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Periodic table: first 20 elements flash cards

Flash cards for the first 20 elements of the periodic table: each symbol with its name, atomic number, group and a useful fact, plus how groups and periods work.

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The cards, front and back

  1. 1
    Front

    What does the atomic number of an element tell you?

    Back

    The number of protons in the nucleus of each atom. In a neutral atom it also equals the number of electrons. The periodic table is arranged in order of atomic number.

  2. 2
    Front

    H

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Hydrogen, atomic number 1.

    The lightest element and the most common in the universe. A non-metal gas, usually placed above group 1 but not counted as an alkali metal.

  3. 3
    Front

    He

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Helium, atomic number 2.

    A noble gas in group 0 (group 18). Very unreactive because its outer shell is full. Used in balloons because it is less dense than air.

  4. 4
    Front

    Li

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Lithium, atomic number 3.

    An alkali metal in group 1. Soft and reactive. Used in rechargeable batteries.

  5. 5
    Front

    Be

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Beryllium, atomic number 4.

    An alkaline earth metal in group 2. A light, strong metal.

  6. 6
    Front

    B

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Boron, atomic number 5.

    A metalloid in group 13 (group 3 in some school tables). Has properties between those of metals and non-metals.

  7. 7
    Front

    C

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Carbon, atomic number 6.

    A non-metal in group 14 (group 4). Found as diamond and graphite, and in every organic compound.

  8. 8
    Front

    N

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Nitrogen, atomic number 7.

    A non-metal gas in group 15 (group 5). Makes up about 78% of the air.

  9. 9
    Front

    O

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Oxygen, atomic number 8.

    A non-metal gas in group 16 (group 6). Makes up about 21% of the air and is needed for combustion and aerobic respiration.

  10. 10
    Front

    F

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Fluorine, atomic number 9.

    A halogen in group 17 (group 7). A pale yellow gas and the most reactive non-metal.

  11. 11
    Front

    Ne

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Neon, atomic number 10.

    A noble gas in group 0 (group 18). Glows red-orange in electric signs.

  12. 12
    Front

    Na

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Sodium, atomic number 11.

    An alkali metal in group 1. The symbol comes from its Latin name, natrium. Reacts vigorously with water. Electron arrangement 2,8,1.

  13. 13
    Front

    Mg

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Magnesium, atomic number 12.

    An alkaline earth metal in group 2. Burns with a bright white flame. Electron arrangement 2,8,2.

  14. 14
    Front

    Al

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Aluminium (aluminum), atomic number 13.

    A metal in group 13 (group 3). Light and does not corrode easily because of a protective oxide layer.

  15. 15
    Front

    Si

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Silicon, atomic number 14.

    A metalloid in group 14 (group 4). A semiconductor used in computer chips, and found in sand as silicon dioxide.

  16. 16
    Front

    P

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Phosphorus, atomic number 15.

    A non-metal in group 15 (group 5). Needed by living things for DNA and bones, and used in fertilisers.

  17. 17
    Front

    S

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Sulfur (sulphur), atomic number 16.

    A yellow non-metal solid in group 16 (group 6). Used to make sulfuric acid.

  18. 18
    Front

    Cl

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Chlorine, atomic number 17.

    A halogen in group 17 (group 7). A green-yellow toxic gas used to kill microbes in water. Electron arrangement 2,8,7.

  19. 19
    Front

    Ar

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Argon, atomic number 18.

    A noble gas in group 0 (group 18). The most common noble gas in the air. Used inside some light bulbs because it is unreactive.

  20. 20
    Front

    K

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Potassium, atomic number 19.

    An alkali metal in group 1. The symbol comes from its Latin name, kalium. Reacts with water more vigorously than sodium. Electron arrangement 2,8,8,1.

  21. 21
    Front

    Ca

    Which element has this symbol, and what is its atomic number?

    Back

    Calcium, atomic number 20.

    An alkaline earth metal in group 2. Found in bones, teeth, chalk and limestone. Electron arrangement 2,8,8,2.

  22. 22
    Front

    What do elements in the same group have in common?

    Back

    They have the same number of electrons in their outer shell, so they have similar chemical properties. Elements in the same period have the same number of electron shells.

How to use this template

This deck helps you learn the first 20 elements of the periodic table, from hydrogen to calcium. Each card shows a chemical symbol on the front; the back gives the element's name, atomic number, its group and one fact worth knowing, such as its electron arrangement or a common use. Two extra cards explain what the atomic number means and what elements in the same group share. It suits Year 7 to Year 10 science, GCSE and IGCSE chemistry, high school chemistry and anyone starting a first chemistry course. Learn five elements at a time in Learn mode, then mix all twenty in Test mode, and let spaced repetition repeat the symbols you mix up. Print it double-sided to stick on a wall or quiz a friend.

Tips

  • Learn the elements in rows of the periodic table (1 to 2, 3 to 10, 11 to 18, then 19 and 20) so you remember where each one sits.
  • Watch the capital and small letters. Symbols always start with a capital and any second letter is lower case, so Co is cobalt but CO is carbon monoxide.
  • Learn the odd ones separately: Na for sodium and K for potassium come from Latin names, so they cannot be guessed from English.
  • Practise writing electron arrangements for every element up to calcium: 2 electrons in the first shell, then up to 8 in the second and third in this simple model.
  • Make up a sentence where each word starts with the symbols in order, which many students find helpful.
  • Once you know all twenty, test yourself in reverse: say the name and write the symbol.

Make it fit

  • Turn on reverse cards so the name is on the front and the symbol on the back.
  • Add the relative atomic mass to each back, using the values printed in your own course's periodic table.
  • Extend the deck with common transition metals such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), silver (Ag) and gold (Au).
  • Make a separate deck of group facts: alkali metals, halogens and noble gases.

Updated October 28, 2026

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