The periodic table
Oscar
Learning Objectives
• How atomic structure is linked to the periodic table
• How metals and non-metals differ
• How Group 1 elements behave and their properties with ascending
order
• How Group 7 elements behave and their properties with ascending
order
• How the trends are in reactivity in Group 1 and 7
• Know the transition elements and their properties compare to alkali
metals
Electronic structure and the periodic table
• The group number in the periodic table tells you the number of
electrons in the outermost shell of an atom.
• The period is the row of periodic table.
• Metals vs Non-metals
Metals Non-metals
• Conduct electricity • Electrical insulators (except some
• Ductile and malleable forms of carbon)
• In the right-hand corner of the • Brittle
periodic table (Group 1, 2, 3) • In the right-hand corner of the
• Lose the electrons to from positive periodic table (Group 5, 6, 7)
ions • Gain the electrons to form negative
ions
group
atoms
metalloid/semi-metal
Group 0 – Noble gases
• The atoms of noble gases have eight electrons in their outermost
shell (expect the helium, 2 electrons), which means they have very
stable electronic structure.
• They are monatomic (single-atom) gases. No tendency to react and
modify their electronic structures by forming molecules.
• Have the trends in properties
• E.g. boiling temperature, He -269 degrees, Rn -62 degrees
Group 1 – the alkali metals
• The alkali metals: the first group (Group 1), on the left-hand side of
the periodic table
• Properties:
• very reactive (store in oil); reactivity increases going down a group low
density compared to other metals
• soft; silvery, shiny surface; quick dull since react with oxygen
• In a jar of oxygen, hot alkali metals burn vigorously, forming white smoke
• Low melting and boiling point, decreases going down a group
• Ions: +1 charge
Group 1 – the alkali metals
• React with water
• Lithium, sodium and potassium -> floats in the water, moving around and
fizzing (forming hydrogen)
• Produce metal hydroxide -> alkali metal -> colourless, high pH
• React with non-metals
• Vigorously -> white metal chloride (s), dissolve in water easily, colourless
• Chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine
Group 7 – the halogens
• A group of toxic non-metals that have coloured vapours.
• Properties:
• Low melting and boiling points, increases going down a group
• Poor conductivity of heat and electricity
• Exist as molecules made up of pairs of atoms – diatomic molecules
Group 7 – the halogens
• React with non-metals
• Gain an electron by sharing a pair of electrons with another atoms
• E.g. react with hydrogen
• React with metals
• Gain a single electron -> from -1 charge ions
• Displacement reactions between halogens
• A more reactive halogen will displace a less reactive halogen from solutions of
its salt
Reactivity within groups
• Larger atoms lose electrons more easily going down a group
• Larger atoms gain electrons less easily going down a group
• The outer electrons (which are negatively charged) are further away from the
attractive force of the nucleus (which is positively charged because of its
protons)
• The inner shells of electrons 'screen’ or 'shield’ the outer electrons from the
positive charge of the nucleus
The trend in Group 1 and 7
• Size of the atom
• Shielding effect of inner electrons
• Nuclear charge
The transition elements
• The transition elements (transition metals), which are all metals are
positioned in the large central block of the periodic table, between
Group 2 and Group 3
• Physical properties:
• Good conductors of electricity and thermal energy
• Hard and strong
• High densities
• High melting point (except mercury)
The transition elements
• Chemical properties:
• Less reactive than metals in Group 1
• Corrode very slowly
• Useful as structural materials
• Compounds:
• Coloured compounds: e.g. copper(II) sulfate -> blue (due to Cu2+ ions)
• More than one ion, which has different colour
• Use as catalyst in the chemical industry
