THE PERIODIC TABLE
Periodic table: A table in which the elements are arranged in periods and groups in
the increasing order of atomic number / proton number..
Group: The vertical coloumns of elements in the periodic table are called groups.
There are 8 groups in the periodic table.
Period: The horizontal rows in the periodic table are called periods. There are 7 periods in
the periodic table.
Regions of the periodic table
Metals: Elements in the left side of periodic table are metals, which forms cations (
positively charged ions)
Non-metals: Elements in the right side of the periodic table are non-metals, which
forms anions (negatively charged ions)
Metalloids (semimetals): Between the metals and the non-metals lie the elements
which display some properties of both.
These elements are referred to as metalloids or semi-metals
Transition elements: The block found in between group II and group III of periodic
table
Lanthanides and Actinides: The block seen at the bottom of the periodic table
GROUP
● All the elements in a group have similar properties, because they have same
number of valence electrons in their outermost shells.
● The number of outer shell electrons (valence electrons) is equal to the
group [Link]: Magnesium in group II has 2 electrons in outer shell
● Some of the groups
Group I - Alkali metals
Group II - Alkaline earth metals
Group VII- Halogens
Group VIII - Noble gases
● Moving down the group, atoms get larger because they add on electron shells.
PERIODS
● Period: these are the horizontal rows that show the number of shells of electrons
an atom has
• Eg: elements in Period 2 have two electron shells, elements in Period 3
have three electron shells
● Moving across period,
No. of valence electrons increases by 1 each time.
Atoms get smaller because electrons are added in the same shell so that the
nucleus can attract them effectively.
Metallic and non-metallic properties in the periodic table:
● Metals occur on the left-hand side of the Periodic Table and non-metals on
the right-hand side.
● The metallic character of the elements decreases as you move across a Period on
the Periodic Table, from left to right,
● The metallic character of the elements increases as you move down a Group
VALENCY : It is the number of electrons lost, gained or shared by an atom to attain a
stable electronic configuration
For groups from I to 4, valency = the no. of valence electrons or the group no.
For groups from 5 to 7, valency = 8-the no of valence electrons or
8 – the group no.
Chemical formula of
compounds [Link] oxide
Symbol of elements Ca O
Charges of ion /valency +2 -2
Ca2O2, Simplify the ratio , CaO
2. Ammonium sulfate
Symbols of the ions (NH4) (SO4)
Charges of ions /valency 1+ 2-
(NH4)2SO4
3. Carbon dioxide
C O
4 2 SWAP C2O4 On simplifying CO2
4. Silicon(IV)oxide
Si O
+4 -2 Si2O 4 On simplifying SiO2
ALKALI METALS
The group I elements are called the alkali metals.
Physical properties
● Very reactive metals and are stored under oil to cut the contact with
air and water and reactivity increases down the group.
● Good conductors of heat and electricity
● Soft metals and softness increases down the group
● Low density and density increases down the group
● Shiny surface when freshly cut
● Low melting point and m.p decreases down the group
Reason for reactivity (increase down the group)
● As you go down Group1, the number of shells of electrons increases by 1
● This means that the outer electron is further away from the nucleus
so there are weaker forces of attraction between the electron and
the nucleus.
● This allows the electron to be lost more easily, making each alkali
more reactive than the previous one as you go down the Group.
Chemical properties
Reaction with air
Alkali metals burn in oxygen ( yellow flame) or air to
form metal oxides.
Eg. Sodium +oxygen Sodium oxide
4Na + O2 2Na2O
Potassium + oxygen potassium oxide
4K + O2 2K2O
Potassium burns with lilac colour flame.
Reaction with halogen
Alkali metals react vigorously with halogens to give metal halides
Eg. Sodium + chlorine sodium chloride
2Na + Cl2 2 NaCl
Reaction with water
Alkali metals react vigorously with water to give metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas
Eg. Potassium+ water potassium hydroxide+ hydrogen
2K + 2H2O 2 KOH + H2
On reacting potassium moves / floats dissolves / disappears bubbles / effervescence /
fizzes burns with lilac flame.
Test for hydrogen gas
Test: Introduce a lighted splint to a gas jar filled with hydrogen gas
Result: the gas burns with a pop sound
Test for metal hydroxide
1. Test: Dip a red litmus paper to the solution
Result: it turns red litmus to blue
2. Test: put few drops of thymolphthalein indicator to the
solution
Result: the indicator turns colourless to blue
Transition metals
General properties of the transition elements
● They have very high melting points
● They have highly densities.
● The transition metals form coloured compounds and often have
more than one oxidation state
● Transition metals are often used as catalysts
● They are very hard and strong metals and are good conductors of heat and
electricity
Differences between alkali metals and transition metals:
Identifying transition metal ions :
Group 7 HALOGENS
Physical properties
Halogens are non-metals and diatomic
They are coloured
The m.p and b.p increases down the group
Density increases down the group
Reactivity of halogens decreases down the group
Νοte: Iodine vapour is purple in colour
Reactivity of halogens
Reactivity of group 7 non-metals increases as you go up.
Each outer shell contains seven electrons, they will need to gain one
electron to get a full filled outer shell.
As you go up group 7, the number of shells of electrons decreases
This means that the outer electrons are closer to the nucleus so there are
stronger electrostatic forces of attraction that attracts the extra electron
needed.
This allows an electron to be attracted more readily, making it more
reactive as you go up the group
Chemical reactions
Reaction with hydrogen
Halogens react with hydrogen to produce hydrogen halides, which dissolve in
water to form acidic solvent.
Eg. Chlorine + hydrogen hydrogen chloride
Cl2 + H2 2 HCl
Test for acids: Dip blue litmus paper into the solution
Result: litmus paper turns to red
Displacement Reaction: The more reactive halogen displaces a less reactive
halogen for an aqueous solution of its halide.
● Reactivity of Group 7 non-metals decreases as you go down the group
Examples:
If you add chlorine solution to colourless potassium bromide solution, the solution
becomes orange as bromine is formed. Chlorine is above bromine in group 7 so is
more reactive. Chlorine will therefore displace bromine from an aqueous solution of
metal bromide:
Chlorine + Potassium bromide Solution → Potassium chloride + Bromine
Cl2 (aq)+ 2KBr → 2KCl (aq) + Br2(aq)
(yellow - green) (reddish brown)
Bromine is above Iodine in Group 7 so is more reactive. Bromine will therefore
displace Iodine from an Aqueous Solution of Metal Iodide:
Flourine + sodium iodide sodium fluoride + iodine
F2 (l) + 2NaI (aq) → 2NaF (aq) + I2 (aq )
(pale yellow) (dark brown)
Bromine + sodium chloride, no reaction
Iodine + potassium chloride, no reaction
Ionic equations
F2 + + 2I -→ 2F - + I2
Halogens are oxidizing agents which gets reduced
and halide ions are reducing agents (oxidized)
Observations of displacement reactions of
halogens
Test for chlorine gas:
Test: Hold damp litmus paper in gas
Result: Paper is bleached white
Uses of halogens
Chlorine is Used for making PVC plastics, house hold bleach, to kill bacteria in water
treatment plants and swimming pools
NOBLE GASES
Physical properties
● Unreactive, monatomic gases
● They have 8 electrons in their outer shell (except helium, which has 2).
● They are unreactive and do not easily form molecules, because they have
full outer shells, meaning they have a stable arrangement of electrons.
Uses of noble gases
● Helium- filling balloons: less dense than air so the balloons float and He is non-
flammable
● Neon – advertising sign boards and lasers
● Argon/krypton/xenon- gas in filament lamps, which prevents tungsten filament
from reacting with oxygen
● Krypton- used in lasers and in car head lamps
● Xenon - is used in lighthouse lamps, lights of operation theatres and car headlamps
Why hydrogen have a unique place in periodic table?
Hydrogen has only one electron. Hydrogen resembles group I elements in the number of
valence electrons. But it is a nonmetal and resembles halogens by gaining one electron to
complete its outer shell. So hydrogen is given a unique place in the periodic table.
