Here are detailed notes for ICSE Class 10 Chemistry, Chapter 1: Periodic Table – Periodic
Properties and Variations of Properties.
📘 ICSE Class 10 Chemistry – Chapter 1: Periodic Table and Periodic Properties
🔶 Chapter Overview:
This chapter focuses on the classification of elements in the Periodic Table, the Modern
Periodic Law, and the variation of properties like atomic size, ionization energy, and
electronegativity across periods and groups.
🔹 1. Evolution of Periodic Table
🔸 (a) Dobereiner’s Triads (1817)
Group of 3 elements with similar properties.
The atomic mass of the middle element ≈ average of first and third.
Example: Li, Na, K
🔸 (b) Newlands’ Law of Octaves (1866)
Every 8th element shows properties similar to the first.
Valid for lighter elements only.
Broke down after calcium.
🔸 (c) Mendeleev’s Periodic Table (1869)
Based on increasing atomic mass.
Left gaps for undiscovered elements.
Could not explain position of isotopes and anomalous pairs.
🔹 2. Modern Periodic Law
“The physical and chemical properties of elements are a periodic function of their atomic
numbers.”
Proposed by Henry Moseley.
Modern Periodic Table is based on atomic number (Z).
🔹 3. Structure of the Modern Periodic Table
Feature Detail
Total Elements 118 (as per latest data)
Groups (Columns) 18 vertical groups
Periods (Rows) 7 horizontal periods
Group 1 Alkali metals
Group 17 Halogens
Group 18 Noble gases
Period 1 2 elements (H, He)
Period 2 and 3 8 elements each
🔹 4. Classification of Elements
🔸 Metals:
Left side of table
Good conductors, malleable, ductile
Lose electrons to form cations
🔸 Non-Metals:
Right side of table
Poor conductors, brittle
Gain electrons to form anions
🔸 Metalloids:
Borderline elements (e.g., B, Si, As)
Show properties of both metals and non-metals
🔹 5. Periodic Properties
Periodic properties repeat at regular intervals in the periodic table.
🔸 (A) Atomic Size / Atomic Radius
Distance from the nucleus to the outermost shell.
Across a Period (→) Decreases (nuclear charge increases)
Down a Group (↓) Increases (new shells are added)
🔸 (B) Ionization Energy
Energy required to remove the outermost electron from a neutral atom.
Across a Period Increases (nucleus attracts electrons more strongly)
Down a Group Decreases (outer electrons farther from nucleus)
🔸 (C) Electron Affinity
Energy released when an atom gains an electron.
Across a Period Increases (more nuclear pull)
Down a Group Decreases (larger atoms, weaker pull)
🔸 (D) Electronegativity
Ability of an atom to attract shared electrons in a bond.
Across a Period Increases
Down a Group Decreases
🔹 Most electronegative element: Fluorine (F)
🔹 Most electropositive element: Francium (Fr)
🔹 6. Metallic and Non-Metallic Character
Across a Period (→) Metallic character decreases
Down a Group (↓) Metallic character increases
Non-metallic character: Opposite trend.
Metals lose electrons; non-metals gain electrons.
🔹 7. Valency
Valency = number of electrons gained, lost or shared to complete octet.
Across a period: Increases from 1 to 4, then decreases to 0.
Down a group: Remains constant.
🔹 8. Special Groups
Group Name Property
1 Alkali Metals Most reactive metals, 1 valence e⁻
2 Alkaline Earth Metals Less reactive than group 1
17 Halogens Most reactive non-metals
18 Noble Gases Inert, 0 valency, full outer shells
🔹 9. Advantages of Modern Periodic Table
Based on atomic number (more accurate)
Explains position of isotopes
Groups elements with similar properties
Predicts chemical behavior
📌 Key Terms
Periodicity: Repetition of properties at regular intervals.
Valence Electrons: Electrons in the outermost shell.
Shielding Effect: Inner electrons shield outer ones from nucleus.
Isotopes: Same atomic number, different mass number (e.g., H-1, H-2).
📝 Sample Questions
1. State the Modern Periodic Law.
2. Why does atomic size increase down a group?
3. Name the most electropositive element.
4. What are metalloids? Name two.
5. Define electronegativity. How does it vary in a period?
