Element categories
Elements fall into families that share structure and chemistry. Pick a family to see its members, shared traits and where it sits in the table.
- 6 elements
Alkali metals
Soft, highly reactive metals with one outer electron.
- 6 elements
Alkaline earth metals
Reactive metals with two outer electrons.
- 38 elements
Transition metals
Hard, dense metals in the d-block with colourful compounds.
- 11 elements
Post-transition metals
Softer metals to the right of the transition block.
- 7 elements
Metalloids
Elements with properties between metals and nonmetals.
- 7 elements
Reactive nonmetals
Nonmetals that form covalent bonds — the elements of life.
- 6 elements
Halogens
Very reactive nonmetals one electron short of a full shell.
- 7 elements
Noble gases
Unreactive gases with full outer electron shells.
- 15 elements
Lanthanides
The rare-earth metals of the 4f series.
- 15 elements
Actinides
Radioactive metals of the 5f series.