Chemistry
Confusing Groups and Periods on the Periodic Table
Calling a horizontal row a group or a vertical column a period.
Quick check
Why students make it
The two words sound interchangeable and both describe lines of elements, so the direction gets swapped.
The rule done right
Groups are the vertical columns and share similar chemical properties. Periods are the horizontal rows and show trends across the table.
Related resources
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Periodic Table Basics Infographic -
Chemistry: Periodic Table Families Infographic -
Periodic Table Trends Infographic -
Chemistry: Periodicity of Properties Infographic -
Dmitri Mendeleev: Creator of the Periodic Table Infographic - Periodic Table Groups & Families Cheat Sheet
- Atomic Structure & Periodic Trends Cheat Sheet
- Periodic Table Trends Visual Master Cheat Sheet
- Effective Nuclear Charge & Shielding Reference Cheat Sheet
- Chemistry: Reading the Periodic Table: Groups and Periods Worksheet
- Chemistry: Introduction to the Periodic Table Worksheet
- Science: Atoms Elements and the Periodic Table Worksheet
- Chemistry: Periodic Trends: Atomic Radius, Ionization Energy Worksheet
- Science: Periodic Table Trends Worksheet
- Periodic Table Families Explorer Tool
- Periodic Table Explorer Tool
- Electron Configuration Generator Tool
- Atomic Emission Lab Lab
- Electrochemistry Lab Lab