Periodic Table Trends

Question 1

What does the period number tell us?

Answer 1

The period number tells us how many orbitals that row of atoms has

Question 2

What do group trends tell us?

Answer 2

The last digit of the group number tells us how many electrons are in the outermost orbital of atoms in different groups. An exception is He, which is in group 8, but only has 2 electrons. As you go left to right, the outermost orbital fills up.

Question 3

What happens to atoms of the periodic table?

Answer 3

Atoms on the periodic table get bigger as you go left to right, or downward. This is similar to how when the atomic mass or atomic number gets bigger, so do the atoms.