Chapter 16: Periodic Table

Periodic table: a list of elements arranged in order of increasing proton (atomic) numbers.
Periods : run horizontally form left to right
: are numbered from 1-7
Groups : run vertically from top to bottom
: are numbered from I to VII, and 0.

Bold zigzag line divides metals and non-metals.

Metalloids: B, Si, Ge, As, Sb, Te, Po (ALL acidic)

Number of shells = period number

Valence electrons = group number

Group Type of ion formed Explanation

I Group I, II, and III are metals, hence they tend to lose electrons to form
II Positive positive ions. The charge of the ion is the same as the group number of
III the element forming it.
IV Elements tend to form Group IV and V share electrons to form covalent bonds and have a
V covalent compounds maximum oxidation state that is equal to the group number.
VI Group VI and VII are non-metals and they tend to gain electrons to form
Negative
VII negative ions.
Elements do not form
VIII Group 0 have stable electronic structure and do not form compounds.
compounds

Group I Elements / Alkali Metals

 React with water to form alkalis.
 Contain one electron each in their valence shells, hence they have similar chemical properties.
 E.g. : sodium metal (very reactive - looks dark as they get tarnished easily in air to form oxide,
therefore, it is stored in oil to prevent reaction with air and moisture)
: lithium metal
 Physical properties : soft, easily cut.
: shiny and silvery when freshly cut.
: good conductors of heat and electricity
: low melting and boiling points (decreases down the group)
: low densities (increases down the group)
 Chemical properties : react with cold water to form alkali and hydrogen gas.
: reactivity increases down the group. This is because in the bigger atom, the
distance between valence electron and positively charged nucleus is greater.
Hence, valence electrons are further away from the nucleus. The nuclear
charge holding the valence electron in the atom is weaker.
: powerful reducing agents as it loses its valence electrons easily to attain a
noble gas structure. Hence, a positive ion is formed.
 Its compounds are ionic, soluble in water and have similar chemical formulae.

Group VII Elements / Halogens

 Non-metals
 React with metals to form salts.
 Have seven electrons each in their valence shells.
 E.g.: at room temperature, chlorine is greenish-yellow gas. Bromine is a reddish-brown liquid.
Iodine is a purplish-black solid.
 Physical properties : low melting points and boiling points
 : coloured
: melting and boiling points increase down the group.
: colour intensity increases down the group.
 Chemical properties : reactive with a high tendency to attract more electron to attain a stable
electronic configuration
: Exist as covalent, diatomic molecules. They cannot be found as atoms
because they are too reactive (e.g.: Cl2 and F2)
: react with most metals to form halides (halide ions: F-, Cl-, Br-, I-
: powerful oxidising agents as each halogen atom only needs to gain one
additional electron to attain a noble gas structure. A negative ion is formed.
: halogens undergo displacement reactions (more reactive halogen displaces
less reactive halogen from its halide solution. Colour change will be observed
when the reaction has occurred).
: reactivity and oxidising power decreases down the group because the
distance between the positively charged nucleus and valence shell is greater.
Hence electrostatic forces of attraction between the two is weaker. Hence, it
is more difficult for atom to hold the additional electron into its valence shell.
Noble Gas / Inert Gas
 Non-metals that from only 1% of the Earth’s atmosphere
 Physical properties:
o Colourless and odourless gases at room temperature
o Very low melting and boiling points
o Insoluble in water
 Chemical properties:
o Have stable electronic structures (duplet / octet electronic configuration) due to fully filled
outermost shell.
o Chemically unreactive
o Do not gain, lose, or share electrons.
o Do not form compounds.
o Exist as monatomic gases.

Transition Metals / Transition Elements

 Found between Group II and III
 Properties
o High melting and boiling points + high densities
o Have variable oxidation states.
o Form coloured compounds.
 Colours of the compounds are different at different oxidation states.
 Colour of hydrated compounds may differ from anhydrous compound.
 Compounds are used in dyes, pigments, and paints to produce different colours.

Chromium Iron Manganese Copper

Potassium Potassium
Chromium Iron (II) Iron (III) Manganese Copper Copper
Compound dichromate manganate
(III) chloride sulfate chloride (IV) oxide (I) oxide (II) oxide
(VI) (VII)
Chemical
CrCl3 K2Cr2O7 FeSO4 FeCl3 MnO2 KMnO4 Cu2O CuO
formula
Oxidation
+3 +6 +2 +3 +4 +7 +1 +2
state
Pale
Colour Green Orange Yellow Black Purple Red Black
green

o Good catalysts (substances that increase speed of chemical reactions and remains
chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction)
 Iron: Haber process for manufacture of ammonia
 Nickel: manufacture of margarine from vegetable oil