Periodic table period
Period 2
Period 2 is a horizontal row of the periodic table with 8 elements, from Lithium (atomic number 3) to Neon (atomic number 10). Every element in the row has 2 occupied electron shells. Period 2 fills the 2s and 2p subshells and includes the key elements of organic chemistry and air, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen among them.
At a glance
- Elements
- 8
- Atomic numbers
- 3 to 10
- Blocks
- s-block, p-block
- Period
- 2
- Phase at STP
- solid (4), gas (4)
Shared properties
- Each member has 2 occupied electron shells
- Atomic radius generally decreases from left to right across the period
- Ionization energy and electronegativity generally increase across the period
- Character shifts from metallic on the left to nonmetallic on the right