As early as 1669, naturalists began to discover individual elements. By 1809, at least 47 were known, and by the mid-1800’s, naturalists were attempting to organize them. As early as 1869, Russian chemist Dimitri Mendeleev began arranging the then-known elements by atomic weight, creating what we now call the periodic table.
Mendeleev’s original table was incomplete, but was such a powerful scientific tool that it was able to predict the weights and other properties of yet-to-be discovered elements. And as these elements were found, the periodic table expanded.
Today, the periodic table has 118 different elements, and has undergone extensive changes since Mendeleev’s first version. To help organize the elements, the modern periodic table is divided into periods and groups. A period is a horizontal row; there are seven on the periodic table.
A group, or family, is a vertical column. There are 18, and all the elements in a group have similar chemical properties.
Memorizing all of the 118 elements is a difficult task. Many people never memorize the entire table. That’s why a printable periodic table is a necessary tool. By having your own copy of the periodic table of elements on hand, you can reference it anytime you need.
If you’re looking for a free printable version of the periodic table, this free Excel template can help. Our free periodic table download includes four different template files, with a total of seven different worksheets for your use.
And while there are differences between the files, one thing remains consistent: these printables are all scientifically accurate.
At a minimum, each of the available forms each display the element’s:
Some of the files go more in-depth and display some or all of this additional information:
So, whether you are a middle school student who needs a simple periodic table for your science class, an advanced chemistry student doing lab work, or someone in between, you will find a printable here to meet your needs.
Each .ZIP File contains different versions of the periodic table. Which one is right for you is for you to decide! Downloading this template will give you four files, with a total of seven variations of the periodic table:
Keep reading for more details on exactly what is included in each individual printable periodic table Excel file.
This printable periodic table template contains three different worksheets. All of them are in black and white. If you are printing multiple copies, using the black and white versions instead of one with color can help reduce your printing costs.
Inside this file you can access:
At first glance, it’s easy to think that these worksheets are all identical. But there are some key differences between them. Here’s a quick overview:
This version displays the element name in addition to the three main pieces of data. The extra line of text means that each element’s box on the table is slightly longer. It is appropriate for high schoolers, or anyone taking a beginning chemistry class.
Do you need a simple printable that doesn’t have a lot of extra information to confuse kids? This version is as basic as it gets, making it a great fit for elementary and middle school students. Each element includes the Atomic Weight, Atomic Number, and Element Symbol.
Traditionally, the Lanthanides and Actinides are located at the bottom of the periodic table of elements to help ensure it is not too wide or tall to print on a standard sheet of paper. Were these elements to go into the table, it would drastically change the dimensions.
So, these two rows of inner-transition metals are displayed at the bottom. Lanthanides represent atomic numbers 57-71. Actinides represent elements 89-103.
In most versions of the periodic table, you will find element 71 in Period 6, Group IIIB. Element 103 is just below it, in Period 7. These are placeholders for the inner-transition metals.
But this version moves those two elements out of the main section of the periodic table and adds them to their corresponding row below. Here is a visual to help you see the difference:
There are two worksheets in this printable template.
The first worksheet is a color-coded periodic table of elements. The key is located in the center of the top of the page.
This chart uses the following classifications for color coding. The background color of the element lets you know if it is:
The element symbol is also color coded. The color of the symbol represents:
This version labels the Periods and Groups. Periods use numerical (1-7) labels. Groups are indicated by both accepted group number forms, showing the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) labels.
The second worksheet in this colourful periodic table template is a text-based worksheet with Atomic Detail Info.
Here, you will find more information about each element. There are ten columns of information for every element. You will find the:
If you are preparing for a chemistry test, or just want to learn more about each element, this is an informative worksheet for you to use.
This model of the periodic table also utilizes color coding for at-a-glance reading. However, the classifications are slightly different than Model 1 above. You can find the key at the bottom of this worksheet.
There are 11 different colors in this classification system, representing:
In this color printable, the atomic symbol is also color coded. Again, this is slightly different from the version above. Here the colors are divided into the following chemical states:
With this information, you can easily tell more information about each element on the table.
Do you need a colorful periodic table poster? This giant version prints on A3 paper and is perfect for hanging on your wall.
This poster uses the color-coding and numbering systems described in the Periodic Table Model 1 section. However, these element cells also display a lot more information. This is the most detailed of all the periodic tables in this template pack.
The image below will give you a better sense of how much data about each element this poster contains:
Did you decide which version works best for you? Go ahead and print it out.
There are plenty of ways to use these printables to help you succeed in school and beyond.
Since it marked the 150th anniversary of its creation, 2019 was declared the International Year of the Periodic Table. This scientific tool to help us organize and understand the elements has been around since Mendeleev created it a century and a half ago. And it’s still being used daily!
So grab your own copy with one of the templates above and celebrate one of the most important achievements of modern science.
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