Chemistry
Misreading Periodic Trends
Students use one direction for every periodic trend and say properties always increase to the right and downward.
Quick check
Why students make it
The periodic table looks like a grid, so it is tempting to treat every trend like a simple map. Students also mix up atomic radius with electronegativity and ionization energy.
The rule done right
Atomic radius increases down a group and to the left across a period. Electronegativity and first ionization energy generally increase up a group and to the right across a period.
Related resources
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Periodic Table Basics Infographic -
Periodic Table Trends Infographic -
Chemistry, Periodicity of Properties Infographic -
Chemistry, Ionization Energy Infographic -
Chemistry, Atomic and Ionic Radius Infographic - Periodic Table Trends Visual Master Cheat Sheet
- Atomic Structure & Periodic Trends Cheat Sheet
- Effective Nuclear Charge & Shielding Reference Cheat Sheet
- Periodic Table Groups & Families Cheat Sheet
- Chemistry, Periodic Trends, Atomic Radius, Ionization Energy Worksheet
- Science, Periodic Table Trends Worksheet
- Science, Atomic Structure and Electron Configuration Worksheet
- Chemistry, Quantum Mechanical Model of the Atom Worksheet
- Periodic Table Explorer Tool
- Periodic Table Families Explorer Tool
- Electron Configuration Generator Tool
- Electronegativity & Bond Polarity Calculator Tool
- Atomic Emission Lab Lab
- Flame Test & Cation Identification Lab Lab
- Molecular Orbital Visualizer Lab
Continue learning
- Dmitri Mendeleev, Creator of the Periodic TableStudy poster
- Chemistry, Periodic Table FamiliesStudy poster
- Confusing Groups and Periods on the Periodic TableCommon mistake
- Periodic TableTopic guide
- Misreading Function Notation as MultiplicationCommon mistake
- Statistics, Time Series Analysis, Trends, Seasonality, and CyclesWorksheet