9.
1,2: The Periodic Table and Periodic Trends
The periodic table is a method of classifying elements and can be
used to predict the properties of elements.
PERIODIC TRENDS
Non-metals are on the right side of the periodic table and metals are
on the left
The group number corresponds to the number of valence electrons
the elements in that group have, e.g. in Group I all elements have 1
electron in the outer shell, in Group II all elements have 2 electrons
in the outer shell and so on
Group I, II and III are mainly made up of metals, while Groups IV, V,
VI, VII and VIII are mainly made up of non-metals
9.3 Group Properties
GROUP I – ALKALI METALS
Physical properties:
Good conductors of heat and electricity
Are soft, compared to other metals (can be cut with a knife), and get
softer down the group
They have low densities for metals and density increase down the
group with exception of sodium
They have low melting and boiling points compared most metals,
Melting and [Link] point decrease down the group
Chemical Properties:
Form ionic compounds
React violently with chlorine
Burst into flames when heated with oxygen
Red flame for lithium
Yellow flame for sodium
Lilac flame for potassium
Produce soluble white compounds
Highly reactive have to be kept under kerosene in sealed containers
Reactivity increases down the group because more electron shells
means weaker attraction between nucleus and valency electron so
lost more easily
Reaction with water: alkali metals react with water to form metal
hydroxide and hydrogen gas
Li, Na, K etc are lighter than water, so float on surface of water
Na + H2O –> NaOH + ½H2
K + H2O –> KOH + ½H2
Observations: sizzling, sodium dissolves, white tail which disappears
(white tail is NaOH)
GROUP VII – HALOGENS
Properties
Are coloured
Fluorine is a yellow gas
Chlorine is a green gas
Bromine is a red liquid
Iodine is a black solid
Poisonous
Brittle when solid
Do not conduct electricity
Form diatomic molecules
Reaction with halide ions:
More reactive halogens can displace less reactive halide ions from
its salt solution. This is called displacement which is a redox reaction
e.g. Cl2(g) + 2KBr(aq) –> 2KCl(aq) + Br2(aq)
Colour change: colourless to orange
Cl2 + 2KI –> 2KCl + I2
Colour change: colourless to brown
Patterns of halogens:
Down the group, density increases
Down the group colour darkens
Reactivity decreases down the group because it has to gain an
electron so the closer the electron is to positive nucleus the more
easily it will be gained so atoms with fewer shells will react more
easily
Melting point and boiling point increase down the group
9.4 Transition Elements
Physical Properties
high melting and boiling points (except mercury)
malleable and ductile
good conductors of heat & electricity
high density
harder and stronger than group I, II, III metals
Chemical Properties:
no trend in reactivity and less reactive compared to metals of other
groups
have more than one oxidation state
form coloured compounds
form complex ions as they have variable valencies
can be used as catalysts
9.5 Noble Gases
Unreactive gases in Group 8/0. All exist in monoatomic state and
make up 1% of air
Properties:
Colourless
Density increases down the group
Helium and neon lighter than air, others heavier
Boiling and melting points increase down the group
Don’t conduct electricity
Very unreactive because they have full valence shells and so
have the most stable electronic configurations
Uses:
Helium
Filling weather balloons and airships (lighter than air, will not catch
fire)
Deep sea diver’s cylinder (He + O2)
Neon
Advertising signs because it glows red
Argon
inert atmosphere in extraction of titanium
filling tungsten light bulbs to stop the filament reacting with the light
bulbs
inert atmosphere in welding
Krypton
lasers for eye surgery
car headlamps
Xenon
bright light bulbs e.g. in operating theatre and lighthouses
used in lasers
