An Alternative Periodic Table

This version of the periodic table shows periodicity using quantum numbers. Each plate is arranged according to the principal quantum number

n

. Different colors represent different subshells

s

,

p

,

d

,

f

, that is, values of

l

quantum number. Yellow stands for

s

-orbital for alkali metals and alkaline earths; green for

p

-orbitals, that is, the case of nonmetals and semiconductors; pink for

d

-orbitals corresponding to transition metals; and blue for

f

-orbitals in lanthanides and actinides. Moving from top to bottom represents the quantum number

m

and right to left the quantum number

s

.

For more information, see the Timmothy Stowe periodic table in the Wikipedia entry for "Alternative periodic tables".

Enrique Zeleny