Groups of Elements

One reason the periodic table of the elements is so useful is because it is a means of arranging elements according to their similar properties. There are multiple ways of grouping the elements, but they are commonly divided into metals, semimetals, and nonmetals. You'll find more specific groups, like transition metals, rare earths, alkali metals, alkaline earths, halogens, and noble gases. Click on an element to read about the chemical and physical properties of the group to which that element belongs.