Tap any element above to see what it is!
⚛️ How to Read the Atom Picture
The dots in the middle (the nucleus) are protons and neutrons. The atomic number on each tile — the small number above the symbol — is just how many protons are in the nucleus, and in a normal atom that's also how many electrons are zooming around outside, so protons and electrons always match!
Protons and neutrons together make up almost all the atom's weight — add them up (and round) and you get the atomic mass shown for each element.
Electrons fill the shell closest to the nucleus first: the 1st shell holds up to 2 electrons, the 2nd holds up to 8, and outer shells can hold even more (8, 18, and beyond) as atoms get bigger — that's why heavier elements need more rings around the middle.
🎵 The Periodic Table Song
Listen to AsapSCIENCE's Periodic Table Song on YouTube, which names every element in order, set to music.