didact's journal May 17 2023

 Every element in the Periodic Table is defined by its atomic number, an integer from 1 to 118 (more will no doubt be discovered).  An element’s atomic number is the number of protons found in the nucleus of every atom of that element, which in turn determines how many electrons orbit around each of those nuclei.  It’s those electrons, particularly the outermost shell of them, that determine the chemical properties of the element.  The Periodic Table lists the elements in order by atomic number.

The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe, Theodore Gra