Chem Factsheet

Number 69

www.curriculum-press.co.uk

Revision Summary: Trends in the Periodic Table 1

Before working through this Factsheet you should:
Be familiar with the organisation, layout and information available from the Periodic Table;
Have studied the AS and A2 work on periodic trends.
After working through this Factsheet you will have revised:
The layout of the Periodic Table;
Trends in physical properties and their explanation.
This Factsheet provides a revision summary of periodic table work. If you would like more explanations on any aspect, these can be found in Factsheets
12, 13, 14, 19 and 20. Factsheet 68 also looks at periodic trends in a different context.
Questions on trends in the Periodic Table are popular at AS and A2 level.
Such questions often require two styles of preparation:

Properties of an element are a periodic function of their atomic

numbers. Properties repeat regularly, so that elements in the same
group tend to display similar chemical and physical properties.

Factual recall statement of a trend and evidence of it, e.g. the recall of
particular chemical equations.
Application and understanding answers require a description of why
there is a particular trend.

You need to learn the following group names:

First, revision of the Periodic Table itself.

Group Number Group Name

1
Alkali Metals
2
Alkaline Earth Metals
7
Halogens
0
Noble Gases

The elements are placed in order of increasing atomic number.

Period: Horizontal row of elements.
Group: Vertical column of elements.

s, p, d and f blocks

Metals, Metalloids and Non-metals

The Periodic Table is divided up into 4 blocks (s, p, d and f) which show
which is the outer electron sub-shell for the elements in that block.

These can also be shown to be grouped on the Periodic Table:

metalloids

metals

p
d

non-metals

123456
3 4 5 6 7
123456
123456
B 123
C N O F
123456
123
123456
Al 123
S i P S Cl
123456
Ga123456
Ge
As 1234
Se Br
123456
1234
In Sn Sb1234
Te I

s
d

0
Ne
Ar
Kr
Xe

T l Pb Bi P o A t Rn

f
f
To categorise the elements into one of these three types, the following
criteria can be used:

s-block elements: - the metals in group 1 and 2, so called because their

outer shell contains s electrons.
e.g. Sodium (Na): Atomic no. 11. Elec. config. 1s22s2 2p63s1

Metals

p-block elements: - the elements from groups 3 to 7, as they have outer

electrons which are p-electrons.
e.g. Carbon (C): Atomic no. 6. Elec. config. 1s2 2s22p2

d-block elements: - the metals in the block between groups 2 and 3,

known as the transition metals. d-block elements have incomplete
d-sub shells.
e.g. Titanium (Ti): Atomic no. 22. Elec. config. 1s22s2 2p63s23p64s23d2

Good conductors of electricity

Form basic oxides (a few form amphoteric oxides)

Metalloids
Poor conductors of electricity (except graphite)
Form amphoteric oxides

Non-metals
Virtually non-conductors of electricity (insulators)
Form acidic oxides

f-block elements: - a block of elements within the transition metals, so

called because electrons are being added into the f-subshell in these
elements. e.g. Cerium (Ce) Atomic no. 58.
Elec. config. 1s22s2 2p63s23p64s23d104s65s24d105p66s24f2

Note: You may find differences between textbooks on which elements are
classified as "metalloids" and which as "non-metals". Do not worry
about this - the key point is understanding the characteristics.

magnesium aluminium

Al

silicon

phosphorus

sulphur

Cl

chlorine

Ar

argon

Notes

Chem Factsheet

All metals have metallic structure - this leads to good conductance.

Silicon has a (covalently bonded) diamond structure.
Chlorine and the other halogens all exist as diatomic molecules; phosphorus and sulphur are
simple molecular, but not diatomic. All noble gases are monatomic

Metallic character generally decreases across a period; this is associated with the decrease in
ionisation energy (so less likely to form positive ions) and increase in electronegativity/electron
affinity (more likely to attract electrons)

Atomic

Non - Metallic

Molecular

Si

69. Revision Summary: Trends in the Periodic Table 1

sodium

Trends in physical properties - Period 3

Group
Element
Mg
Giant
Covalent

Na
Giant
Metallic

Symbol

Structure
Metalloid/
Non-metal

General decrease

Associated with metal/metalloid/non-metal character - within the metals, the higher the number of
valence electrons available, the higher the conductivity

Melting point is determined by structure - for metals, generally the more valence electrons, the
stronger the metallic bonding and the higher the melting point. Giant covalent structures always
produce high melting points. For simple molecular structures, melting point is determined by the
strength of van der Waals forces, which depend on molecular size

General decrease

Not
applicable

General increase

General decrease

Measures the ability to attract an electron - always exothermic

Not
Increases due to the increase in effective nuclear charge. Elements with high electron affinity are
applicable more likely to form negative ions. Note that this is not a uniform increase - atoms with full sub-shell
or half sub-shell stability have a lower electron affinity than would be expected.

from metallic to non-metallic character

Not
Increases due to increasing effective nuclear charge.
applicable Bond type is determined by the difference in electronegativity, and it also helps explain the transition

Measures the ability to attract electrons within a bond.

Not
Positive ions are always smaller than the neutral atom, and negative ions larger, since the fewer the
applicable electrons, the closer they are pulled to the nucleus

This refers to the commonest ion formed - eg Na+, S2 etc

For positive ions, the higher the charge, the smaller the ion, since the remaining electrons are
pulled closer to the nucleus.
For negative ions, the higher the charge, the larger the ions, since the nucleus is having to retain
more additional electrons
Silicon and argon do not form ions

Note this just refers to forming the M+ ion, not the commonest ion formed. It is always endothermic
The effective nuclear charge increases across a period - since electrons are being added to the same
shell, so there is comparatively less shielding. This makes it harder to remove an electron.
Note the exceptions due to half-shell stability, full-sub-shell stability and p electrons being easier to
remove than s-electrons - the 1st IE for aluminium is less than for magnesium, and for sulphur less
than for phosphorus

Not
applicable

Not
applicable

General increase

General increase

Larger

Again, this decreases due to increasing effective nuclear charge - electrons are held more tightly by
the nucleus

Metallic

General increase

General increase

General decrease

Smaller

General decrease

Character

Melting Point

Conductance

First Ionization Energy

Atomic Radius

Ionic Radius

Ionic Radius compared

to Atomic Radius
Electronegativity

First Electron Affinity

Chem Factsheet

69. Revision Summary: Trends in the Periodic Table 1

Group trends
The table below shows general trends that apply throughout all groups of the periodic table; other trends are specific to particular groups.
General Trends
1 st electron
affinity

Notes

Atomic and ionic radius increase because of increasing number of shells of electrons
First ionisation energy increases because the electron being removed is further from
the nucleus and the increased shielding due to inner shells
Electronegativity and electron affinity decrease due to the increased shielding.
There are some anomalies in the decreasing trend for electronegativity -eg Group 4
There are also anomalies in the decreasing trend for electron affinity - fluorine, for
example, has a lower first electron affinity than chlorine, due to repulsion from the
electrons already in place.

Group 1 and 2 Trends

Group 7 trends

Notes

melting
point

The melting point decreases down the

group because in the metallic bond, the
number of delocalised electrons remains
the same and the charge on each metal
cation stays the same, but the ionic radius
increases so the attraction between the
delocalised electrons and the metal cations
decreases.
The density increases because the atomic
mass increases faster than the size of the
atom.

Increases

density

Increases

Decreases

boiling
point

Members of group 7 are all non-metals and have low melting and boiling
points

Practice Questions
1. State and explain how the following properties vary for the elements
of Period 3 (Na Ar).
(a) Atomic radius. (b) Melting point. (c) First ionisation energy.

Notes
The melting and boiling points here are determined
by the strength of the Van der Waals forces.
All the halogens form diatomic molecules, so as
the group is descended, the molecules get larger.
This produces larger Van der Waals forces, and
hence increased melting and boiling points

5. In groups 1 and 2, melting point is determined by strength of metallic

bonding. This decreases, because although the charge on the cation and
the number of delocalised electrons remain constant, the ionic radius
increases, producing decreased attraction between the cations and electrons

2. (a) Explain why the ionic radius of bromine is larger than its atomic
radius.
(b) Explain why the ionic radius of Al3+ is smaller than that of Na+

4. (a) Increases, due to increasing number of shells of electrons

(b) Decreases, due to increased distance of electron from nuclues
and increased shielding.

3. Electrical conductivity is measured in units called siemens per metre,

S m-1. Values for the elements in Period 3 are given in the table below.

3. (a) They have metallic bonding, so electrons are delocalised and can
move under an applied p.d. throughout the entire metal
(b) Number of outer shell electrons increases from 1 to 2 to 3
Hence there are more free / delocalised / mobile electrons
(c) Covalent bonding. Electrical conductivity is low, so very limited
movement of electrons

Electrical conductivity / 108 S m-1

0.218
0.224
0.382
10-10
10-17
10-23

2. (a) Bromine forms Br- ion, involving the addition of an electron.

This causes electron repulsion to increase, increasing the size of
the particle.
(b) Al3+ and Na+ have the same number of electrons, but Al3+ has a
greater nuclear charge.
Hence the electrons in Al3+ are more tightly held, making it a smaller
particle

Element
Na
Mg
Al
Si
P
S
Cl
Ar

boiling
point

In group 7, melting point is determined by the strength of the Van der

Waals forces; these increase, due to increase in molecular size.

melting
point

Decreases

Members of groups 1 and 2 are all metals They are silver in colour and
tarnish in air. Mant of their characteristic trends in their physical properties
can be explained by the fact that they show weak metallic bonding.

Increases

General
Decrease

Decreases

1 st ionisation Electronegativity
energy

General
Decrease

ionic
radius

Increases

Increases

atomic
radius

(a) Explain why the electrical conductivity of sodium, magnesium and

aluminium is relatively high.
1. (a) Decreases across the period.
Increasing nuclear charge, whilst electrons being added into the same
quantum shell.
(b) Increase Na Si, then decrease P Ar.
Na Si increasing metallic bond strength, Si very strong covalent
bonding, P Ar held by much weaker Van der Waals forces.
(c) Increases across period.
Increasing nuclear charge.

(b) Why does electrical conductivity increase from Na to Mg to Al?

(c) The electrical conductivity of boron is 10-12 (in units of 108 S m-1)
Use this value to state and explain the type of bonding present in
boron
4. State and explain how the following properties vary going down a
group of the Periodic Table
(a) Atomic radius.
(b) First ionisation energy.

Answers
Acknowledgements: This Factsheet was researched and written by Kieron Heath. Curriculum Press, Bank
House, 105 King Street, Wellington, Shropshire, TF1 1NU. ChemistryFactsheets may be copied free of charge
by teaching staff or students, provided that their school is a registered subscriber. No part of these Factsheets
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any other form or by any other means, without
the prior permission of the publisher. ISSN 1351-5136

5. In groups 1 and 2 of the Periodic Table, melting points decrease down

the group, but in group 7, they increase. Explain this difference.