Chapter 9: PERIODIC TABLE
9.1 Physical properties of elements of Period 2 and Period 3
Candidates should be able to:
(a) interpret and explain the trend and gradation of atomic radius, melting point, boiling
point, enthalpy change of vaporisation and electrical conductivity in terms of structure and
bonding;
(b) explain the factors influencing ionisation energies;
(c) explain the trend in ionisation energies across Period 2 and Period 3 and down a group;
(d) predict the electronic configuration and position of unknown elements in the Periodic
Table from successive values of ionisation energies.
Question based on syllabus 9.1 (a)
(a) Size of F- ion is 136 pm, while Na+ ion is 97 pm. Explain. [3m]
(b) Compare and explain the atomic size of carbon, oxygen and sulphur. [5m]
(c) Compare and explain the melting point of lithium, nitrogen and oxygen. [7m]
(d) (i) What is meant by enthalpy vapourisation? [1m]
(ii) Compare and explain the enthalpy of vapourisation of oxygen and sulphur.
[4m]
(e) Both aluminium and sodium can conduct electricity, but conductivity of aluminium
higher than sodium. Explain [4m]
Answer:
(a) Size of F- ion is 136 pm, while sodium ion is 97 pm. Explain.
Both are isoelectronic Or both have the same electronic conf, 1s 2 2s2 2p6
Proton no Na, 11 while F, 9 or nuclear charge Na is greater than F
Nucleus attraction of Na (or effective nuclear charge, ENC) towards electrons is
stronger.
(b) Compare and explain the atomic size of C, O and S.
C and O are Period 2 elements, while S is period 3 (and/or state the electronic conf
of both)
S atom is larger than C, O because has one extra electron shell /more shells filled
with electron
O atom is smaller than C atom because nuclear charge is larger.
Nucleus attraction (or ENC) towards electrons is stronger.
Size O < C < S
(c) Compare and explain the melting point of lithium, nitrogen and oxygen.
Lithium is metal, while N2 and O2 are non metals
There are metallic bond between Li atoms,
while van der Waals forces of attraction between molecules in N 2 and O2
Metallic bond is stronger than vdW forces.
O2 has stronger vdW forces because molecular size (molar mass) > N 2
More heat required to break stronger bond/forces.
Thus, melting point Li > O2 > N2
(d) (i) is the heat energy required to change 1 mol of substance in liquid state to
vapour state.
(ii) Compare and explain the enthalpy of vapourisation of oxygen and sulphur.
Both are non metals / simple molecules / have simple molecular structure
S8 molecule is larger / molar mass is larger than O 2
vdW forces of attraction between molecules S8 is stronger compare that than of O 2
More heat required to vapourise S8
(e) Both aluminium and sodium can conduct electricity, but conductivity of aluminium
higher than sodium.
Both are metals thus can conduct electricity.
Electronic conf Al, 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p1, while Na 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1
Al atom has 3 delocalised electrons, while Na atom has 1.
Conductivity higher as the number of delocalised electrons higher.
