columns known as groups. Each period signifies the filling of a new principal energy level with electrons. Period 1, with hydrogen and helium, marks the beginning of the table, while Periods 2 and 3 include 8 elements each, and Periods 4 and 5 expand to 18 elements. The largest, Periods 6 and 7, contain 32 elements. The additional two rows at the bottom of the table belong to Periods 6 and 7 and are separated out for formatting purposes.

In contrast to periods, groups in the periodic table organize elements based on the configuration of their outer shell electrons. There are 18 groups in total. Historically, the U.S. used a system combining letters (A and B) with numbers for groups, but Europe used a slightly different method. To resolve this inconsistency, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) established a simple numbering system from 1 to 18, which is now the standard.

Modern representations of the periodic table feature a nearly complete seventh period, although many elements in this row were unknown before the 20th century. Some of these were synthesized by bombarding known elements with particles like neutrons. This process, notably using uranium, has produced elements with atomic numbers from 93 to 100. Elements beyond this range, including those with atomic numbers 101 and higher, have been created by fusing smaller nuclei together. These synthetic elements tend to be highly unstable and exist for only fractions of a second, limiting what is known about them.

In 2011, elements 114 and 116 were officially added to the periodic table. Four more elements, numbered 113, 115, 117, and 118, were confirmed by IUPAC in December 2015, completing the seventh period.