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published by the The Royal Society of Chemistry
This interactive periodic table merges science and art to explore the elements in a unique and visually striking way. The table is arranged in the traditional format, but each element is represented by a photograph or illustration relating to its origin or use. With a click, users can view extensive data and brief histories of 103 elements. Videos and podcasts have also been embedded for some of the more common elements, such as nitrogen, carbon, and sodium.  

This resource, developed and maintained by the Royal Society of Chemistry, is available in both HTML and Flash versions. Some of the animations require additional plug-ins.
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- Properties of Matter
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- Chemistry
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© 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry
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Keywords:
element history, element property visualization, periodic table
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Date Metadata Instance was created July 15, 2003 by Waylon Flinn
Record Updated:
September 16, 2012 by Caroline Hall
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more than meets the eye

Author: Mary Salit
Posted: September 16, 2012 at 1:27PM

There is some unique content beneath the shiny interface and pretty graphics here.  Almost every element has a link to a podcast (and a transcript) describing its history and uses in an approachable narrative form, and links to videos and "resources."

The resources in particular seem like material that could be incorporated into a lesson plan rather than simply used as reference material. In many cases they outline activities which could be done in a laboratory session or as a demonstration. In other cases, such as the reaction of rubidium with water (a little dangerous for an in class demo) they feature videos of the experiment instead.

It is the resources section which differentiates this site from similar ones, and makes it useful for teachers, not just students preparing reports.

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AAAS Benchmark Alignments (1993 Version)

4. THE PHYSICAL SETTING

D. The Structure of Matter
  • 4D (6-8) #1.  All matter is made up of atoms, which are far too small to see directly through a microscope. The atoms of any element are alike but are different from atoms of other elements. Atoms may stick together in well-defined molecules or may be packed together in large arrays. Different arrangements of atoms into groups compose all substances.
  • 4D (6-8) #5.  Scientific ideas about elements were borrowed from some Greek philosophers of 2,000 years earlier, who believed that everything was made from four basic substances: air, earth, fire, and water. It was the combinations of these "elements" in different proportions that gave other substances their observable properties. The Greeks were wrong about those four, but now over 100 different elements have been identified, some rare and some plentiful, out of which everything is made. Because most elements tend to combine with others, few elements are found in their pure form.
  • 4D (6-8) #6.  There are groups of elements that have similar properties, including highly reactive metals, less-reactive metals, highly reactive nonmetals (such as chlorine, fluorine, and oxygen), and some almost completely nonreactive gases (such as helium and neon). An especially important kind of reaction between substances involves combination of oxygen with something elseÑas in burning or rusting. Some elements don't fit into any of the categories; among them are carbon and hydrogen, essential elements of living matter.
  • 4D (9-12) #1.  Atoms are made of a positive nucleus surrounded by negative electrons. An atom's electron configuration, particularly the outermost electrons, determines how the atom can interact with other atoms. Atoms form bonds to other atoms by transferring or sharing electrons.

This resource is part of 2 Physics Front Topical Units.


Topic: Particles and Interactions and the Standard Model
Unit Title: Properties of Matter

This interactive periodic table merges science and art to explore the elements in a visually striking way. The table is arranged in the traditional format, but each element is represented by a photograph or illustration relating to its origin or use. With a click, users can view extensive data and brief histories of 103 elements. Embedded animations for common elements complete the package.

Link to Unit:

Topic: Particles and Interactions and the Standard Model
Unit Title: Elements and the Periodic Table

This interactive periodic table merges science and art to explore the elements in a unique and visually striking way. It's arranged in the traditional format, but each element is represented by a photograph or illustration relating to its origin or use. With a click, users can view extensive data and brief histories of 103 elements. Animations have also been embedded for some of the more common elements

Link to Unit:
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link
AIP Format
(The Royal Society of Chemistry, London, 2011), WWW Document, (https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table).
AJP/PRST-PER
Visual Elements Periodic Table (The Royal Society of Chemistry, London, 2011), <https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table>.
APA Format
Visual Elements Periodic Table. (2011). Retrieved December 14, 2024, from The Royal Society of Chemistry: https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table
Chicago Format
The Royal Society of Chemistry. Visual Elements Periodic Table. London: The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2011. https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table (accessed 14 December 2024).
MLA Format
Visual Elements Periodic Table. London: The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2011. 14 Dec. 2024 <https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Title = {Visual Elements Periodic Table}, Publisher = {The Royal Society of Chemistry}, Volume = {2024}, Number = {14 December 2024}, Year = {2011} }
Refer Export Format

%T Visual Elements Periodic Table %D 2011 %I The Royal Society of Chemistry %C London %U https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table %O application/flash

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %D 2011 %T Visual Elements Periodic Table %I The Royal Society of Chemistry %V 2024 %N 14 December 2024 %9 application/flash %U https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table


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