Introduction to the Periodic Table

The elements are laid out in order of Atomic (proton) Number (at. no.). Originally they were laid out in order of 'relative atomic mass' (the old term was 'atomic weight'). any of the similarities and differences in the properties of elements can be e!plained by the electronic structure of the atoms (electron configuration" arrangement in shells or energy levels) . The idea of the Periodic Table is to arrange the elements in a way that enables chemist's to understand patterns in the properties of the elements. The main structural features of the periodic table are ... o to produce columns of similar elements called #roups$ They are usually similar chemically and physically BUT there are often important trends in physical properties and chemical reactivity. o The resulting complete hori%ontal rows are called Periods and usually consist of a range of elements of different character from metals on the left to non-metals on the right. BUT within a period you can get a series of li e elements eg the &st Transition 'eries of etals (!c to "n) in Period #. o The ideas of #roup and Period are totally connected with electron structure (see below)

All substances are made up of one or more of the different types of atoms we call elements$ (ydrogen" &" (" the simplest element atom" does not readily fit into any group. $ #roup is a vertical column of li e elements eg #roup & The Al)ali etals (%i& 'a& ( etc.)& #roup * The Al)aline +arth etals" (,a" g etc$) #roup - The (alogens ()& *l& Br& + etc.) and #roup . (/) The Noble #ases (,e& 'e& $r etc.). $part from hydrogen (doesn't really fit in any group)& and helium ( 0)& the group number e1uals the number of electrons in the outer shell (eg chlorine's electron arrangement is -.../& the second element down in 0roup / on period 1). !o & after helium& elements in the same group have the same outer electron structure. The elements in a group tend to have similar physical and chemical properties because of their similar outer shell electron structure. (0 although helium can't have . outer electrons li e the rest of 0roup 2& its outer shell of - electrons is complete& 3ust li e neon and argon etc.) $ Period is a hori%ontal row of elements with a variety of properties& changing from very metallic elements on the left to non-metallic elements on the right. $ period starts when the ne4t electron goes into the ne4t available main energy level or shell (0roup 5 al ali 6etals). The period ends when the main energy level is full (0roup 2 or . 'oble 0ases). All the elements on the same period use the same number of principal electron shells & and this e7uals the period number (eg sodium's electron arrangement -...5& the first element in Period 1). The first element in a period is when the ne4t electron goes into the ne4t available electron shell or energy level (ie 5 electron in the outer shell& after , it is the 0roup 5 $l ali 6etals li e sodium -...5). The last element in a period is when the outer shell is full (The 0roup 2 'oble 0ases eg argon -....). The ne4t electron for the ne4t element goes into the ne4t highest level (shell) available& and so starts the ne4t period. !o in terms of electrons .... o Period 5 is elements 5--& , (5) to ,e (-) o Period - is elements 1-.& %i (-.5) to 'e (-..) o Period 1 is elements 55-5.& 'a (-...5) to $r (-....) o Period # is elements 58-19& starts with ( (-.....5) and *a (-.....-) and finishes with the 'oble 0as (r (-...5...). o 'ote that the number of shells containing electrons is e7ual to the period number. The similarities (eg same 0roup) or differences (eg across a period) of the properties of the elements can be e4plained by the electronic structure of the atoms. )rom Period # onwards the length of a period significantly increases because it includes hori:ontal series of similar metals with their own characteristic physical and chemical properties eg The &st Transition etals 'eries. 6ore than three21uarters of the &.3 )nown elements are metals (elements naturally occur up to uranium 3*& 342&.3 are 'man2made' elements from the e4periments of nuclear physicists. o This wor will continues as heavier and heavier elements are li ely to be made in nuclear reactions. They will be all metals and radioactive. BUT one theory suggests that 'super-heavy' elements of about atomic number 5;2< may be in a nuclear stability region and would prove most interesting to study. *hemists are trying to predict their properties now=& so it may have started with 6endeleev but it ain't finished yet= Only about &3 are definitely are non2metal but about - more are semi2metals of mi!ed physical and chemical character. The metals in the periodic table are mainly found in the left hand columns (#roups & and *) and in the central bloc)s of the transition elements. There is a 'rough' diagonal division between the two principal types of element :ig-:agging from B-$l in group 1 to Te-Po in 0roup 9. The elements in this 'band' are sometimes referred to as ' semi2metals' or 'metalloids' because of their 'mi!ture' of metallic and non2metallic physical or chemical character eg the semi-conductor silicon in group #. There tends to be gradual changes in physical and chemical properties down a group eg

>own 0roup 5 ($l ali 6etals) and 0roup - the metals get more reactive. >own 0roup / (,alogens) the non-metals get less reactive& their colour gets dar er& their melting?boiling points increase. There tends to be ma5or changes in physical and chemical properties across a period eg o Period - starts with a solid low melting reactive metal lithium& in the middle there are the high melting and rather unreactive non-metals boron and carbon& ne4t to the end is the very highly reactive non-metal gas fluorine& and the period finishes with the very unreactive gas neon. o )rom left to right across a period the bonding in chlorides or o4ides changes from ionic (with metals eg 'a@*l-& ('a@)-A--) to covalent (with non-metals eg *l)& !A-). o )rom left to right across a period the o4ides change from al aline?basic (with metals eg 'a -A) to acidic (with non-metals eg !A-) o Note on electron arrangementsB C4cept for boron& most non2metals have at least four electrons in the out shell. C4cept for the noble gases& the more electrons in the outer shell the more non-metallic and the more reactive the element. The most reactive non2metals only need to share6gain one or two electrons. The most reactive metals only have 5 or - electrons in the outer shell which tend to be easily lost to form the metal ion in reaction. The most reactive metals have a low number of outer valency shell electrons (DE 1). The very reactive non-metals have ; to / outer valency shell electrons. Clements in the 'middle' of the Periodic Table eg 0roup # with # outer electrons& show mi4ed chemical character and are not very reactive elements. The 'oble 0as elements have full& very stable& outer valency shells. o o

Periodic Table of Selected Ions

Typical Properties of

etallic +lements

Physical properties of metals high melting points and boiling points so all solid bar one (e4ceptions li e mercury the only li7uid metal at room temperature and the $l ali 6etals have untypical low melting points) good conductors of heat and electricity high density (e4ceptions li e the $l ali 6etals have untypical low densities& the first three %i& 'a and ( float on water before the 'fi::ing'=) appearance 2 shiny (usually silvery grey e4cept for copper and gold) usually 1uite strong materials (e4ceptions li e the $l ali 6etals which are untypically soft) easily beaten into shape (malleable) or drawn into wire (ductile) solids sonorous ,hemical Properties of metals

3
tend to form basic o!ides that react with acids to form salts (if the o4ide is soluble in water it forms