Reference Guide

B-6 Tables of Units and Constants
Properties of Elements
Property Type of
Object *
Property
Number
Atomic Number Real 1
Mass Number † Real 2
Atomic Weight Unit 3
Density † Unit 4
Oxidation States † String 5
Electron Configuration String 6
State String 7
Melting Point Unit 8
Boiling Point Unit 9
Heat of Vaporization Unit 10
Heat of Fusion Unit 11
Specific Heat Unit 12
Group (U.S. Customary) String 13
Family String 14
Crystal Structure String 15
Atomic Volume † Unit 16
Atomic Radius Unit 17
Covalent Radius Unit 18
Thermal Conductivity † Unit 19
Electrical Conductivity † Unit 20
First Ionization Potential Unit 21
Electronegativity (Pauling’s number) Unit 22
Oxide Behavior String 23
Element Name ‡ String 24
Element Symbol ‡ Name 25
* Properties returning unit objects return real objects if units aren’t used.
Unknown values are returned as the string "-".
† See the notes that follow this table.
‡ Not included in catalog of properties, but listed in the title of the catalog.
Notes about properties: Mass number for a stable element is based on the isotope with the highest percent
abundance; for a radioactive element, it’s based on the longest half-life. Density for a gas is at 273 K with units of
g/l; for others, it’s at 300 K with units of g/cm
3
. Oxidation states are in order of most stable to least stable. Atomic
volume for a gas is for its liquid state at the boiling point; for others, it’s dervied from the density at 300 K. Thermal
conductivity is measured at 300 K. Electrical conductivity is measured at 293 K.
Data in the Periodic Table application is based on the “Periodic Table of the Elements” published by Sargent-Welch
Scientific Company, a VWR Company, and is used by permission.