Classification of Element and

Periodicity in Properties
Chapter 3
What Is CLASSIFICATION?

Why CLASSIFICATION?
Class 9th Chapter 7
 Dobereiner’s Triads (1817)
• Fact: Less than 33 elements were known during his attempts.
• Statement:
When elements are arranged in increasing order of their atomic mass in groups of three
(Triads), then the arithmetic mean of mass of 1st and 3rd elements is found approximately
equal to mass of central atom.
Dobereiner’s Triads
 Limitations:
• Dobereiner could only find 3 triads, i.e. total of 9 elements could only be
classified. However, the total number of elements were more than that of
those encompassed in Dobereiner’s Triad.
• Thus, Dobereiner’s could not be classify most of the elements known at that
time.
 Questions
1. Why do we require classification of elements?

2. What are Dobereiner triads?

3. Lithium, sodium and potassium form a Dobereiner’s triad. The atomic masses of lithium and potassium are 7
and 39 respectively. Predict the atomic mass of sodium.

4. Give limitations of Dobereiner triads

Newlands Laws of Octaves (1865)
• Fact: 56 elements were known at that
time.
• Statement:
The generalization made by the English
chemist J.A.R. Newlands in 1865 that,
if the chemical elements are arranged according to
increasing atomic weight, those with similar physical
and chemical properties occur after each interval of
seven elements.
The major limitations of Newlands' law of octaves

(i) It was applicable to only lighter elements having atomic masses upto 40 u, i.e., upto
calcium.
(ii) It was assumed that only 56 elements existed in nature and no new elements would
be discovered in the future.
(iii) Some similar elements have been separated from one another while some dissimilar
elements have been placed in the same column.
(iv) When noble gases were discovered, the properties of the eighth element were no
longer similar to the first one. Actually, now it was the first and the ninth element which
has similar properties.
 Mendeleev’s Periodic Table

Mendeleev’s periodic law

It states that the physical and chemical properties of all elements are
a periodic function of their atomic masses.
Mendeleev’s Periodic table
 Mendeleev’s Law: Merits
• Mendeleev was first to properly arrange and classify all elements and was able to explain the
periodicity in their chemical properties.
• Mendeleev left some gaps for undiscovered elements. He predicted that some elements
would be discovered in future. He also predicted properties of those undiscovered elements.
• This table also accommodate the noble gases
• He also corrected the atomic masses of certain elements.
 Mendeleev’s Laws: Demerits
• He was unable to locate hydrogen in the periodic table.
• Increase in atomic mass was not regular while moving from one element to
another. Hence, the number of elements yet to be discovered was not
predictable.
• Mendeleev placed many elements in wrong order of their increasing atomic
masses in order to place elements having similar properties in similar group.
• Lateron, isotopes of elements were found which violated Mendeleev’s
periodic law.
 Questions
1. State the Newlands’ Law of Octaves?

2. Did Dobereiner’s triads also exist in the columns of Newlands’ Octaves? Compare and find out.

3. At the time of Mendeleev, the number of elements known was _____

4. Merits and Demerits of Mendeleev’s Periodic Table

5. Besides gallium, which other elements have since been discovered that were left by Mendeleev in his
Periodic Table?
Modern periodic Table
 Modern periodic law
It states that the physical and chemical
properties of all elements are a periodic
function of their atomic numbers.
Electronic configuration in periods
Electronic configuration
in groups
 Characteristic

s-block Number of groups 2

General electronic ns1

elements configuration ns2

Group 1:- Alkali metals

The elements in which the
last electron enters s-orbital Group 2:- Alkaline earth metals
of the outermost energy
Nature All the elements are metal
level are called the s-block
elements. Reactivity Very reactive

Occurrence in nature Combined state due to

their high reactivity
 Characteristic
Number of groups 6
p-block General electronic
configuration
ns2 np1-6

elements Group 13:- Boron family

Group 14:- Carbon Family
Group 15:- Nitrogen Family (pnicogens)
The elements in which the
last electron enters p-orbital Group 16:- Oxygen Family (Chalcogen)
of the outermost energy Group 17:- Fluorine Family (Halogens)
level are called the p-block Group 18:- Neon Family (Noble gases)
elements.
Nature Contains metals, Non-metals
and Metalloids
Reactivity Moderate to High
 d-block Characteristic

elements Number of groups 10

General electronic ns1-2 nd1-10
configuration
The elements in which the
Name Transition metals
last electron enters d-orbital
of the outermost energy Nature Transition Metals
level are called the d-block
Reactivity Moderate to High
elements. Can act as catalyst
 f-block Characteristic
elements Number of groups 14
General electronic (n-2)f1-14(n-1)d0-1ns2.
The elements in which the configuration
last electron enters f-orbital Name Inner Transition metals
of the outermost energy Nature Most of them are
level are called the f-block radioactive
elements. Reactivity Moderate to High
 Nomenclature of
elements with
atomic number > 100
 Periodic properties and trends

1. Atomic Radius
2. Electronegativity
3. Ionisation energy
4. Electron gain enthalpy
 Atomic radius
Defined as
“distance from the center of the nucleus to the outermost shell of an atom.”
Reasons for difficulty in measuring Atomic Radius:

• Firstly, because the size of an atom is very small (1.2 × 10-10m).

• Secondly, since the electron cloud surrounding the atom does not have a sharp
boundary, the determination of the atomic size cannot be precise.
Types of Atomic radius
Covalent radius
It may be defined as one -half of the
distance between the centers f the nuclei of
two similar atoms bonded by a single
covalent bond.

Vander Waal's radius

It may be defined one-half the distance
between two unbonded atoms held together
by van der Waals forces, which are weak but
balanced electrostatic forces.

Metallic radius (crystal radius)

It may be defined as half of the internuclear
distance between two adjacent atoms in a
metallic lattice.
 Trend in
Atomic Radius
 Trend in
Ionic Radius
Isoelectronic
species
Revision
 Electronegativity
Defined as
A qualitative measure of the ability of an atom in a chemical compound to attract
shared pairs of electrons to itself is called electronegativity.
Trends in electronegativity
In the period table from left to
right across electronegativity
increases. This is because of the
increased number of protons as
the atomic number increase.
Leading to increased Zeff.
In the group from top to
bottom electronegativity
decreases. This is because of
the increased size of the atom.
Leading to decreased Zeff.
 Ionisation Enthalpy
Defined as
It is the energy required to remove an electron from an isolated gaseous atom in its
ground state.

• It is denoted by ∆iH and

• It is expressed in the units of KJ mol-1.
• Since energy is always required to remove electrons from an atom and hence
ionization enthalpies are always positive.
• Successive ionization energy always increase gradually (I.E1 < I.E2 < I.E3).
Factors affecting ionization
energy
Trends in ionization energy
This is because of the increased
number of protons as the
atomic number increase.
Leading to increased Zeff. and
hence higher energy is required
for removal of electron.

This is because of the increased

size of the atom. Leading to
decreased Zeff and hence lower
energy is required for removal
of electron.
Exceptions
 Electron Gain Energy
Defined as
When electron is added to a neutral gaseous atom to convert it into a negative ion, the
energy change accompanying the process is called electron gain energy.

• It is denoted by ∆egeH and

• It is expressed in the units of KJ mol-1.
• Since energy exchange on addition of electrons to an atom and hence it may be
negative or positive.
• Successive electron gain energy always increase gradually (E.G.E1 < E.G.E2 <
E.G.E3).
Trends in electron gain
energy
This is because of the increased
number of protons as the
atomic number increase.
Leading to increased Zeff. and
hence leading to more negative
EGE.

This is because of the increased

size of the atom. Leading to
decreased Zeff and hence
electron affinity decreases
leading to less and less negative
EGE.