Graphing Periodic Trends Lab
Graphing Periodic Trends Lab
PURPOSE: To determine how certain properties are periodic when the elements are arranged
in periods or groups.
DISCUSSION: There are many periodic trends that occur as you cross a period or go down a
group/family on the Periodic Table. Graphing various elemental properties will help to illustrate
these trends.
REFERENCE:
Angstrom - A unit of distance equal to one ten-billionth of a meter.
Atomic Radius - The distance from the center of the nucleus to the valence electron energy
level.
Ionization energy - The energy required to remove an electron from an atom.
DATA
1 0.79 314
H
He 2 0.49 567
Li 3 2.05 124
Be 4 1.4 215
B 5 1.17 191
C 6 0.91 260
N 7 0.75 335
O 8 0.65 314
F 9 0.57 402
Ne 10 ? ?
Na 11 2.23 119
Mg 12 1.72 176
Al 13 1.82 138
Si 14 1.46 188
P 15 1.23 242
S 16 1.09 239
Cl 17 0.97 299
Ar 18 ? ?
Using the data above, make a line graph the following data. Draw a dark vertical line to
separate the 3 periods. Give each graph a title and label both the x-axis and the y-axis.
Connect your points. Predict the plot points for elements with questions marks.
1. Atomic Radius (y) vs. Atomic Number (x) for the first 3 periods (18 elements – 3 graphs)
2. Ionization energy (y) vs. Atomic Number (x) for the first 3 periods (18 elements – 3 graphs)
Properties of the Alkali Metals & Halogens
Atomic Radius
Ionization Energy
Element (Angstroms)
Alkali Metals --- ------
Li 2.05 124
Na 2.23 119
K 2.77 100
Rb 2.98 96
Cs 3.34 90
Fr ? ?
Halogens --- ------
F 0.57 402
Cl 0.97 299
Br 1.12 272
I 1.32 241
At 1.43 ?
Fr & At are extremely rare - they exist only in trace amounts.
Using the data above, graph (line graph) the following data. Use element symbols on x-axis
instead of atomic number. Give each graph a title and label both the x-axis and the y-axis.
Connect your points. Predict the plot points for elements with questions marks.
1. Radii of the atoms [increase, decrease] as you go across (L to R) a period? Explain why -
____________________________________________________________________________
2. Radii of the atoms [increase, decrease] as you go down a family? Explain why -
____________________________________________________________________________
3. The energy needed to remove an electron from an atom generally [increases, decreases] as
you go across a period? Explain why this occurs.
____________________________________________________________________________
b. The Halogens:______________________________________________________________
5. Circle the atom with the largest atomic radius (size) in each group:
6. Circle the atom that would require the LEAST amount of energy to remove an e-
7. Circle the atom that would require the MOST amount of energy to remove an e-
The [ p+, N , e- ] in the nucleus increase, thus pulling the [ p+ , N , e- ] closer towards the center
of the atom and [ increasing, decreasing ] the atomic radii. Because of this increase in
[ electromagnetic, strong ] force atoms tend to [ gain, lose] electrons as you go across the
periodic table.
The number of [ p+ N e- ] energy levels increases by one, making the atomic radius [ larger,
smaller ]. Because the electrons are farther from the nucleus theytend to be [ gained, lost ] more
easily. Therefore metals tend to be [ more, less ] chemically active as you go down a family.
The nucleus gets [ closer, farther] from the outer energy level, thereby[ increasing/ decreasing ]
the pull on free electrons from metals. Because of this nonmetals tend to be [ more, less ]
chemically active as you go down a family.