The periodic table categorizes the element by number of protons and electrons. It also gives symbols to categorize the elements making them easier to memorize when studied.
The periodic table has gone through many changes since Dmitri Mendeleev drew up its original design in 1869, yet both the first table and the modern periodic table are important for the same reason: The periodic table organizes elements according to similar properties so you can tell the characteristics of an element just by looking at its location on the table
