The Periodic Table
The periodic table which also used to be known as the mendeleev table lists down all
the elements which have been discovered till now. In the modern periodic table, the
vertical columns are known as groups whereas the horizontal rows are known as
periods. The elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number. As you go
from left to right, the proton number increases by one.
You can see a red stair, on the left side of the stair all the elements are metals, all
the elements on the right side of the stair are non-metals.
All the elements in the same group have the same number of electrons in the
outer shell
All the elements in the same period have the same number of shells
To learn more about the periodic table in a fun way, you can read this book “The
Elements Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table” from Amazon.
Some differences between metals and non-metal
Metals
Metals have high densities, melting and boiling points
The are shiny
They are Malleable, ductile
Good conductor of heat and electricity
They form cations or positive ions
It forms oxides which are basic, meaning they produce alkaline solution when
dissolved in water
Non-metals
Most non-metals have low melting and boiling points (except carbon and
silicon due to giant covalent bonding)
They are Brittle, means they break easily with little force
They are poor conductors of heat and electricity (except graphite and silicon)
Most non-metals form negative ions or cations
Its oxides are acidic, meaning they dissolve in water to form an acidic
solution. For example, hydrogen chloride gas dissolves in water to form
hydrochloric acid.
Group 0 or Noble Gases
All of them have full outermost shell
They exist as monatomic(single atoms instead of compounds or molecules).
They are in gaseous state because of their inability to form covalent bonds
due to their full outermost shell
Melting and boiling points of noble gases increase down the group(as the size
of atoms increases) because there is more attraction between atoms.
Inert, due to full outermost shell.
Characteristics of Group 1 elements or Alkali Metals
They are very Soft, have lower density than other metals, also lower melting
and boiling points
They all are highly reactive
Most of the reactive ones must be stored under oil, to prevent them from
reacting with air(oxygen in the ait) or with water vapor.
Reactivity of group one metal increases down the group
They form +1 charged ions when forms compounds
All of the group 1 compounds are white, they all dissolve to form a colorless
solution
Why does the reactivity of group one metals increase down the
group?
Because down the group the number of shells increases, therefore, the outer shell
electrons are further from away from the nucleus, they feel a less attractive force
towards the nucleus, hence can be more easily removed.
How Group 1 metals react with water
All of the group 1 metals react vigorously with water, they all react with water to
produce metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
How sodium reacts with water: Sodium reacts vigorously with water, it floats on
the surface of the water, as its density is less than water. There is vigorous
effervescence of hydrogen gas, hydrogen gas is released rapidly which causes
sodium to dart on the surface of the water. The reaction is highly exothermic,
releases tons of heat
2Na(s) + 2H2O(l)→ 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
How Lithium reacts with water Lithium reacts similarly sodium reacts with water,
but reacts a little bit slower than sodium, as its reactivity is less than sodium.
How potassium reacts with water similar observation as in the case of potassium,
but reacts much more vigorously, the potassium metal even catches fire and burns
with a lilac flame.
Rubidium and Caesium with water these metals react so vigorously with water,
that it is dangerous to carry out their reaction with water and they are hardly used.
Group 7 also known as Halogens
Reactivity of halogens decreases down the group
Melting and boiling point of halogens increase down the group
Halogen State Color
F2 (Fluorine) gaseous yellowish
Cl2 (Chlorine) gaseous green gas
Br2 (Bromine) liquid Dark red liquid, red-brown vapor on heating
I2 (Iodine) solid Dark gray solid, purple vapor released on heating
The reaction of halogens with hydrogen
When halogens react with hydrogen they form hydrogen halides, hydrogen halides
dissolves in water to form an acidic solution.
Reactivity or the oxidizing power of halogens decreases down the group because the
number of shells increase also the incoming electron will be further away from the
nucleus, hence feels less attractive force toward the nucleus.
More reactive halogens are able to displace the
less reactive ones but not the other way round
H2 (g) + Br2 (g) → 2HBr (g)
Halogen Reaction with hydrogen
F2 (Fluorine) Violent explosion occurs, even if the reaction is carried out in the cold and dark
Cl2 (Chlorine) Violent explosion occurs given that the mixture is exposed to flame or sunlight.
Br2 (Bromine) Mild explosion if bromine vapor and hydrogen gas is mixed and exposed to flame
I2 (Iodine) Partial reaction occurs if hydrogen and iodine is heated constantly.
Transition Metals
They all have Typical metallic properties such as high melting and boiling
points, ductile, malleable etc
They all are less reactive than group 1 and 2 metal due to this property they
have various practical uses.
Transition metals tend to form colorful compounds
We mostly use transitional metals and their compounds as catalysts. For
example Iron in the manufacture of ammonia, Vanadium(V)Oxide in the
manufacture of sulfuric acid and also manganese(IV)oxide in the
decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.