SUBJECT: CHEMISTRY

TOPIC: The Periodic Table

SUB-TOPIC: Families of Elements
CLASS: SSS 2
Families of Elements
Elements in the same group tend to resemble one another in their chemical behaviour because
they have the same number of valence electrons. The four groups of elements which show great
similarity in their chemical properties are the group 1, 2, 7 and 0 elements.
Group 1
The familiar elements in this group are sodium and potassium. They are univalent, since each
of their atoms has only one valence electron. They ionize very readily to form positive ions by
donating electrons and form electrovalent compounds. They are good reducing agents since
they donate valence electrons with ease. The reducing property increases down the group. They
are very good conductors of electricity and are very electropositive, i.e. they have a marked
tendency to donate electrons.
Na → Na+ + e-
K → K+ + e-
They react vigorously with cold water to liberate hydrogen gas and form alkalis, hence, they
are called alkali metals. This reaction becomes increasingly vigorous on going down the group.
2K (s) + H2 O(l) → 2KOH(aq) + H2(g)
2Na(s) + H2 O (l) → 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
The oxides of alkali metals also dissolve in water to form very strong alkalis. On heating, their
trioxonitrate(v) salts decompose with difficulty to give oxygen and dioxonitrate(III) salts.
Na2 O (s) + H2 O(l) → 2NaOH(aq)
2KNO 3 (s) → 2KNO 2 + O2(g)
2NaNO 3 (s) → 2NaNO 2 + O2(g)

Group 2
Calcium and magnesium belong to Group 2. They are divalent elements since each of their
atoms has two valent electrons. They are electron donors, form electrovalent compounds and
are reducing in nature.
Ca → Na2+ + 2e-
Mg → Mg2+ + 2e-
Calcium reacts very slowly with cold water, the rate of reaction is increased if water is heated.
Magnesium reacts with steam only. They both liberate hydrogen from water but while calcium
forms a hydroxide, magnesium forms an oxide.
Ca(s) + 2H2 O(l) → 2Ca(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)
Mg(s) + 2H2 O (g) → MgO(s) + H2(g)
Calcium oxide dissolves sparingly in water to form calcium hydroxide solution which is a very
weak alkali, while magnesium oxide is insoluble in water.
CaO (s) + 2H2 O(l) → 2Ca(OH)2(aq)
Their trioxonitrate(v) salts decompose readily on heating to give the oxides, oxygen and the
brown gas, nitrogen (IV) oxide.
2Ca(NO 3 )2(s) → 2CaO (s) + O2(g) + 4NO 2(g)
2Mg (NO 3 )2(s) → 2MgO(s) + O2(g) + 4NO 2(g)
Their trioxocarbonates (IV) are insoluble in water. They decompose on heating to give the
oxides and carbon (IV) oxide.
CaCO 3(s) → CaO(s) + CO 2(g)
MgCO 3(s) → MgO(s) + CO 2(g)
Group 3
The only familiar element in group 3 is aluminium. It is trivalent since each of its atom has
three valence electrons. Since it donates electrons, it is reducing in nature and forms
electrovalent compounds.
Al → Al3+ + 3e-
Aluminium reacts with steam above 600 0 C to liberate hydrogen gas. Aluminium oxide is
insoluble in water. Both the oxide and hydroxide are amphoteric in nature, i.e. they have both
acidic and basic properties. They can form normal and complex salts with acids and alkalis
respectively.
Al2 O 3 (s) + 3H2 SO 4 (aq) → Al2 (SO4 )3 (aq) + 3H2 O (l)
Al2 O 3 (s) + 2NaOH (aq) + 3H2 O → 2NaAl(OH)4 (aq)
2Al(OH)3(s) + 3H2 SO 4 (aq) → Al2 (SO4 )3 (aq) + 6H2 O (l)
2Al(OH)3(s) + NaOH (aq) → NaAl(OH)4 (aq)
Aluminium trioxonitrate (V) decomposes to give the oxide, oxygen and nitrogen (IV) oxide
gas. Aluminium trioxocarbonate (IV) does not exist.
4 Al(NO3 )3 (s) → 2Al2 O3(s) + 3O 2(g) + 12NO 2(g)

Group 4
Group 4 elements include carbon, silicon, germanium, tin and lead. They are tetravalent. They
tend to form covalent compounds. The most important group trend is the change in the property
of the elements from non-metallic to metallic on going down the group, there is also a
corresponding decrease in electronegativity. The compounds of group 4 elements exhibit two
oxidation states, +2 and +4. Carbon does not react with water in any form, but silicon and tin
react with steam at red heat to form the +4 state oxides and hydrogen.
Si (s) + 2H2 O (g) → SiO 2 (s) + 2H2 (g)
Lead forms lead (II) hydroxide with aerated water. Carbon, silicon and tin form +4 state oxides
when heated strongly in air or oxygen. Lead forms lead (II) oxide on heating in air.

Group 5
Nitrogen and phosphorus belong to this group and exhibit very similar properties. They are
non-metals and show two common valencies of 3 and 5. They are electron acceptors and form
several oxides which have parallel characteristics. Examples are nitrogen (III) oxide, N 2 O3,
phosphorus (III) oxide, P4 O6 , nitrogen (V) oxide, N2 O5 and phosphorus (V) oxide, P4 O10 . All
these oxides are acidic and will combine with water to form acids. Nitrogen and phosphorus
also form similar hydrides, NH3 and PH3 , and chlorides, NCl3 and PCl3 .

Group 6
Elements in group 6 include oxygen and sulphur. They are non-metals, they are electron
acceptors and are oxidizing in nature. Oxygen is slightly soluble in water while sulphur is
insoluble. Both elements do not attack water in any form. Both oxygen and sulphur combine
directly with hydrogen to yield water and hydrogen sulphide respectively.
2H2 (g) + O2 (g) → 2 H2 O(l)
H2 (g) + S (s) → H2 S (g)

Group 7
The elements in group 7 are known as halogens (salt former). They are the most reactive non-
metals known and are so reactive with other elements that, in nature, they exist mainly as salts
rather than as free elements. Some of the similarities of the halogens are as follows:
1. They are all non-metals
2. They exist as diatomic molecules
3. They are coloured
4. They ionize to form univalent negative ions which react with metallic ions to form
electrovalent compounds.
5. Their hydrides are covalent gases at room temperature and dissolve readily in water to
form acids.
The halogens show a gradation in their properties from fluorine to iodine due to a progressive
increase in their atomic numbers and the complexity of their atomic structures. The following
trends are exhibited by the halogens as we go down the group from fluorine to iodine:
1. A change in state (at 25 0 C) – fluorine and chlorine are gases, bromine is a liquid and
iodine is a solid.
2. Their colours become darker – fluorine is yellow, chlorine is greenish yellow, bromine
is reddish brown and iodine is black.
3. Their melting and boiling points increase progressively.
4. The ease with which they ionize to form negative ions decreases, i.e. their
electronegativity decreases.
5. In their reactions with hydrogen to form hydrides – fluorine reacts explosively even in
the dark, chlorine reacts slowly in diffuse light but explosively in bright light, bromine,
slowly in bright light and iodine slowly and incompletely even in bright light.

Group 0
The elements in group 0 are known as rare gases or noble gases. They have no bonding
electrons in the outermost shell, hence the group is named zero. The elements in this group
include helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon (which is radioactive). Because of their
unreactivity, they form few compounds and exist freely as monoatomic molecules. The noble
gases show similar properties among themselves, they bear no resemblance to the halogens that
come before them and the alkali metals that come after them and so mark the end of each period
very appropriately.
Transition Elements
These occur between groups 2 and 3 and show similar behaviour. They are all metals with
typical metallic properties such as high tensile strength and high melting points. They have
variable valencies, their ions are coloured and they have an ability to form complex ions. Many
transition metals like iron, copper, gold and silver are of commercial importance. Some like
manganese and nickel are industrial catalysts.
Lanthanides (Rare – Earth Elements)
In the sixth period, there is a set of fifteen rare elements, beginning with lanthanum (La), and
ending with lutetium (Lu). They show great resemblance with one another and are classed
together as lanthanides.
Actinides
They are similar in many ways to the lanthanides. They are placed in the seventh period. It
starts with actinium (Ac) and includes the well-known element Uranium (U) which is used in
nuclear reactions. The elements which have atomic numbers from 93 to 103 (i.e. elements
which come after uranium in the Periodic Table) are known as artificial elements. They do not
occur naturally but were discovered as products formed during nuclear reactions. They are
unstable and disintegrate in a short time. Examples are plutonium (Pu) and curium (Cm).