Understanding the Periodic Table: Sodium, Potassium, and Calcium

Understanding the Periodic Table

What is the periodic table?

The periodic table is a visual representation of the chemical elements, organized in rows and columns. Elements in the same row have the same number of electron shells, while those in the same column, or group, share similar chemical properties due to the same number of outer electrons.

Part 1: Sodium and Potassium

Given that potassium (K) is in the same group as sodium (Na) in the periodic table, it shares similar properties with sodium. Both elements have one electron in their outer shell, which contributes to their reactivity and similar characteristics.

Part 2: Calcium Atom Structure

Calcium (Ca) has an atomic number of 20 and a mass number of 40. The atomic number indicates the number of protons and electrons in an atom, so calcium has 20 protons and 20 electrons. To determine the number of neutrons, we subtract the atomic number from the mass number, which gives us 20 neutrons in a calcium atom.

By understanding the arrangement of elements in the periodic table and their atomic structure, we can identify elements with similar properties and calculate the composition of atoms like calcium.