The Hidden Power of Halogens – Understanding Group 17 Elements When you hear the word halogen , you might not feel any excitement at first. But these elements, hidden in Group 17 of the periodic table, are some of the most fascinating, dangerous, and useful substances on Earth. From the fluoride in your toothpaste to the chlorine that keeps swimming pools clean, halogens are all around us — changing lives, saving lives, and sometimes even threatening them. Let’s take a deeper, human look into these elements and uncover what makes them so unique. What Makes Group 17 So Special? Group 17 contains a lineup of nonmetals known as halogens. The group includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine — and a very rare artificial member, tennessine. What binds them together is not just their position on the periodic table, but their desperate need for one more electron. That’s right. All halogens have seven electrons in their outermost shell, and they want eight. This mis...
Modern Periodic Table and Its Salient Features Introduction The periodic table is the most powerful tool in chemistry, systematically organizing all known elements based on their atomic number and properties. It helps scientists predict element behavior, reactivity, and trends. The Modern Periodic Law , proposed by Henry Moseley in 1913 , states: "The physical and chemical properties of elements are periodic functions of their atomic numbers." This means elements with similar properties appear at regular intervals. The periodic table is structured into periods (rows) and groups (columns), forming a logical arrangement of elements. For a deeper understanding of the periodic table’s structure, check out our detailed article: Exploring Periodic Table Structure . Historical Background of the Periodic Table 1. Dobereiner’s Triads (1817) Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner grouped elements into triads based on atomic masses, but this system was limited to only a few elements. ...