Worksheet on classification of elements

I) MCQ’S
1. Which of the following has largest
atomic radius ?
a) K b) Rb c) Li d) Na

2. The formula of its oxide belonging to

14th group is
a) RO b) RO2 c) R2O d) R2O3

3. Which of the following forms the

basis of the Modern Periodic Table.
a) Atomic Mass b) Atomic Number
c) Molecular Weight d) All of these

4. Which of the following is the least

reactive metal ?
a) Li b) K c) Na d) Rb
II) Assertion reason questions
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the
correct explanation of the assertion.
b) Both A and R are True, but R is not
the correct explanation of the
assertion.
c) A is true but R is false.
d) A is false but R is true.
1. Assertion : Mendeleev arranged the
elements in increasing order of their
atomic masses and according to their
chemical properties.
Reason: Mendeleev even predicted
the existence of some yet to be
discovered elements on the basis of
gaps in his Periodic Table

2. Assertion : Elements in the Modern

Periodic Table are arranged in 18
vertical columns called groups and 7
horizontal rows called Periods.
Reason: Elements thus arranged
show periodicity of properties including
atomic size, valency or combining
capacity and metallic and non-metallic
character.

3. Assertion : Atomic size decreases

along the period in Modern Periodic
Table.
Reason: It occurs due to increase in
the effective nuclear charge.

III) Answer the following

1. Arrange the following in increasing
order of the property indicate:-
(i) F, Cl, Br and I (negative electron
gain enthalpy)
(ii) Mg+2, O2-, Na+ , F- , and N3- (ionic
size).
(iii) Mg, Al, Si and Na (Ionization
Enthalpy)
(iv) Br+ , Br and Br- (size)
(v)N, O and F (Ionization Enthalpy)

2. Predict the position of the element in

the periodic table satisfying the
configuration
a)(n-1) d1 ns2 for n=4.
b)(n-2)f7(n-1)d1ns2

3. Explain why cation is smaller and

anions larger in radii than their parent
atoms.

4. A)Among Sb2O3 and Sb2O5 which is

more acidic?
b)What happens to the basic character
of metallic oxides down the group?
 5. Among S and Cl , which is a stronger
reductant?(hint: electronegativity)

Answer key
Multiple Choice Questions

1. b) Rb ⚛️
o Rubidium (Rb) has the largest atomic radius. Atomic radius increases as you
go down a group in the periodic table because new electron shells are added,
increasing the distance between the outermost electrons and the nucleus.
2. b) RO2 🔬
o Elements in Group 14 (like Carbon, Silicon, etc.) have a valency of +4.
Oxygen has a valency of -2. To form a neutral compound, one atom of the
Group 14 element (R) combines with two atoms of oxygen (O), resulting in
the formula RO2.
3. b) Atomic Number 🔢
o Henry Moseley's work on X-ray spectra showed a more fundamental property
of an element is its atomic number, not its atomic mass. The modern periodic
law states that the properties of elements are a periodic function of their
atomic numbers.
4. a) Li ⚡
o Lithium (Li) is the least reactive metal among the options. Reactivity of alkali
metals (Group 1) increases down the group. This is because the outermost
electron is further from the nucleus, making it easier to lose and react.
Therefore, the order of reactivity is Li<Na<K<Rb.

II) Assertion-Reason Questions

1. b) Both A and R are True, but R is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
o Assertion (A) is true: Mendeleev did arrange elements based on increasing
atomic masses and similar chemical properties.
o Reason (R) is also true: He successfully predicted the existence of elements
like Eka-Aluminium (Gallium) and Eka-Silicon (Germanium) based on the
gaps.
o However, the reason does not explain the basis of his arrangement. The
assertion is about the principle of arrangement, while the reason is about the
success of his table.
2. a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of the assertion.
o Assertion (A) is true: The modern periodic table has 18 vertical columns
(groups) and 7 horizontal rows (periods).
 o Reason (R) is also true: This arrangement based on atomic number places
elements with similar properties in the same group, and properties repeat at
regular intervals across periods. The periodicity of properties (like atomic size,
valency, etc.) is the very reason for this arrangement.
3. a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of the assertion.
o Assertion (A) is true: Atomic size decreases from left to right across a period.
o Reason (R) is also true: As you move across a period, electrons are added to
the same shell. Simultaneously, the number of protons in the nucleus
increases, leading to a stronger nuclear charge. This stronger pull draws the
electron cloud closer to the nucleus, thus reducing the atomic size.

III) Answer the Following

1. Arrange the following in increasing order of the property indicated:

o (i) F, Cl, Br, and I (negative electron gain enthalpy):
 I<Br<F<Cl
 The trend for negative electron gain enthalpy is to become more
negative (more favorable) as you go up a group. However, Fluorine
(F) is an exception. Due to its very small size, there is strong electron-
electron repulsion within its compact 2p subshell, making it less
favorable for it to accept an incoming electron compared to Chlorine
(Cl), which has a larger 3p subshell.
o (ii) Mg+2,O2−,Na+,F−, and N3− (ionic size):
 Mg2+<Na+<F−<O2−<N3−
 These are all isoelectronic species, meaning they have the same
number of electrons (10 electrons, like Neon). The ionic size is
determined by the effective nuclear charge. The more positive the
nucleus, the more it pulls the electrons, and the smaller the ion.
Therefore, ionic size decreases with increasing positive charge.
o (iii) Mg, Al, Si, and Na (Ionization Enthalpy):
 Na<Mg>Al<Si
 Ionization enthalpy generally increases across a period due to
increasing nuclear charge. However, there's a slight anomaly.
Magnesium (Mg) has a completely filled s-orbital (3s2), which is a
stable configuration. Removing an electron from this stable
configuration requires more energy than removing a p-electron from
Aluminium (Al) (3p1), which is a less stable configuration.
o (iv) Br+,Br, and Br− (size):
 Br+<Br<Br−
 Cations are always smaller than their parent atoms because they have
lost an electron, and the remaining electrons are pulled more strongly
by the same number of protons. Anions are always larger than their
parent atoms because they have gained an electron, increasing
electron-electron repulsion and expanding the electron cloud.
o (v) N, O, and F (Ionization Enthalpy):
 F<O<N
 The general trend is for ionization enthalpy to increase across a period.
However, Nitrogen (N) has a half-filled p-orbital (2p3), which is a very
 stable configuration. More energy is needed to remove an electron
from this stable configuration than from Oxygen (O), which has an
unpaired electron in its p-orbital (2p4).
2. Predict the position of the element for configuration (n−1)d1ns2 for n=4:
o When n = 4, the configuration is (4−1)d14s2, which simplifies to 3d14s2.
o The highest principal quantum number is 4, so the element is in Period 4.
o The sum of the electrons in the outermost s and d orbitals (d1s2) determines
the group number for d-block elements. So, 1+2=3. The element is in Group
3.
o This configuration belongs to Scandium (Sc).
3. Explain why cations are smaller and anions are larger than their parent atoms:
o Cations are smaller because they are formed by losing one or more electrons.
This leads to two key effects:

1. The number of electron shells may decrease.

2. The remaining electrons are held more tightly by the same number of
protons in the nucleus, resulting in a stronger effective nuclear
charge. The electrostatic attraction pulls the electron cloud closer,
shrinking the atomic radius.

o Anions are larger because they are formed by gaining one or more electrons.
This increases the number of electrons without changing the number of
protons. The added electrons increase electron-electron repulsion, causing
the electron cloud to expand and increasing the atomic radius. The effective
nuclear charge experienced by each electron decreases.
4. a) Among Sb2O3 and Sb2O5, which is more acidic?
o Sb2O5 is more acidic.
o The acidity of an oxide increases with the oxidation state of the central
element. In Sb2O3, the oxidation state of Antimony (Sb) is +3. In Sb2O5, the
oxidation state is +5. Since +5 is a higher oxidation state, it is more acidic.
o This is because the higher oxidation state leads to a greater positive charge on
the central atom, which pulls the shared electrons in the bond with oxygen
more strongly, making the O-H bond in the hydrated form more polar and
easier to donate a proton.

b) What happens to the basic character of metallic oxides down the group?

oThe basic character of metallic oxides increases down a group.

oAs you go down a group, the metallic character of elements increases. This is
because the atomic size increases, and the outermost electrons are held less
tightly, making them easier to lose.
o More metallic elements form more basic oxides. For example, in Group 1, Li2
O is less basic than Cs2O.
5. Among S and Cl, which is a stronger reductant? (Hint: electronegativity)
o Sulfur (S) is a stronger reductant (reducing agent).
o A reducing agent is a substance that readily donates electrons. This property is
related to electronegativity, which is the ability of an atom to attract shared
electrons.
o Chlorine (Cl) is more electronegative than Sulfur (S) because it has more
protons and a stronger nuclear pull, making it less likely to lose electrons.
Sulfur, being less electronegative, is more willing to lose its electrons, thus
acting as a stronger reducing agent.