UNIT V: The Periodic Table of Elements

The periodic table of elements, is a tabular display of the chemical elements, which are
arranged by atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties. The
structure of the table shows periodic trends.

Since the ancient period, scientists have suggested various forms of the periodic table,
but the development of the modern one started with German chemist Lothar Meyer when he
arranged 56 elements in a table according to properties. It was followed by Dmitri Ivanovich
Mendeleev a Russian Chemist who made a table with gaps for undiscovered elements
grouping them into columns and rows according to their properties while taking into account
their atomic weights. Later, Henry Moseley modified this table and arranged the elements in
order of increasing atomic number. Since Mendeleev provided the most sensible foundation for
table that led to the development of the modern one, he is considered to be the Father of
Periodic Table of Elements. With the discovery of new elements and new theories on the
structure of atoms however; the basic structure of Mendeleev’s original periodic table has
undergone several changes.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: After successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Enumerate people behind the Periodic Table of Elements.
2. Define Isotopes and cite applications.
3. Use the periodic to describe the chemical elements in terms of ionization energy,
electron affinity, electronegativity, metallicity and atomic radius.
4. Identify common chemical elements; cite their properties and uses in everyday life.

COURSE MATERIALS

LESSON 16: The Elements in the Periodic Table

Every element is known for their atomic number or the number of protons in their
nucleus. Hydrogen for example has an atomic number of one, hence contains only one proton.
Helium on the other hand has two and lithium has three. The elements in the periodic table are
arranged according to increasing atomic number or increasing number of protons. However, the
number of neutrons in elements may vary. Hydrogen in normal condition has no neutron. But in
some cases, you can find 1 in every 6000 ordinary hydrogen atoms, a hydrogen atom with one
neutron (deuterium). In rare instances, 1 in every 1017 of ordinary hydrogen, two neutrons can
be found (tritium). These elements are called isotopes of hydrogen. Isotopes are those nuclei
having different atomic mass number due to different neutron number n.
We have more than 2000 distinct isotopes known to exist in nature. Some occur naturally while
some are produced artificially. Some of the naturally occurring isotopes are radioactive. These
are called radioisotopes. Isotopes of elements having atomic number greater than 83 are all
radioactive.
There are also atoms having the same mass number but different atomic number, we
call these Isobars. Isotones on the other hand are atoms having the same number of neutrons
but different number of protons.

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In the Periodic Table of Elements, the following concepts are important:

Periodic Law – some of the physical and many of the chemical properties of elements are
periodic function of their atomic numbers.

Period – horizontal row of elements

Group or Family – vertical column of elements

TYPES OF ELEMENTS

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Representative elements – Group IA – VIIA
Noble Gases - Group VIIIA
Transition Series – B Family
Inner Transition Series - Lanthanide and
Actinide Series
Group IA – Alkali metals
IIA - Alkaline earth metals
IIIA - Boron Family
IVA - Carbon Family
VA - Nitrogen Family
VIA - Chalcogens
VIIA – Halogens
VIIIA - Noble Gases
IA & IIA – s –block
IIIA – VIIIA – p-block
B family - d-block
Lanthanide & Actinide Series - f-block

Valence electron – electron in the outermost shell and can be determined by their group
number.
2 2 6 1 -
11Na- 1s 2s 2p 3s : val. e = 1
2 2 6 2 6 1 5 -
24Cr- 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s 3d : val. e = 1
2 2 6 2 6 1 10
29Cu- 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s 3d : val. e- =1
2 2 6 2 4 -
16S- 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p : val. e = 6
2 2 6 2 6 -
18Ar- 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p : val. e = 8
2 2 6 2 6 2 10
32Ge- 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s 3d 4p2: val. e- =4

CLASSIFICATION OF ELEMENTS:

I. Noble Gas – if the valence electron is equal to 8, examples are the elements in Gr. VIIIA like
Neon, Argon, Krypton, etc.
2 2 6 2 6 -
18Ar- 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p : val. e = 8

II. Metal – if the valence electron is less than the highest main energy level, mostly found on the
left side of the periodic table. Examples are Sodium, Calcium, Gold, Lead etc
2 2 6 1 -
11Na- 1s 2s 2p 3s : val. e = 1 < highest Main Energy Level (hMEL) = 3
2 2 6 2 6 1 5 -
24Cr- 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s 3d : val. e = 1 < hMEL = 4

III. Non –metal – if the valence electron is greater by 2 or more than the highest main energy
level, mostly found on the right side of the periodic table. Examples are oxygen, carbon, fluorine
etc.
2 2 6 2 4 -
16S- 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p : val. e = 6 > hMEL = 3

IV. Metalloid – has properties midway between metal and non-metal, if the valence electron is
greater by 1 or equal to the highest main energy level, found on midway between the metals

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and nonmetals emphasized by their ladderized arrangement. Examples are Boron, arsenic,
silicon etc.
2 2 6 2 2 -
14Si- 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p : val. e = 4 > hMEL = 3 (greater by one)
2 2 6 2 6 2 10 2 -
32Ge- 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s 3d 4p : val. e =4 = hMEL = 4

LESSON 17: Periodic Trends

1. Electron Affinity is the energy change when an electron is added to a neutral atom and
becomes negatively charged. It increases from left to right and from bottom to top of the
periodic table.

2. Ionization Energy is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom or ion. It
increases from left to right and from bottom to top of the periodic table.

3. Electronegativity is the tendency of the atom in a chemical compound to attract

electrons. It increases from left to right and from bottom to top of the periodic table.

4. Atomic Radius describes the size of the atom. It increases from right to left and from
top to bottom of the periodic table.

5. Metallicity is the ability of the atom to exhibit metallic properties. It increases from right
to left and from top to bottom of the periodic table.

Ex: Arrange the elements: P, Ca, W, Br, Na

Na P
Ca Br

a. Increasing Electron Affinity: W, Ca, Br, Na, P

b. Increasing Metallicity : P, Na, Br, Ca, W

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 Exercises:

A. Given the following elements: Calcium, Manganese, Arsenic, Paladium, Tin,

Tantalum, Mercury, and Francium, identify:

1. Least affected by a magnetic field

2. Most paramagnetic
3. Has highest number of valence electrons
1. Has four valence electrons
2. Has highest EA
3. Has least metallicity
4. Increasing arrangement of atomic radius

A. Classify the following elements as to metal, non-metal, metalloid or noble gas.

Prove your answer.
1. Selenium
2. Cadmium
3. Tellurium
4. Molybdenum
5. Tin

B. Arrange the followings group of elements according to:

Elements given increasing increasing decreasing increasing decreasing

metallic atomic ionization electron electronegati
properties size energy affinity vity
Mg, Sr, S, Sn, Ra

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K, N, Se, Br, I
Cs, Cd, Ag, Al, N
F, Br, Cu, Fe, Au
B, Be, Mn, Pb, At

C. Identify two more isotopes and cite at least two applications.

Laboratory Works 4
Elements at Work!

Observe your surroundings. List at least ten elements you see in your area, identify their
chemical symbol, then cite their observed physical and chemical properties. If pure
element is not possible, you can identify those elements that are part of a compound.
The first one is set as an example.

Elements Symbol Physical property Chemical Property Use/significance

Lead Pb Soft, can be Not corrosive As soldering wire to

pressed easily connect
electronic/electrical
components

For further discussions and practice problems, you may also visit:
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/periodic-table/
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Inorganic_Chemistry78