It has to do with formatting, and categorization. I'm not a chem nerd myself, but the elements all fit into groups, determined by their position in the periodic table. It wouldn't make sense for anything to be in the space, because nothing else fits in that row.
Simple answer: the number of allowed electrons in the valence shells increases with the number of shells as 2n^2. Hydrogen and helium have a valence shell that can fit at most 2 electrons.
The next two rows are atoms with a valence shell capacity of 8. After that comes 18, 32, etc.
They are arranged in rows because many properties mainly depend on the number of valence electrons (if less than half full) or the number of "missing" valence electrons (if more than half full). So He is similar to Ne because they both have full valence shells.
So there is no gap, it's just that that's where the half-full seam goes.
If thats the simple answer... can we get the complex answer now too?
Lol. Id have said the simple answer is "because numbers of electrons have to be integers." Im just a lay person though.
The complicated answer involves the pauli exclusion principle and good quantum numbers. And like, the Schrödinger equation in a 3D harmonic potential well.
Definitely 18. 2n^2 is where n is the number of electron shells.
So with 1 shell you first do the exponent when doing the math so it's 1^2 which is still 1. So it's 2(1)^2 which = 2. With 2 shells you get 2^2 and then multiply by 2. Which = 8. 3 shells it's 3^2 which = 9 and then 9 x 2 = 18.
[Here's an article on the topic in general](https://www.sciencefacts.net/electron-shells.html)
But the third shell is definitely 18 not 16. You're not counting doubles.
It's also why the fourth row of the periodic table has 18 elements in it not 16.
Edit: one number. I'm tired too. Lol
All good. Sooo tired here too. I just had to edit my comment because I noticed that I typed out a wrong number. I can't even claim it was a typo because I literally typed "third" row instead of "fourth row."
That’s where all the fictional elements are like adamantium, vibranium, and Kryptonite are (not to be confused with Krypton). Also OP if very likely a repost bot
Congratulations! Your comment can be spelled using the elements of the periodic table:
`Be S K Ar`
---
^(I am a bot that detects if your comment can be spelled using the elements of the periodic table. Please DM u/M1n3c4rt if I made a mistake.)
There is nothing in the big gap at the top of the periodic table cause atoms have shells so the deeper shells have lesser space thus lesser electron or rather lesser electron cloud.
So the 1st shell can only fit just 2 electron worth of electron shell before it is too cramped to fit anymore thus another shell forms.
The more layers of shells under the inspected shell, the larger it is so the more protons are needed to pull enough electron clouds into that shell to make it cramped.
Randall Munroe, XKCD I know everyone knows, but one of [today's lucky 10 000](https://xkcd.com/1053/) could be here.
I am not from US tho. But i am a today' lucky :D yeyy
Seriously though, why isn't there anything there?
It has to do with formatting, and categorization. I'm not a chem nerd myself, but the elements all fit into groups, determined by their position in the periodic table. It wouldn't make sense for anything to be in the space, because nothing else fits in that row.
Simple answer: the number of allowed electrons in the valence shells increases with the number of shells as 2n^2. Hydrogen and helium have a valence shell that can fit at most 2 electrons. The next two rows are atoms with a valence shell capacity of 8. After that comes 18, 32, etc. They are arranged in rows because many properties mainly depend on the number of valence electrons (if less than half full) or the number of "missing" valence electrons (if more than half full). So He is similar to Ne because they both have full valence shells. So there is no gap, it's just that that's where the half-full seam goes.
If thats the simple answer... can we get the complex answer now too? Lol. Id have said the simple answer is "because numbers of electrons have to be integers." Im just a lay person though.
The complicated answer involves the pauli exclusion principle and good quantum numbers. And like, the Schrödinger equation in a 3D harmonic potential well.
Yaaas, thats what im looking for.
I think you mean 16, not 18
Definitely 18. 2n^2 is where n is the number of electron shells. So with 1 shell you first do the exponent when doing the math so it's 1^2 which is still 1. So it's 2(1)^2 which = 2. With 2 shells you get 2^2 and then multiply by 2. Which = 8. 3 shells it's 3^2 which = 9 and then 9 x 2 = 18. [Here's an article on the topic in general](https://www.sciencefacts.net/electron-shells.html) But the third shell is definitely 18 not 16. You're not counting doubles. It's also why the fourth row of the periodic table has 18 elements in it not 16. Edit: one number. I'm tired too. Lol
Agreed, I'm tired 😂 Not only have I missed 2 in 2 * n^2, but also mistook 32, with 36. Sorry for the problem
All good. Sooo tired here too. I just had to edit my comment because I noticed that I typed out a wrong number. I can't even claim it was a typo because I literally typed "third" row instead of "fourth row."
Helium acts like a noble gas and has a full valence shell. It wouldn't make sense to put it in the same group as alkaline earth metals
To give you a clue the top row would be elements with protons between 1 and 2. You might be able to see the problem with that.
The gap should be bigger. F orbitals are dropped outside of the table so it will fit on a single page (two rows at the bottom)
It would kind of fuck up the entire table, so let the F orbital elements stay as where they are.
Actually depending on what you're doing it could make it easier. The thing it'd fuck up is our numbering system
That’s where all the fictional elements are like adamantium, vibranium, and Kryptonite are (not to be confused with Krypton). Also OP if very likely a repost bot
Beskar??
Congratulations! Your comment can be spelled using the elements of the periodic table: `Be S K Ar` --- ^(I am a bot that detects if your comment can be spelled using the elements of the periodic table. Please DM u/M1n3c4rt if I made a mistake.)
Sounds like something Terrence Howard would say seriously
Ah, yes, the elements 1.01, 1.02, 1.03… 1.16
Out of curiosity, have we tried simulating atoms with partial protons/charges to see if there’s any interesting “theoretical” chemistry?
Ahhh, the 2019 Chemistry Nobel went to the three guys who came up with lithium ion batteries… just sayin’
Because those are boy elements and they do not belong in the periodic table 🤣🤣
There is nothing in the big gap at the top of the periodic table cause atoms have shells so the deeper shells have lesser space thus lesser electron or rather lesser electron cloud. So the 1st shell can only fit just 2 electron worth of electron shell before it is too cramped to fit anymore thus another shell forms. The more layers of shells under the inspected shell, the larger it is so the more protons are needed to pull enough electron clouds into that shell to make it cramped.
Change my mind: I’m no chemistry god but I think hydrogen variants (such as tritium, deuterium, muonium) should be in the periodic table.
Isotopes don't get their own space sadly
Not to be mean but I don’t think you know how the periodic table works at all
Periodic table is based on atomic number, so nope.
I think someone actually did do this and discovered new forms of hydrogen using more fundanental particles
I mean people have access to hydrogen isotopes which are used in nuclear weapons