The period of an element can be determined by looking at its position on the periodic table. The period number of an element corresponds to the energy level of its outermost electrons.
To find the period of an element: 1. Locate the element on the periodic table. 2. The period number is the same as the number of the row in which the element is located. For example, elements in the first row (hydrogen and helium) are in period 1, elements in the second row (lithium to neon) are in period 2, and so on.
For example, if you are looking for the period of oxygen, you would find it in the second row of the periodic table, so oxygen is in period 2.