The Periodic Table of Elements

 The periodic table is a chart of elements placed according to the order of increasing
atomic numbers.

 Atomic number is the property of elements used to place them in order on the
periodic table.
 Arrangement of Elements in the Periodic
Table
 In the periodic table,

1. Elements are arranged in the order of increasing atomic numbers

2. Elements with similar electronic configuration are placed in the same group.

3. Elements with similar chemical properties are placed in the same group
 Groups and Periodic Trends
 The periodic trends refer to the recurring patterns or changes in properties that occur as you move across a period
(row) or down a group (column).

 These trends are due to the systematic and predicable changes in electron configuration.

 Understanding periodic trends is essential as it allows us to predict the properties and behavior of elements and
their compounds, making it a powerful tool for understanding and predicting chemical reactions and physical
phenomena.

 Some of the periodic trends in the Periodic Table include:

 Atomic radius; also called atomic size; is the half the distance between two nuclei of the same atoms bonded
together.

 Electronegativity; Electronegativity is the relative ability of an atom to attract the pair of electrons in a covalent
bond

 Electron affinity; the energy change that occurs when an electron is added to a gaseous atom or ion to form an
anion.

 Metallic character

 Ionisation energy; energy required to remove an electron from a neutral atom in its gaseous state.

 Reactivity
 Period
 A period is a horizontal row of elements in the periodic table.

 The periodic table has 7 periods.

 Period 1 contains two elements; hydrogen and helium

 Periods 2 and 3 contains eight elements each and are called short periods.

 Periods 4, 5 and 6 contain eighteen elements each and are called long periods.

 Period 7 contains three elements.

 The period number is equivalent to the number of electron shells e.g. calcium is
placed in period 4 of the periodic table because it has 4 electron shells
i.e. Ca 2.8.8.2
 Periodic Trends
 As we move across the period (from left to right)

 Atomic radius decreases.

 Eletronegativity increases

 Electron affinity increases

 Ionization energy increases

 Metallic character decreases

 The number of shells remains the same while the number of valence electrons
increases steadily.

 The atomic number increases by one between successive elements.

 Group
 A group is a vertical column of elements in the periodic table.

 There are eight groups on the periodic table Groups are labeled with roman numerals i.e.
groups I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII with the final group labeled O.

 The position of an element in the periodic table is determined by the number of

electrons in the outer most shell.

 The number of electrons in the outer most shell of an element is equivalent to its group
number e.g. oxygen is placed in group VI of the periodic table because it has 6 electrons
in the outer most shell i.e. O 2.6

 Some groups have special names;

 Group I – alkali metals

 Group II – alkaline earth metals

 Group VI – halogens

 Group 0 – noble, inert or rare gases.

 Group Trends
 As we move down a group (from top to bottom)

 Atomic radius increases.

 Eletronegativity decreases

 Electron affinity decreases

 Ionization energy decreases

 Metallic character increases

 The number of shells increases by one for every consecutive element while the
number of valence electrons remain the same.

 Elements in the same group have similar chemical properties

 For metals, the group number is equal to the valence.

 Position Of Hydrogen In The Periodic
Table

 Hydrogen is placed between group I and group VII because it behaves like
group I and group VII elements i.e. it can lose or gain a single electron.

 Hydrogen similar to Group I elements in that it can lose one electron to form
hydrogen ion, with 1+ charge.

 Hydrogen is also similar to Group VII elements in that it and can gain one
electron to form hydride ion, with 1− charge.
 Group I Elements
 Group I elements Alternative term: Alkali metals.

 They are called alkali metals because they react with water to form alkalis (alkaline solutions).

 Occurrence of group I elements: Group I elements do not occur naturally as free elements because
they are very reactive. They are found in compounds e.g. rock salt (impure sodium chloride) which is
a good source of sodium.

 Identification of group I elements: Group I elements and their compounds give characteristic colours
in a flame.

 Storage of group I elements: Group I element are stored under oil to prevent them from reacting with
atmospheric air or water.
 Physical properties of group I elements

 They are soft metals which can be cut with a knife.

 They are good conductors of heat and electricity.

 They have low densities and hence float on water as they react with it.

 Their densities increase as you go down the group.

 They have low melting and boiling points. Their melting points decreases as
you go down the group.
 Chemical properties of group I elements
 The reactivity of group I elements increases as you go down the group.

 Lithium is the least reactive and francium is the most reactive element in group I.

 They have a single electron in their outer most shells.

(a) Li: 2.1 (b) Na: 2.8.1 (c) K: 2.8.8.1

 They lose their single electrons in their outer most shells to form ions with 1+ charge.

a) Li – ẽ → Li+ (b) Na – ẽ → Na+ (c) K – ẽ → K+

 They are powerful reducing agents because they lose electrons.

 They react with oxygen to form basic oxides

2Li (s) + O2 (g) → 2LiO (s)

 They react with water to form metal hydroxides and hydrogen gas.

2Na (s) + H2O (l) → 2NaOH (aq) + H2 (g)

 They react with group VII elements to form salts

2K (s) + Cl2 (g) → 2KCl (aq)

 Group VII elements
 Alternative term: Halogens

 They are called Halogens because they react with group I elements to form
salts.

 They term halogen means salt former.

 Occurrence of group VII elements 143 Group VII elements do not occur
naturally in a free state, instead they exist as diatomic molecules meaning
two atoms chemically combined.
 Physical Properties of Group VII Elements
 They exist as diatomic covalent molecules (meaning two atoms chemically combined)

 They exist as coloured, non- metallic elements.

 They show a gradual change in their physical states at room temperature and pressure.
i.e. F (gas), Cl (gas), Br (liquid), I (solid).

 Their melting and boiling points increases as you go down the group.

 Their densities increases as you go down the group.

 Their compounds can either be ionic or covalent. If they combine with a metal the
compound is ionic and if they combine with another nonmetal the compound is covalent.
 Chemical properties of group VII elements
 The reactivity of group VII elements decreases as you go up the group.

 Astatine is the least reactive halogen while fluorine is the most reactive halogen.

 They all have seven electrons in their outer shells and hence have similar chemical properties.

(a) F: 2.7 (b) Cl: 2.8.7 (c) Br: 2.8.18.7

 They gain a single electron to form ions with 1− charge.

(a) F + ẽ → F- (b) Cl + ẽ → Cl- (c) Br + ẽ → Br-

 They are oxidizing agents because they accept /gain electrons.

 They react with group I elements to form salts.

2K (s) + Cl2 (g) → 2KCl (aq)

 They displace each other in chemical reactions involving their halide ions i.e. the group VII Ions. The
more reactive halogen will displace the less reactive halogen from its aqueous salt solution.

2NaCl (s) + F2 (g) → 2NaF (s) + Cl2 (g)

 Uses of group VII elements

 Fluorine is used in fluoride tooth paste to help prevent tooth decay.

 Chlorine is used to sterilize drinking water because it kills harmful micro-

organisms.

 Chlorine is also used as a bleaching agent.

 Bromine is used as a flame-retardant.

 Iodine is used as an additive in table salt to prevent goiter in human beings.

 Group O elements
 Alternative term: Noble gases / Inert gases / Rare gases .

 They are called noble gases or inert gases or rare gases because they are
chemically unreactive and therefore do not form compounds.

 They are called Group zero (0) because they have a combining power or valence of
zero (0).

 Group O elements are chemically unreactive because they have full outer most
electron shells. Their outer most shells are completely filled.

 Group O elements are gases at room temperature and pressure.

 Group O elements exist as unreactive monatomic elements with very low melting
and boiling points.
 Uses of group O elements
 Helium is used to fill weather balloons because of low density.

 Neon is used to fill coloured glowing tubes used in advertisements because it

glows red hot in an electric current.

 Argon is used to fill light bulbs to provide an inert atmosphere to prevent the
oxidation of the filament.

 Krypton is used in car head lamps.

 Transition elements
 Transition elements are found in the centre block of the periodic table.

 They are found between group II and III of the periodic table and through periods 4
and 6.

 They are all metals.

 Physical properties of transition elements
 They have high densities

 They have high melting and boiling points

 They are good conductors of heat and electricity

 They are solids at room temperature and pressure except mercury which is a liquid

 They are ductile i.e. they can be drawn into wires.

 They are malleable i.e. they can be hammered into thin sheets.
 Chemical properties of transition elements
 They are catalysts 2.

 They have variable Valencies and form positively charged ions.

 Copper has a valency of 1 or 2 and forms the Cu+ and Cu2+ ions respectively.

 Iron has a valence of 2 or 3 and forms the Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions and respectively.

 They form coloured compounds depending on the valence used.

 Copper (II) compounds are blue

 Iron (II) compounds are pale green

 Iron (III) compounds are reddish brown

 They are reducing agents because they lose electrons.

 Uses of transition elements
 They are used to make electric cables because they are good conductors of
electricity. E.g Cu, Ag

 They are used to make pots and pans because they are good conductors of heat.

 They are used to make alloys.

 They are used as catalysts in the industry to speed up reactions.

o Iron is used as a catalyst in Haber process.

o Nickel is used as a catalyst in the hydrogenation of oil to make margarine

o Platinum is used as a catalyst in contact process.

“Attitude Determines Altitude”