Docs/APIs/Periodic Table

Periodic Table

Get Element Information

OperationalCredits 2 per callp50 667msScienceStar

Overview

Pass either a chemical symbol or full element name to query the element directory. Each lookup returns classification details, physical state, discoverer history, and X/Y grid coordinates for table rendering. Paid plans include thermodynamic values like melting and boiling points, density, electron affinity, electronegativity, and electron shell configurations.

Live Test Periodic Table API →

Endpoint

One host, one path per API. The block below shows this call in four languages; every one of them is the same HTTP request. Making requests covers the timeouts, retries and parameter rules that apply to all of them. The SDKs wrap the same call in a typed client.

GEThttps://api.apiverve.com/v1/periodictable
curl "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/periodictable?name=hydrogen" \
  -H "x-api-key: your_api_key_here"

Replace your_api_key_here with the key from your dashboard. When the inputs arrive as a list rather than one at a time, batch requests run up to 200 of them through this same API in a single call.

Authentication

Send your key in the x-api-key header. That is the only auth step — there is no token exchange and no per-endpoint scope to configure. Authentication covers creating, rotating and revoking keys.

401 is the only auth verdict

A 401 means the key is missing, invalid or expired. A 403 means the key is valid but not permitted here — blocked by a key restriction or an IP allow-list. Running out of credits is a 429.

Parameters

Sent in the query string. Premium parameters are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.

ParameterTypeDescription
nameRequiredstringThe name of the chemical element to get information about

Response

Every API returns the same three top-level keys, so one response handler covers your whole integration: status, error and data. Only data changes shape. Response format covers the envelope, the other output formats and how premium fields are withheld.

Sample response
{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "count": 1,
    "elements": [
      {
        "name": "Hydrogen",
        "appearance": "colorless gas",
        "atomic_mass": 1.008,
        "boil": 20.271,
        "category": "diatomic nonmetal",
        "density": 0.08988,
        "discovered_by": "Henry Cavendish",
        "melt": 13.99,
        "molar_heat": 28.836,
        "named_by": "Antoine Lavoisier",
        "number": 1,
        "period": 1,
        "group": 1,
        "phase": "Gas",
        "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen",
        "summary": "Hydrogen is a chemical element with chemical symbol H and atomic number 1. With an atomic weight of 1.00794 u, hydrogen is the lightest element on the periodic table. Its monatomic form (H) is the most abundant chemical substance in the Universe, constituting roughly 75% of all baryonic mass.",
        "symbol": "H",
        "xpos": 1,
        "ypos": 1,
        "wxpos": 1,
        "wypos": 1,
        "shells": [
          1
        ],
        "electron_configuration": "1s1",
        "electron_configuration_semantic": "1s1",
        "electron_affinity": 72.769,
        "electronegativity_pauling": 2.2,
        "ionization_energies": [
          1312
        ],
        "cpk-hex": "ffffff",
        "block": "s"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Response fields

Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.

FieldTypeExampleDescription
countnumber1Number of elements returned in elements
elementsarray[1]
namestring"Hydrogen"Chemical element name
appearancestring"colorless gas"Physical appearance of the element
atomic_massPremiumnumber1.008Atomic mass of the element
boilPremiumnumber20.271Boiling point temperature in Kelvin
categorystring"diatomic nonmetal"Classification category of element
densityPremiumnumber0.08988Element density at standard conditions
discovered_bystring"Henry Cavendish"Name of element discoverer
meltPremiumnumber13.99Melting point temperature in Kelvin
molar_heatPremiumnumber28.836Molar heat capacity value
named_bystring"Antoine Lavoisier"Person who named the element
numbernumber1Atomic number of the element
periodnumber1Period position in periodic table
groupnumber1Group position in periodic table
phasestring"Gas"Physical state of element at standard conditions
sourcestring"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen"URL reference source for element info
summaryPremiumstring"Hydrogen is a chemical element with chemical symbol H and atomic number 1. With an atomic weight of 1.00794 u, hydrogen is the lightest element on the periodic table. Its monatomic form (H) is the most abundant chemical substance in the Universe, constituting roughly 75% of all baryonic mass."Detailed summary about the element
symbolstring"H"Chemical symbol for the element
xposnumber1X position coordinate in periodic table
yposnumber1Y position coordinate in periodic table
wxposnumber1Width X position in periodic table layout
wyposnumber1Width Y position in periodic table layout
shellsPremiumarray[1]Array of electron shell configurations
electron_configurationPremiumstring"1s1"Full electron configuration notation
electron_configuration_semanticPremiumstring"1s1"Semantic electron configuration notation
electron_affinityPremiumnumber72.769Electron affinity in kJ/mol
electronegativity_paulingPremiumnumber2.2Electronegativity on Pauling scale
ionization_energiesPremiumarray[1312]Array of ionization energy values
cpk-hexstring"ffffff"CPK color hex code for element
blockstring"s"Block designation in periodic table

Errors

Read the HTTP status first, then error for the specific reason. The body names the parameter that has to change. Error handling covers the full status list and which of them are worth retrying.

StatusMeaningWhat to do
400Input was rejectedRead error; it names the parameter.
401Key missing or invalidCheck the header name and the key value.
403Key valid, but not permittedA key restriction or IP allow-list; see key scoping.
429Rate limited, or out of creditsRead error to tell them apart; see rate limits.

Use cases

Interactive Table UI
When building web-based periodic tables, developers plot tiles using provided grid coordinates and apply CPK hex values for element color schemes.
Chemistry Learning Apps
Educational platforms display atomic numbers, physical phases, and discoverer records to students reviewing fundamental chemical properties in study flashcards.
Laboratory Sample Inventory
Chemical inventory systems cross-reference raw element symbols against standardized names, blocks, and groups during reagent intake and cataloging.
Molecular Model Visualization
Render 3D molecular structures in browser viewports by mapping chemical symbols directly to standardized CPK coloring codes and classification categories.

Other ways to use Periodic Table

Set up Periodic Table on APIVerve, or reach the same source a different way. Your APIVerve account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.

Give it to an AI agentConnect over MCP and your agent calls it as a native tool — Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT.VerveKit →Reference →
Google Sheets or ExcelA =VERVE() formula fills a column — no script, no export, recalculates in place.VerveSheets →Reference →
Ground an agent on itA cited, machine-checkable fact your model can't produce on its own.VerveContext →Reference →

More in Science:

Was this page helpful?