Periodic Table Quiz
Test yourself on the chemical elements: match symbols to names, names to symbols, atomic numbers to elements, or find each element on an interactive periodic table. It runs entirely in your browser, with no sign-up.
Which element has this symbol?
Swipe sideways to see the whole table.
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How to use the Periodic Table Quiz
- Pick a mode: Symbol → Name, Name → Symbol, Number → Element or Find on the table.
- Choose the range (first 20, 36, 54 or all 118 elements), how you answer and how many questions you want.
- Answer each question by clicking a choice, typing and pressing Check answer, or clicking the element on the table.
- Learn from each answer: you see the element's number, category, group and period after every question.
- Review your results at the end and press Practice my mistakes to drill only the elements you missed.
The first 20 elements
Most school chemistry courses expect you to know the first 20 elements by heart. They fill the first four rows of the table up to calcium.
| # | Symbol | Name | # | Symbol | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | H | Hydrogen | 11 | Na | Sodium |
| 2 | He | Helium | 12 | Mg | Magnesium |
| 3 | Li | Lithium | 13 | Al | Aluminium |
| 4 | Be | Beryllium | 14 | Si | Silicon |
| 5 | B | Boron | 15 | P | Phosphorus |
| 6 | C | Carbon | 16 | S | Sulfur |
| 7 | N | Nitrogen | 17 | Cl | Chlorine |
| 8 | O | Oxygen | 18 | Ar | Argon |
| 9 | F | Fluorine | 19 | K | Potassium |
| 10 | Ne | Neon | 20 | Ca | Calcium |
Symbols that come from other languages
These are the ones quiz-takers miss most often, because the symbol does not start with the English name:
| Symbol | Element | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Na | Sodium (11) | Latin natrium |
| K | Potassium (19) | Latin kalium |
| Fe | Iron (26) | Latin ferrum |
| Cu | Copper (29) | Latin cuprum |
| Ag | Silver (47) | Latin argentum |
| Sn | Tin (50) | Latin stannum |
| Sb | Antimony (51) | Latin stibium |
| W | Tungsten (74) | German Wolfram |
| Au | Gold (79) | Latin aurum |
| Hg | Mercury (80) | Latin hydrargyrum |
| Pb | Lead (82) | Latin plumbum |
How the periodic table is organised
- Periods are the 7 horizontal rows. Elements in the same period have the same number of electron shells.
- Groups are the 18 vertical columns. Elements in a group have similar outer electrons and often similar chemistry: group 1 holds the alkali metals, group 17 the halogens and group 18 the noble gases.
- The f-block (lanthanides 57–71 and actinides 89–103) is usually printed as two separate rows below the main table to keep it a sensible width.
- Atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus. It increases by one with each step to the right.
Tip: once you know the first 36 elements, learn the rest group by group rather than row by row. For more quiz games try the Flag Quiz or the Math Quiz Game.
Frequently asked questions
How many elements are on the periodic table?
There are 118 confirmed elements, from hydrogen (1) to oganesson (118). The last four, nihonium (113), moscovium (115), tennessine (117) and oganesson (118), were officially named by IUPAC in 2016, completing the seventh period.
What is the best way to memorise the periodic table?
Learn it in chunks: start with the first 20 elements, then extend to 36 and 54. Short daily quizzes with spaced repetition work better than long sessions, and mnemonics help for rows, for example 'Here He Lies Beneath Bed Clothes, Nothing On, Feeling Nervous' for H to Ne.
Why do some element symbols not match their English names?
Eleven symbols come from Latin or other names: Na (natrium, sodium), K (kalium, potassium), Fe (ferrum, iron), Cu (cuprum, copper), Ag (argentum, silver), Sn (stannum, tin), Sb (stibium, antimony), W (wolfram, tungsten), Au (aurum, gold), Hg (hydrargyrum, mercury) and Pb (plumbum, lead).
Is it aluminium or aluminum, caesium or cesium?
Both are correct. IUPAC uses aluminium, caesium and sulfur, while aluminum and cesium are standard in the United States and sulphur is a traditional British spelling. The quiz shows the IUPAC names and accepts all of these spellings when you type.
What do the colours on the table mean?
Cells are coloured by element category: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, post-transition metals, metalloids, reactive nonmetals, halogens, noble gases, lanthanides and actinides. Elements 109–118 are marked as unknown properties because only a few atoms have ever been made.
Does the quiz save my progress?
Your settings and best streak for each mode are stored in your browser's local storage on this device. Nothing is uploaded and there is no account.