THE PERIODIC TABLE

The periodic table of the elements is a tabular method of showing the chemical

elements. Most of the work that was done to arrive at the periodic table that

we know, can be attributed to a man called Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869. Mendeleev

was a Russian chemist who designed the table in such a way that recurring

(”periodic”) trends in the properties of the elements could be shown. Using the

trends he observed, he even left gaps for those elements that he thought were

’missing’. He even predicted the properties that he thought the missing

elements would have when they were discovered. Many of these elements were

indeed discovered and Mendeleev’s predictions were proved to be correct.

To show the recurring properties that he had observed, Mendeleev began new

rows in his table so that elements with similar properties were in the same

vertical columns, called groups. Each row was referred to as a period. One

important feature to note in the periodic table is that all the non-metals are to

the right of the zig-zag line drawn under the element boron. The rest of the

elements are metals, with the exception of hydrogen which occurs in the first

block of the table despite being a non-metal.

A simplified diagram showing part of the Periodic Table

THE PERIODIC LAW: Physical and chemical properties of the elements are

periodic properties of their atomic number.

● The Periodic table is a method of classifying elements.

● They are arranged in order of increasing atomic number.

● Made up of rows called periods and columns called groups.

● Metals are to the left and non-metals are to the right.

● Elements in the same group have similar properties.

● Group number tells us the number of valency electrons and the period

number tells us about the number of electron shells.

PERIODIC TRENDS:

● Non-metals are on the right side of the periodic table, and metals are on

the left.

● If you go down a period of metals they become more reactive.

● With non-metals, going down a period, the non-metal becomes less reactive

GROUPS (FAMILIES) IN THE PERIODIC TABLE

A group is a vertical column in the periodic table, and is considered to be the

most important way of classifying the elements. If you look at a periodic table,

you will see the groups numbered at the top of each column. The groups are

numbered from left to right as follows: 1, 2, then an open space which contains

the transition elements, followed by groups 3 to 8. These numbers are normally

represented using roman numerals. In some periodic tables, all the groups are

numbered from left to right from number 1 to number 18. In some groups, the

elements display very similar chemical properties, and the groups are even given

separate names to identify them. The characteristics of each group are mostly

determined by the electron configuration of the atoms of the element.

sodium and potassium.

Chemical Properties Physical Properties

● Form ionic compounds ● Good conductors of heat and

● React violently with chlorine electricity.

● Burst into flames when heated ● Are soft, compared to other

with oxygen: metals.

- A red flame for lithium ● They have low densities for

- A yellow flame for sodium metals.

- A lilac flame for potassium ● They have low melting and boiling

● Produce soluble white compounds. points compared to most metals.

React with cold water.

Patterns

● Reactivity, density and softness increases further down the group

● Melting and boiling points decreases down the group.

● Reactivity increases because more electron shells means there is a less

strong attraction between the nucleus and the valency electron so it is

lost more easily.

ALKALINE EARTH METALS: Group 2 is the alkaline earth metals. Their outer

electron shell has an s2 configuration. They are harder & less reactive than the

Group 1 metals. They lose the s2 electron and become ions with a +2 positive

charge. Notice that if this happens they have the electron configuration of a

noble gas.
TRANSITION METALS: Groups 3 through 12 contain transition elements. The

transition metals are harder & less reactive than Group 1 & 2 metals. Because

the outer shells of these elements are filling the d-orbital, they are sometimes

called d-block elements.

Properties

● High melting points (except mercury)

● Malleable and ductile

● Good conductors of heat and electricity (silver is the best)

● High density

● Have no trend in reactivity

● Can be used as catalysts

● Form colored compounds

● Can form complex ions as they have variable valences

LANTHANIDES: The lanthanide (4f) series have atomic numbers 57-71. These

metals are shiny & reactive. Some are used as phosphors that glow when

electrons hit them.

ACTINIDES: The actinide (5f) series have atomic numbers 89-103. These

metals are all radioactive. Many are man made. Uranium is important in nuclear

energy reactions.

MAIN BLOCK ELEMENTS: Groups 3 through 8 are called the main block

elements. The metals in this group are aluminium, gallium, indium, tin, thallium,
lead, bismuth, & polonium. The metalloids in this group are boron, silicon,

germanium, arsenic, antimony & tellurium.

The non-metals in this group are hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon,

phosphorus, sulphur, selenium, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and the noble

gases.

HALOGENS: Group 7 is called the halogens. They form salts with the Group 1

metals. They are the most reactive non-metals. Their outer electron shell is p5

if they gain one electron they can have the electron configuration of a noble

gas. If they do this they are ions with –1 charge.

Properties Pattern

● Form colored gases, at RTP: ● Down the group; size, mass and

○ Fluorine is a yellow gas density increases

○ Chlorine is a green gas ● Down the group, color darkens

○ Bromine is a red liquid ● Reactivity decreases down the

○ Iodine is a black solid group, because it has to gain an

● Are poisonous electron, so the closer the

● Brittle and crumbly when solid electron is to the positive nucleus

● Do not conduct electricity the more easily it will be gained,

● Form diatomic molecules so atoms with fewer shells will

react more easily.

CHALCOGENS: Group 6 is called the chalcogens. They have an outer electron

configuration of s2p4 so they try to gain 2 electrons so they can have the
electron configuration of a noble gas. If they do this they become ions with a –2

charge. Oxygen is the most reactive element of this group.

NOBLE GASES: Group 8 is the noble gases. They have filled s and p sublevels in

their highest energy level. Having these electron shells filled makes them very

stable. They are not willing to gain, lose or share electrons, so they will not

react with other elements.

Properties Uses

● Density increases down the group ● Helium- filling balloons and

● Melting point and boiling point aircrafts because it is lighter

increases down the group than air and will not catch fire.

● Don’t conduct electricity ● Argon – filling (tungsten) light

● Don’t take part in chemical bulbs to stop the filament

reactions reacting with oxygen.

● Neon – is used in advertising signs

because it glows red.

HYDROGEN: Hydrogen is in a group all by itself. With its electron configuration

of 1s1 it can either give an electron away or gain an electron. In this respect,

hydrogen can act as a metal or a nonmetal. It usually shares its electron. It

reacts quickly with other molecules or forms H2. It’s the only nonmetal on the

left side of the table.

A period is a horizontal row in the periodic table of the elements. Some of the

trends that can be observed within a period are highlighted below:

● As you move from one group to the next within a period, the number of

valence electrons increases by one each time.

● Within a single period, all the valence electrons occur in the same energy

shell. If the period increases, so does the energy shell in which the valence

electrons occur.

● In general, the diameter of atoms decreases as one moves from left to

right across a period. Consider the attractive force between the positively

charged nucleus and the negatively charged electrons in an atom. As you

move across a period, the number of protons in each atom increases. The

number of electrons also increases, but these electrons will still be in the

same energy shell. As the number of protons increases, the force of

attraction between the nucleus and the electrons will increase and the

atomic diameter will decrease.

● Ionisation energy increases as one moves from left to right across a period.

As the valence electron shell moves closer to being full, it becomes more

difficult to remove electrons. The opposite is true when you move down a

group in the table because more energy shells are being added. The

electrons that are closer to the nucleus ’shield’ the outer electrons from

the attractive force of the positive nucleus. Because these electrons are

not being held to the nucleus as strongly, it is easier for them to be

removed and the ionisation energy decreases.

● In general, the reactivity of the elements decreases from left to right

across a period.