Periodic Table of Elements Overview

Topics
Alkali Metals

Alkali metals, comprising Group 1 of the periodic table, are highly reactive elements due to their
single valence electron.

They include lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium.

Alkali metals have low densities and soft enough to cut with a knife.
They quickly tarnish in air and react violently with water.
These metals form alkaline solutions, hence their name.

Alkaline Earth Metals

Alkaline Earth Metals are six metallic elements in the second group of the periodic table. They
include Beryllium (Be), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Strontium (Sr), Barium (Ba) and Radium
(Ra).

They possess two electrons in their outer shell, which makes them highly reactive.
These elements are found in various minerals and have a silvery-white appearance.
Common properties include being soft, shiny, and having low densities and melting points.
Their reactivity increases as one moves down the periodic table.

Anions

Anions are negatively charged ions formed when atoms gain electrons.

Anions are attracted to the positively charged ions, known as cations.

The presence of anions can affect the chemical properties of a substance.
Anions can form ionic bonds with cations to create compounds.
Anions are often involved in chemical reactions due to their high reactivity.

Atomic mass

Atomic mass, also known as atomic weight, refers to the average mass of atoms of an element,
calculated using the relative abundance of isotopes in a naturally-occurring element.

It's measured in atomic mass units (amu), where 1 amu is approximately 1.66 x 10^-27
kilograms.
The atomic mass is usually listed under each element on the Periodic Table.
 Protons and neutrons collectively contribute almost all of an atom's mass.
Atomic mass affects how different atoms interact and combine with each other.

Atomic Number

The atomic number refers to the number of protons in an atom's nucleus, determining the
element's identity and its position in the periodic table.

The atomic number is represented by the symbol 'Z'.

Elements with the same atomic number belong to the same group in the periodic table.
As the atomic number increases, so does the number of electrons.
The atomic number is unique for each element and cannot change under normal chemical
reactions.

Cations

Cations are positively charged ions that are formed when an atom loses electrons. They are
usually formed by metals.

Cations have a positive charge and are attracted to negatively charged ions called anions.
Cations are typically smaller in size than the parent atom due to the loss of electrons.
Cations play a crucial role in many chemical reactions and are often involved in the formation
of compounds.
The number of cations in a compound must balance the number of anions to maintain
electrical neutrality.

Chemical Reactivity

Chemical reactivity refers to the ability of substances to undergo chemical reactions and form
new compounds.

Reactivity is influenced by factors like temperature, concentration, and the presence of

catalysts.
The reactivity of an element can be predicted based on its position on the periodic table.
Substances with high reactivity tend to be more likely to react with other substances.
Understanding chemical reactivity is crucial for predicting how a substance will behave in
various reactions.

Diatomic elements

Diatomic elements are those composed of two identical atoms bonded together, such as
hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2). They form molecules in pairs.

Seven elements exist naturally as diatomic molecules, including hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen,
 fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine.
Diatomic elements are often found in their gaseous state at room temperature.
These elements are important in understanding chemical reactions and balancing equations.
They are commonly encountered in nature, such as oxygen in the air and hydrogen in water.

Electrons

Electrons are subatomic particles that are found outside the nucleus and have a negative charge.

The number of electrons in an atom determines its chemical properties.

Electrons exist in discrete energy levels or shells around the nucleus.
Electrons exhibit wave-particle duality, meaning they can behave as both particles and waves.
Electrons are involved in chemical bonding and determine the reactivity of elements.

Halogens

Halogens are a group of elements on the periodic table known for their reactivity and ability to
form salts.

They include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine.

Halogens have seven valence electrons, making them highly reactive.
They can form diatomic molecules, such as Cl2 or F2.
Halogens can displace less reactive halogens from their compounds.

Ions

Ions are charged particles that are formed when atoms gain or lose electrons.

Positive ions, called cations, form when atoms lose electrons.

Negative ions, called anions, form when atoms gain electrons.
Ions play a crucial role in chemical reactions and the formation of compounds.
The charge of an ion is determined by the number of electrons gained or lost.
Ions can be single atoms or groups of atoms called polyatomic ions.

Mass Number

The mass number denotes the total number of protons and neutrons found in an atom's nucleus.

It is an integer and symbolized by 'A'.

The mass number determines an atom's isotopic identity.
It is always a whole number since it counts particles.
Different isotopes of an element carry different mass numbers, despite having similar
chemical properties.
Metalloids

Metalloids are elements with properties between metals and non-metals. They appear in a stair-
step line on the periodic table.

Metalloids are semiconductors, useful in electronic devices.

Their reactivity depends on the element they are interacting with.
Silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, and tellurium are major metalloids.
They exhibit variable physical properties like lustre or lack thereof.

Metals

Metals are malleable, ductile, and conductive materials found on the left side of the periodic
table. They are usually shiny and solids at room temperature.

Metals form positive ions (cations) by losing electrons in reactions.

Most metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides.
They generally have high melting and boiling points.
Metals can form alloys by combining with other metals.

Metals and non-metals

Metals are elements that are typically shiny, conductive, and malleable, whereas non-metals lack
these properties. Metals tend to lose electrons, while non-metals tend to gain electrons.

Metalloids possess properties of both metals and non-metals.

Metals are found on the left side of the periodic table, while non-metals are primarily on the
right side.
Metals generally have lower electronegativity compared to non-metals.
Transition metals are located in the middle of the periodic table between groups 2 and 13.

Neutrons

Neutrons are subatomic particles found in the nucleus of an atom and have a neutral charge.

Neutrons determine the stability of an atom.

Neutrons help provide mass to the atom.
The number of neutrons in an atom can vary, resulting in different isotopes of the same
element.
Neutrons can undergo nuclear reactions, such as fission, which release a large amount of
energy.

Noble Gases
Noble Gases, elements in group 18 of the periodic table, are colorless, odorless, and extremely
unreactive due to their full electron shell.

Examples include Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, and Radon.

The low reactivity makes them stable and suitable for neon lights and helium balloons.
Noble Gases exhibit a glow when electric current passes through them.
Despite their inertness, some noble gases can form compounds under extreme conditions.

Nonmetals

Nonmetals are elements that typically lack the physical characteristics of metals and have
properties opposite to them, including conductivity, malleability, and luster.

There are 17 nonmetals on the Periodic Table, including hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon.
Nonmetals usually have high ionization energies and electronegativities.
Most nonmetals can gain electrons during reactions.
Nonmetals often form covalent bonds with other nonmetals.

Periodic Table of Elements

The Periodic Table of Elements organizes all known elements based on their atomic number and
chemical properties.

Elements are arranged in rows (periods) and columns (groups) on the table.
Elements in the same group have similar chemical properties.
The horizontal rows represent the increasing number of electron shells in an atom.
The vertical columns indicate the number of valence electrons in an element.

Physical states of elements

Elements can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas depending on temperature and pressure. Solids have
a definite shape and volume, liquids have a definite volume but not shape, and gases have
neither a definite shape nor volume.

The physical state of an element is determined by its intermolecular forces and energy levels.
Sublimation is the process of a solid turning directly into a gas without passing through the
liquid phase.
A substance transitions from solid to liquid through melting and from liquid to gas through
boiling.
Elements with weak intermolecular forces tend to exist as gases at room temperature and
pressure.

Protons
Protons are subatomic particles found in the nucleus of an atom. They have a positive charge
and a mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit (amu).

Protons determine the atomic number of an element.

The number of protons in an atom is equal to the number of electrons in a neutral atom.
Protons are responsible for the majority of an atom's mass.
Changing the number of protons in an atom results in a different element.

representative elements

Representative elements are found in the first two groups and last six groups of the periodic
table, displaying typical properties and forming predictable compounds.

They are also known as main group elements.

Representative elements tend to form ionic compounds with nonmetals.
They have a wide range of reactivity due to their electron configuration.
These elements play a crucial role in forming the structure of many common materials.

Transition metals

Transition metals are a group of elements that are located in the middle of the periodic table,
known for their ability to form multiple oxidation states and their unique electron configurations.

Transition metals often exhibit colorful compounds due to the presence of partially filled d-
orbitals.
These metals are typically good conductors of heat and electricity.
Transition metals play important roles in catalysis, helping to speed up chemical reactions.
They are commonly used in the production of alloys, such as stainless steel and bronze.

Valence Electrons

Valence Electrons are the outermost electrons of an atom and play a key role in determining its
chemical reactivity and bonding.

Valence Electrons either are shared, lost, or gained in chemical reactions.

The number of Valence Electrons helps to determine the group of the atom in the Periodic
Table.
They are directly involved in forming chemical bonds with other atoms.
Different elements have different numbers of valence electrons ranging from 1 to 8.

Key Terms
Allotropes

Allotropes are different forms of an element that exhibit distinct physical and chemical
properties.

Allotropes can exist in the same phase or different phases, such as solid, liquid, or gas.
Diamond and graphite are allotropes of carbon.
Oxygen can exist as O2 molecules in its standard state, but ozone (O3) is another allotrope of
oxygen.
Allotropes can have different structural arrangements, resulting in variations in bonding and
reactivity.

anion

An 'anion' refers to a negatively charged ion. It gains electrons to achieve its negative state
during an ionic reaction.

'Anions' are typically larger than their parent atom due to the addition of extra electrons.
Common examples include chloride (Cl-) and sulfate (SO4 2-).
'Anion' originates from the Greek word 'anio', meaning 'up'.
In a solution, 'anions' migrate towards the anode during electrolysis due to their negative
charge.

Diatomic Molecules

Diatomic molecules consist of two atoms of the same or different elements covalently bonded,
such as O2 and H2.

Common examples include nitrogen (N2) and chlorine (Cl2).

Often exhibit simple molecular structures with only one bond between the two atoms.
Diatomic molecules are important in understanding chemical bonding and reactivity.
Techniques like spectroscopy can be used to study diatomic molecules.

Inner Transition Metals

Inner transition metals are a group of elements that are located at the bottom of the periodic
table and have electron configurations that include filling up f orbitals.

There are two series of inner transition metals: lanthanides and actinides.
Inner transition metals have high atomic numbers and varying chemical properties.
These elements are often used in industrial applications, such as in batteries and magnets.
Inner transition metals have the ability to form stable complexes and exhibit strong magnetic
properties.
Radioactive elements

Radioactive elements are unstable atoms that spontaneously emit radiation to achieve a more
stable configuration.

Radioactive decay can emit alpha, beta, or gamma radiation.

Half-life is the time required for half of a sample of radioactive material to decay.
Radioactivity can be used in medicine for imaging and cancer treatment.
Radioactive elements occur naturally in the environment and can be artificially produced in
labs.