PERIODIC CLASSIFICATION OF

ELEMENTS
NEED FOR CLASSIFICATION OF ELEMENTS
The systematic classification of the elements in the Periodic Table has the
following advantages.
 It enables chemists to analyse and understand the properties of the
elements and their compounds more systematically and orderly.
 It enables chemists to predict the properties of the elements and their
compounds based on their positions in the Periodic Table, and vice
versa.
 It becomes easier to study, understand, compare and contrast the
related properties among the elements and their compounds
from different groups.
EARLY ATTEMPTS FOR CLASSIFICATION OF ELEMENTS
DOBEREINER’S TRIADS
 Dobereiner was the first scientist who showed a
relationship between the properties of the elements and
their atomic masses. He attempted to classify elements
having similar properties into groups. He identified
certain groups of three elements each.
 In a particular triad, the elements are arranged in the
order of increasing atomic masses, and the atomic mass
of the element in the middle was almost the mean or
the average of the atomic masses of the first and the
third element.
LIMITATIONS
This system of classification of elements
into triads could not be applied to all
the elements known at that time and
hence this was rejected.
NEWLANDS LAW OF OCTAVES
In 1866, John Newland Alexander, an English scientist,
arranged the then known elements in the order of
increasing atomic masses.
He started with hydrogen (having the lowest atomic
mass) and ended with Thorium which was the 56th
element.
He found that the properties of the eight element were
similar to the properties of the first element. He
compared this with the octaves found in music.
Therefore he called it as the Newlands law of octaves.
According to the Newlands Law of
Octaves:
When the elements are arranged in
the increasing order of their atomic
masses, the properties of every eighth
elements were similar to the first one,
like the eight note of a musical scale.
LIMITATIONS
1. The law is applicable to only lighter elements having atomic mass upto 40 u, i.e.
upto Calcium.
2. It was assumed that only 56 elements existed in nature and no new element
would be discovered in future. But later on several new elements were
discovered whose properties did not fit into the Law of octaves.
3. In order to fit elements into his table, Newlands not only place two elements in
the same slot, but also placed some unlike elements in the same column. Eg,
cobalt and nickel were placed in the same slot as that of fluorine, chlorine and
iodine and have different chemical properties.
4. Noble gases were not known when Newlands gave his law of octaves. However
when noble gases were discovered, the properties of every eighth element were
no longer similar to that of the first element. (Actually the first and the
nineteenth element had similar properties.)
MENDELEEV’S PERIODIC LAW
When Mendeleev started his work on the classification of
elements, only 63 elements were known.
He carefully examined the relationship between the atomic
masses of the elements and their physical and chemical
properties. Among the chemical properties Mendeleev
mainly concentrated on the compounds formed by the
elements with hydrogen and oxygen.

Reason for selecting hydrogen and oxygen

He selected oxygen and hydrogen because they are highly
reactive and formed compounds with all the elements.
 Mendeleev arranged the elements with similar properties one
after the other in a vertical column, and found that most of
the elements automatically got arranged in the order of their
increasing atomic masses. He also observed a recurrence in
the physical and chemical properties. After certain regular
intervals.

On this basis Mendeleev stated the periodic law:

The physical and the chemical properties of the elements are

a periodic function of their atomic masses.
MENDELEEV’S PERIODIC TABLE
It Consisted of:
 Eight vertical columns called groups- designated by Roman
numerals. Except group VIII, each group is further divided into two
subgroups A and B. The elements which lie on left hand side of each
group constitute subgroup A. These are called normal or
representative elements. The elements which lie on the right hand
side of the group constitute subgroup B. These are called transition
elements. This sub division is made on the basis of difference in
chemical properties.
 Seven horizontal rows called periods.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF MENDELEEV’S PERIODIC TABLE
1. SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF ELEMENTS
Mendeleev was the first scientist who arranged the then
known elements into group and periods.
This made the study of elements quite simple because if
the properties of one element in a particular group were
known, those of the other could be easily predicted.
2. PLACEMENT OF CERTAIN ELEMENTS

• To be sure that the elements with similar properties fell in

the same vertical column or group, Mendeleev had to
place and element with a slightly greater mass before an
element with a slightly lower atomic mass.
• For example, cobalt (atomic mass 58.93 u) was placed
before nickel (atomic mass 58.71 u) because the properties
of Co were similar to those of Rhodium and Iridium, while
the properties of Ni were similar to those of Pd and Pt.
 _______

_________
GAPS IN THE PERIODIC TABLE
• Mendeleev left some gaps in the periodic table for those elements which were not
known at that time. He predicted that these elements would be discovered in due
course of time. He even predicted the properties of these elements by studying the
properties of other elements in the same group.
• For example, both gallium and germanium were not known at that time
Mendeleev proposed his periodic table. Mendeleev named these elements by
prefixing the word eka to the name of the preceding element in the same group.
Therefore, the element which will fill the gap after aluminium was called eka-
aluminium and the element which will fill the gap after silicon was called eka-
silicon. These elements were discovered later and Mendeleev’s prediction were
found to be remarkably correct. i.e. eka-aluminium– gallium and eka silicon-
germanium.
 ____
_________
PLACEMENT OF NOBLE GASES
• When noble like helium (He), neon (Ne) Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn
were discovered much later , they could be placed in a
new group called group Zero, without disturbing the
existing periodic table.
• These gases were discovered much later because they
are very inert and are present in extremely low
concentrations in the atmosphere.
He

Ne

Ar
LIMITATIONS OF MENDELEEV’S PERIODIC TABLE
1. ANOMALOUS POSITION OF HYDROGEN
Hydrogen, just like alkali metals, has one electron in the K shell. So many of
the properties of hydrogen are similar to those of alkali metals.
EXAMPLE
Hydrogen combines with halogens, oxygen and sulphur to form compounds with
similar formulae.
HCl NaCl
H2O Na2O
H2S Na2S
Thus hydrogen can be placed along with alkali metals of the first group of the
Mendeleev’s periodic table.
 Hydrogen also needs one electron to attain the nearest noble gas
configuration just like the halogens and hence it resembles
halogens in most of the properties. It also exists in the diatomic
state as the [Link] halogens it can form both ionic and
covalent compounds.
EXAMPLE

CaH2 CaCl2
CH4 CCl4
NH3 NCl3
Thus Hydrogen can also be placed along with halogens in group VII of
the periodic table.
So, to conclude the position of hydrogen in the periodic
table is controversial i.e. no fixed position can be
assigned to hydrogen in the periodic table.
However, hydrogen is placed in the first group as it is the
first element in the periodic table and has the lowest
atomic mass.
2. POSITION OF ISOTOPES
Since in the Mendeleev’s periodic table, elements are
arranged in the increasing order of atomic masses and
the isotopes of elements have different atomic masses,
therefore they should be placed at different positions in
the periodic table. Further since the isotopes have the
same chemical properties, therefore, they can be placed
in the same position in the periodic table. Therefore the
position of isotopes in the periodic table is anomalous.
3. ANOMALOUS POSITION OF SOME PAIRS OF ELEMENTS
Although the elements in the Mendeleev’s periodic table have
been arranged in the order of atomic masses, yet in some cases,
elements have been arranged on the basis of similarity in
properties. As a result, an element with higher mass has been
placed before an element with lower atomic mass.
e.g. Co with atomic mass 58.93u has been placed before Ni with
atomic mass 58.71u.
This placement is not in accordance to the periodic law stated by
Mendeleev.
4. UNCERTAINTY IN THE PREDICTION OF NEW ELEMENTS

The elements were arranged in the increasing order of

atomic masses. But the atomic masses do not increase
in a regular manner. So, it was not possible to predict
how many elements could be discovered between two
elements.
MODERN PERIODIC LAW
Henry Moseley showed that the atomic number of an element is a more
fundamental property than its atomic mass.
 The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in an atom of
that particular element.
 It directly gives the number of electrons in the neutral atom.
 We thus can obtain the electronic configuration and hence the valency of
that element using the atomic number.
 The valency of an element determines the chemical properties of an
element.
Also, atomic number is always a whole number and increases regularly by 1
from one element to the next but atomic mass does not increase regularly.
Therefore the atomic number of an element is fixed and no two elements
can have the same atomic number.
 MODERN PERIODIC LAW

The properties of elements

are a periodic function of
their atomic numbers.
 THE PERIODIC TABLE
The periodic table, also known as
the periodic table of elements, is a tabular
display of the chemical elements, which are
arranged by atomic number, electronic
configuration, and recurring chemical
properties.
 MODERN PERIODIC LAW
The properties of elements are a periodic function
of their atomic numbers.
 CAUSE OF PERIODICITY
Henry Moseley showed that the atomic number (Z) of an
element is a more fundamental property than its atomic mass.
 The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in
an atom of that particular element.
 It directly gives the number of electrons in the neutral atom.
 We thus can obtain the electronic configuration and hence the
valency of that element using the atomic number.
 The valency of an element determines the chemical properties
of an element.
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PERIODIC TABLE
The modern periodic table consists of vertical columns called
groups periods.
and Horizontal rows called
The Modern periodic table has 18 groups and 7 periods
 In the standard periodic table, the elements are listed
in order of increasing atomic number Z. A new row (period) is
started when a new electron shell has its first electron.
 Columns (group) are determined by the electronic
configuration of the atom; elements with the same number of
valence electrons fall into the same columns (e.g. Sodium and
Potassium fall into the same group as they have one electron in
their valence shell).
 Elements with similar chemical properties generally fall
into the same group in the periodic table. Thus, it is relatively
easy to predict the chemical properties of an element if one
knows the properties of the elements around it.
CATEGORIES OF ELEMENTS IN THE
PERIODIC TABLE
 GROUPS
REPRESENTATIVE
ELEMENTS
Elements of groups
1 and 2 and 13-18
are called normal
or representative
elements
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
The elements of group 3-12 are called transition elements. Their properties
lie in between the properties of group 1 and 2 elements and those of grp 13-18
elements. There are 40 transition elements.
METALLOIDS
The elements silicon,
germanium, arsenic,
antimony and
tellurium are known
as metalloids. These
separate the metals
from the non –
metals and show
properties of both
metals and non
metals. The elements
which lie on the left
hand side of
metalloids are metals
while those on the
right hand side are
non-metals.
 PERIODS
The 1st period has 2 elements (shortest period)
The 2nd period has eight elements (short period)
The 3rd period also has 8 elements (short period)
4th and 5th periods are called the long period
6th and 7th periods are called the longest periods.
TRENDS IN THE MODERN PERIODIC
TABLE
 ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION, VALENCE ELECTRONS
AND VALENCY
ACROSS THE PERIOD (left to right)
 On moving from left to right across the
periodic table, the atomic number increases by one.
 On moving across the period from left to right,
the number of valence electrons increases by one,
starting from 1 till 8.
 The valency increases from 1 and reaches a
maximum value of 4 and then decreases to 0.
Down the group
For a particular group, it
is seen that the number
of valence electrons and
hence the valency of the
elements of that group
remains the same as they
all have similar outer
electronic configuration.
 ATOMIC SIZE
Across a period
On moving from left to right in a period, the atomic radius
decreases.
As we move from left to right, the atomic number of each
succeeding elements increases by 1. This means that the
number of proton and the electrons increases by 1. The
addition of this extra electron takes place in the same shell.
Due to increased effective nuclear charge, the electrons are
pulled in closer by the nucleus and hence the atomic size
decreases.
ELEMENT AND ATOMIC NUMBER OF PROTONS ELECTRONIC
NUMBER CONFIGURATION
Li (3) 3 2,1
Be (4) 4 2,2
B (5) 5 2,3
C (6) 6 2,4
N(7) 7 2,5
O (8) 8 2,6
F (9) 9 2,7
Down the group
On moving down the
group, the atomic radii of
elements increase
gradually. As we move
down a group, a new
shell is added and as a
result the valence
electrons move away
from the nucleus.
METALLIC AND NON METALLIC CHARACTER
METALLIC CHARACTER
Tendency to lose electrons
ELECTROPOSITIVITY

NON METALLIC CHARACTER

Tendency to gain electrons
ELECTRONEGATIVITY
Across a period
On moving from left to right the atomic size decreases
due to the increased nuclear charge. Hence the
tendency of the elements to lose electrons decreases as
we move across a period. So the metallic character
decreases while the non-metallic character increases.
In other words, electropositivity decreases while
electronegetivity increases
Down the group
On moving down the group, the atomic size increases, so the
valence shell moves farther away from the nucleus. As a result it
becomes easy for a metal to lose electrons and hence the metallic
character of the element increases.
On the other hand, in the case of the non- metals, addition of
electrons becomes difficult as the incoming electron will be loosely
held by the nucleus due to the increased distance between the two.
Hence the non-metallic character decreases as we move down the
group and the metallic character of the elements increases.
In other words, the electropositivity increases while electronegativity
decreases.
METALS ARE ELECTORPOSITIVE AND NON METALS
ARE ELECTRONEGATIVE
CHEMICAL REACTIVITY
Chemical reactivity of metals depends
upon their ease of losing electrons
while that of non-metals depends
upon the ease of gaining electrons
A metal atom with large size will have a better tendency
to lose electrons due to weak hold of the nucleus and
hence will be chemically more reactive than a metal
with a smaller size
Hence chemical reactivity of metals decreases across the
period on moving from left to right and increases down
the group according to the variation of the atomic
radius.
A non-metal atom with small size will have a better
tendency to gain electrons due to high nuclear charge
and hence will be chemically more reactive than a metal
with a smaller size
Hence chemical reactivity of non-metals increases
across the period on moving from left to right and
decreases down the group according to the variation of
the atomic radius.
NATURE OF OXIDES
The variation of the nature of oxides will be
according to the variation of metallic and
non-metallic character of the elements
across the period and the groups.