Share. By Regina Bailey. Definition: The cell membrane is a thin semi-permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm of a cell, enclosing its contents. Its function is to protect the integrity of the interior of the cell by allowing certain substances into the cell, while keeping other substances out.t also serves as a base of attachment for the cytoskeleton in some organisms and the cell wall in others. Thus the cell membrane also serves to help support the cell and help maintain its shape. The cell membrane is primarily composed of a mix of proteins and lipids.
Continued from page 1. Periods and Groups. Elements in the periodic table are arranged in periods (rows) and groups (columns). Atomic number increases as you move across a row or period. Periods. Rows of elements are called periods. The period number of an element signifies the highest unexcited energy level for an electron in that element.
Today, the periodic table organizes the elements in horizontal rows, or periods, by order of increasing atomic number, which equals the number of protons in the atomic nucleus of each element. The elements are also organized in vertical columns, or groups, based on similar physical characteristics and chemical behavior. This arrangement developed side by side with atomic theory over about 200 years, and it continues to evolve as new elements are discovered.