Interactive Periodic Table

User Manual & Feature Guide
v2.0 — All 118 Elements
⚛️ Open Periodic Table

Table of Contents

  1. Application Overview
  2. Getting Started
  3. The Periodic Table Grid
  4. Element Details Panel
  5. 3D Atom Visualization
  6. Search & Filtering
  7. Legend & Category Filtering
  8. Dark Mode
  9. Definitions Carousel
  10. Tools Panel
  11. Periodic Trends Visualization
  12. Temperature States Explorer
  13. Element Quiz Game
  14. Keyboard Shortcuts
  15. Element Category Reference
  16. Properties Reference
1

Application Overview

The Interactive Periodic Table is a single-page HTML application that provides a comprehensive, educational exploration of all 118 known chemical elements. It runs entirely in your browser with no internet connection required and no installation needed.

🔬 Element Explorer

Click any element to view 22 properties, its electron configuration, and a real-time 3D atom model.

🎨 Trend Visualization

Color-map the entire table by electronegativity, atomic radius, density, and more.

🌡️ Temperature States

Drag a slider from 0 K to 6000 K and watch elements change between solid, liquid, and gas.

🧠 Quiz Game

Test your chemistry knowledge across three difficulty levels with randomized questions.

2

Getting Started

Simply open PT.html in any modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari). The application loads instantly with Hydrogen pre-selected.

Interface Layout

The screen is divided into two main areas:

Left — Info Panel
  • Toggle buttons (Dark Mode, Definitions, Atom Model, Tools)
  • Search bar
  • Element properties table
  • Electron configuration
  • 3D Atom visualization (hidden by default)
Right — Periodic Table
  • Full 18-column periodic table grid
  • Color-coded by element category
  • Lanthanides and Actinides in separate rows below
  • Clickable legend for category filtering

Below the periodic table you will find the Definitions Carousel and Tools Panel, both hidden by default until toggled on.

3

The Periodic Table Grid

The table displays all 118 elements arranged in the standard periodic table layout with 18 groups (columns) and 7 periods (rows). Group and period numbers are labeled along the top and left edges.

Element Cells

Each element cell shows:

Interacting with Elements

4

Element Details Panel

When you click an element, the left panel updates with a comprehensive property table displaying 22 data fields. The table header shows the element name and symbol in a gradient bar.

PropertyDescriptionExample (Iron)
Atomic NumberNumber of protons in the nucleus26
Atomic MassWeighted average mass in amu55.845
NeutronsNumber of neutrons30
ProtonsNumber of protons26
ElectronsNumber of electrons (neutral atom)26
PeriodHorizontal row in the table4
GroupVertical column in the table8
PhaseState at standard conditionsSolid
RadioactiveWhether the element is radioactiveNo
NaturalWhether it occurs in natureYes
TypeElement categoryTransition Metal
Atomic RadiusSize of the atom in Angstroms1.56
ElectronegativityAbility to attract bonding electrons1.83
First IonizationEnergy to remove one electron (eV)7.9024
DensityMass per volume (g/cm³)7.874
Melting PointTemperature to become liquid (K)1811 K
Boiling PointTemperature to become gas (K)3134 K
IsotopesNumber of known isotopes10
DiscovererWho discovered the elementAncient
YearYear of discovery(Ancient)
Specific HeatHeat capacity (J/g·K)0.449
ShellsNumber of electron shells4
ValenceNumber of valence electrons2

Electron Configuration

Below the property table, a monospace box displays the full electron configuration calculated using the Aufbau principle filling order:

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d6

Example: Iron (Fe), atomic number 26

5

3D Atom Visualization

The atom model is a real-time, animated 3D visualization that shows the internal structure of the currently selected element. It is hidden by default to conserve screen space.

How to Open

Click the "Atom Model" toggle button at the top of the info panel. Click it again to hide.

What You See

Protons (Red)

Small red spheres packed inside the nucleus. The exact number matches the element's proton count. Each proton has a radial gradient for a 3D lit-sphere effect and a subtle red glow.

Neutrons (Blue)

Small blue/cyan spheres interleaved with protons inside the nucleus. The exact number matches the element's neutron count. They share the same gradient and glow treatment as protons but in a cool blue tone.

Electrons (Gold)

Golden glowing orbs orbiting the nucleus on 3D tilted orbital rings. Distributed across shells following the filling order: 2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 18, 8. Each electron pulses with its own glow animation.

Nucleus Details

The nucleus is rendered as a semi-transparent glass sphere containing all protons and neutrons. Key features:

Orbital Rings

Electrons orbit on 3D rings that are each tilted at a different angle in 3D space, creating the classic interlocking orbital geometry. Even-numbered shells spin clockwise; odd-numbered shells spin counter-clockwise. Outer shells rotate slower than inner ones.

Element Label Badge

A frosted-glass badge at the top center of the visualization shows the element symbol and atomic number (e.g., Fe #26).

Legend

A frosted-glass legend in the bottom-left corner shows the three particle types with their colors and exact counts for the selected element.

💡 The visualization updates instantly when you click a different element. Watch how the nucleus grows and fills with more particles as you move to heavier elements!
7

Legend & Category Filtering

The color-coded legend below the periodic table displays all 11 element categories. Each legend item is clickable.

Click-to-Filter

This is a great way to visually see the distribution of any element family across the periodic table at a glance.
8

Dark Mode

Click the "Dark Mode" toggle button to switch between light and dark themes. The entire application, including the periodic table, info panel, tabs, and all controls, adapts to the selected theme.

☀️ Light Theme

Clean white/slate background with dark text. Optimized for well-lit environments and printing.

🌙 Dark Theme

Deep navy/slate background with light text. Reduces eye strain in low-light environments. The 3D atom visualization always uses a dark space-like background regardless of theme.

9

Definitions Carousel

The Definitions Carousel is a built-in glossary containing 40+ chemistry terms with clear explanations. It is hidden by default.

How to Use

Topics Covered

Definitions include: Periodic Table, Alkali Metals, Alkaline Earth Metals, Transition Metals, Post-Transition Metals, Metalloids, Nonmetals, Halogens, Noble Gases, Hydrogen, Lanthanides, Actinides, Atomic Number, Element, Symbol, Atomic Mass, Neutrons, Protons, Electrons, Period, Group, Phase, Radioactive, Natural, Metal, Nonmetal, Metalloid, Type, Atomic Radius, Electronegativity, First Ionization, Density, Melting Point, Boiling Point, Isotopes, Discoverer, Year, Specific Heat, Shells, and Valence.

10

Tools Panel

The Tools Panel contains three advanced features organized as tabs. It is hidden by default.

How to Open

Click the "Tools" toggle button. A tabbed panel appears below the periodic table with three tabs:

📊 Periodic Trends

Color-map the table by a chosen property. See Section 11.

🌡️ Temperature States

Explore solid/liquid/gas states at any temperature. See Section 12.

🧠 Element Quiz

Test your knowledge with a multiple-choice game. See Section 13.

Click a tab name to switch between tools. The selected tab is highlighted with an indigo underline.

12

Temperature States Explorer

This tool lets you drag a temperature slider and watch every element on the periodic table change color to show whether it is a solid, liquid, or gas at that temperature.

State Colors

Green — Solid
Blue — Liquid
Orange — Gas
Gray — Unknown (no data available)

How to Use

Preset Buttons

Quick-jump to common temperatures:

PresetTemperatureWhat Happens
Absolute Zero0 K / −273 °CAll elements solid (except Helium)
Water Freezing273 K / 0 °CMercury is liquid, noble gases are gaseous
Room Temperature293 K / 20 °CStandard conditions — Mercury and Bromine are liquid
Water Boiling373 K / 100 °CMost metals still solid, Francium becomes liquid
Metal Melting~1000 K / 727 °CMany metals begin to melt
💡 State colors only appear while the Temperature tab is active. Switching to another tab restores the default category colors.
13

Element Quiz Game

Test your periodic table knowledge with a multiple-choice quiz featuring over 100 questions across three difficulty levels.

Difficulty Levels

LevelTopicsExample Question
EasyElement names, symbols, basic groups"What is the symbol for Gold?"
MediumProperties, periodic trends, atomic structure"Which element has the highest electronegativity?"
HardElectron configurations, ionization energy, obscure elements"What is the electron configuration of Silver?"

How to Play

Questions are randomized each time you play, and answer options are shuffled, so you'll get a different experience every session.
14

Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
Ctrl + FFocus the search bar (overrides the browser's default find)
EscClear search text, remove element highlights, and clear any active category filter
💡 On macOS, use + F instead of Ctrl + F.
15

Element Category Reference

The periodic table uses 11 color categories. Click any category in the legend to filter the table.

Alkali Metals — Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr
Alkaline Earth Metals — Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra
Transition Metals — Sc through Cn (Groups 3–12)
Post-Transition Metals — Al, Ga, In, Sn, Tl, Pb, Bi, Nh, Fl, Mc, Lv
Metalloids — B, Si, Ge, As, Sb, Te, Po
Nonmetals — C, N, O, P, S, Se
Halogens — F, Cl, Br, I, At, Ts
Noble Gases — He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn, Og
Hydrogen — H (unique category)
Lanthanides — La through Lu (atomic numbers 57–71)
Actinides — Ac through Lr (atomic numbers 89–103)
16

Properties Reference

Quick reference for the scientific units and meanings of displayed properties.

PropertyUnitNotes
Atomic MassamuWeighted average of naturally occurring isotopes
Atomic RadiusÅ (Angstroms)Empirical or calculated radius
ElectronegativityPauling scaleDimensionless, ranges from ~0.7 (Fr) to ~4.0 (F)
First IonizationeV (electron-volts)Energy to remove one electron from neutral atom
Densityg/cm³At standard conditions
Melting PointK (Kelvin)To convert: °C = K − 273.15
Boiling PointK (Kelvin)To convert: °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32
Specific HeatJ/(g·°C)Energy to raise 1 g by 1 °C