Why are the First 18 Elements Special?
(1) The electrons fit nicely into three orbitals. Remember that the electrons spin around the nucleus in regions called orbitals.(2) These elements make up most of the matter in the Universe.
(3) It is a lot easier to remember facts about 18 elements as opposed to over 100 elements.
The First Eighteen
Element 1: HydrogenElement 2: Helium
Element 3: Lithium
Element 4: Beryllium
Element 5: Boron
Element 6: Carbon
Element 7: Nitrogen
Element 8: Oxygen
Element 9: Fluorine
Element 10: Neon
Element 11: Sodium
Element 12: Magnesium
Element 13: Aluminum
Element 14: Silicon
Element 15: Phosphorus
Element 16: Sulfur
Element 17: Chlorine
Element 18: Argon
The Next 18 Elements
If you want to keep going, we have added elements 18-36. You can learn about element origins, pronunciation, atomic structure, and periodic table locations. This next set of elements is from the fourth period/row of the table. Be aware... There are additional rules about electron orbitals because of the transition metals. We tried to make things as simple as possible.Element 19: Potassium
Element 20: Calcium
Element 21: Scandium
Element 22: Titanium
Element 23: Vanadium
Element 24: Chromium
Element 25: Manganese
Element 26: Iron
Element 27: Cobalt
Element 28: Nickel
Element 29: Copper
Element 30: Zinc
Element 31: Gallium
Element 32: Germanium
Element 33: Arsenic
Element 34: Selenium
Element 35: Bromine
Element 36: Krypton
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