<P> All elements from atomic numbers 1 ( hydrogen ) to 118 ( oganesson ) have been discovered or synthesized , with the most recent additions ( nihonium , moscovium , tennessine , and oganesson ) being confirmed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry ( IUPAC ) in 2015 and officially named in 2016 : they complete the first seven rows of the periodic table . The first 94 elements exist naturally , although some are found only in trace amounts and were synthesized in laboratories before being found in nature . Elements with atomic numbers from 95 to 118 have only been synthesized in laboratories or nuclear reactors . Synthesis of elements having higher atomic numbers is being pursued . Numerous synthetic radionuclides of naturally occurring elements have also been produced in laboratories . </P>
the first element on the periodic table is
hydrogen