Periodic classification of elements

Class XI
Classification is the grouping of similar elements together and separating them from dissimilar ones.

In order to make the study of the elements known to us easy , the elements have been divided into
groups in such a way that those that have similar properties are placed in the same group.
 Early attempts of the classification of elements:

Lavoisier

Lavoisier divided elements into two main types – metals and non metals.

But soon with the discovery of more elements it became clear that this classification was not enough.
 Dobereiner’s Triads

• Dobereiner (1829) arranged certain elements with similar physical and chemical properties in groups
of three called triads.

• The basis of the arrangement was the atomic mass of the elements.

• In a particular triad, he showed that when the elements were arranged in the order of increasing
atomic masses, the atomic mass of the middle element is approximately the arithmetic mean of the
other two.

 
 Triad of Li, Na and K

Some common properties of the elements of this triad:

i) All are metals

ii) All react with water to form alkalis and hydrogen .

iii) All are monovalent (i.e have a valency of 1).

• The atomic mass of sodium (Na) is arithmetic mean of first element  lithium (Li) and third element
potassium (K).
 Triad of Ca, Sr and Ba

The elements have a few common characteristics:

i) All are metals.
ii) All are divalent (i.e have a valency of 2)
iii) All impart a characteristic colour to the flame.

Mean of the atomic masses of the calcium (Ca) and barium (Ba) is almost equal to atomic mass of
strontium (Sr).
Arithmetic mean of atomic masses of calcium (Ca) and barium (Ba) =(40+137)/2=88.5
Actual atomic mass of the strontium (Sr) = 87.6
 Triad of Cl, Br and I

Some common properties of the elements of this triad:

i) All are non metals and diatomic.
ii) All are highly reactive.
iii) All are monovalent.
iv) All react with water to form halogen acids.

Arithmetic mean of Chlorine (Cl) and Iodine (I) = (35.5+127)/2=81.25

Actual atomic mass of the second element = 80
 Limitations of Dobereiner’s Triads

Dobereiner could identify only three triads from the elements known at that time.

As a result, this system of classification did not gain importance and was considered mere coincidence.

However, this indicated that properties of elements are related to their atomic masses.
 De Chancourtois - Telluric Helix (1862)

• He took a vertical cylinder with 16 equidistant

lines on the surface of the cylinder, parallel to the
axis of the cylinder.

• A helix at 45° to the axis was drawn and the

elements were arranged in increasing order of
their atomic masses on the helix.

• Elements which differed in atomic mass 16 or

multiples of 16 were found to fall on a vertical line.

• These elements showed nearly same properties.

 Newland’s Law of Octaves (1865)
• John Newlands arranged the 56 known elements in order of increasing atomic masses.

• He found that every eighth element had properties similar to the first. Thus there was a resemblance
in the properties of the first and the eighth, second and ninth, third and tenth and so on.

• He compared this to the octaves found in music and called it the Law of octaves.

According to the Newland’s Law of Octaves:

When elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic masses, there is a repetition of the
properties of every eighth element as compared to the first.
 Limitations of Newland’s Law of Octaves

i) The law was found to be successful only up to the element calcium (atomic mass 40). After that every

eighth element did not have the same properties. For e.g Cu was placed below K in the same group.

ii) Newlands placed two elements in the same slot to fit elements in the table. For e.g Co and Ni were

placed in the same slot. Similarly La and Ce were placed in the same slot.

iii) When new elements were later discovered, their properties did not fit into the law of octaves.

iv) When the noble gases were discovered later, their inclusion in the table disturbed the entire

arrangement.

Thus Newland’s Law of Octaves worked well with lighter elements only.
 Lothar Meyer (1869)
• Classification in the form of a curve.
• He calculated the atomic volumes of the known elements by applying
the formula: Atomic volume =

He plotted a graph of atomic volumes vesus

atomic masses.
Elements with similar properties occupy similar
positions on the curve :
- Maxima occupied by alkali metals (largest volumes)
- Alkaline earth metals (Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) occupy midpoints in ascending
portions of the curve
- Halogens occupy positions on ascending portions of curve
- Transition metals occupy minima
Lothar Meyer proposed that:

The physical properties of elements are periodic functions of their atomic

masses.
 Mendeleev’s Periodic Table

• Mendeleev was a Russian chemist who made significant contribution in the formation of periodic table.

• Mendeleev’s Periodic Law:

The properties of elements are a periodic function of their atomic masses.

• The repetition of similar properties after a definite gap of atomic masses is called periodicity in
properties.
 Description of Mendeleev’s periodic table

• The 63 known elements were arranged in order of increasing atomic masses in vertical columns and
horizontal rows.

• There were 6 horizontal rows called Periods and a total of 8 vertical columns called Groups.

• Groups I to VII are subdivided into A and B subgroups. Group VIII did not have any subgroups.

• Elements with similar properties were placed in a Group. The formulae of the hydrides and oxides
formed by an element were treated as one of the basic properties for classification.

• All the elements in a particular group show regular gradation in their physical properties and chemical
reactivities.
 Achievements of Mendeleev’s Periodic Table
1. Elements with similar properties were grouped together which made a systematic study of their
chemical and physical properties easier.
2. In some places elements with higher atomic masses had to be placed before those with lower atomic
masses. E.g. Co was placed before Ni and Te before I so that elements with similar properties could be
grouped together.

3. Atomic masses of some elements like Be (beryllium), Au (gold), In (indium) were corrected based on
their positions in the table. For example, the atomic mass of beryllium was corrected from 13.5 to 9.

4. Mendeleev predicted the existence and properties of some elements that had not yet been discovered,
on the basis of their position in his periodic table. He even named them by prefixing Eka (Sanskrit
numeral meaning one) to the name preceding the element in the same group. Scandium, Gallium and
Germanium were discovered later and their properties matched very closely with the predicted
properties of Eka - boron, Eka – aluminium and Eka – silicon respectively.

5. When the noble gases were discovered later, they could be placed easily in a new group without
disturbing the existing order.
 Limitations of Mendeleev’s Periodic Table

1. Hydrogen resembles both the alkali metals and the halogens in properties.
Like the alkalis it combines with halogens, oxygen and sulphur and forms compounds having similar
formulae. E.g HCl and NaCl, H2O and Na2O, H2S and Na2S.
However like halogens it exists as diatomic molecules ( H2, Cl2)
So, Mendeleev could not justify its position.

2. Isotopes were discovered later and posed a challenge to the Mendeelev’s periodic law. 

3. Atomic masses do not increase in a regular manner for e.g Cobalt (Co) has higher atomic weight but
was placed before Nickel (Ni) in the periodic table, similarly Te (Tellurium)was placed before I. This was
not explained by Mendeleev.
 Modern Periodic Table

Modern Periodic Law given by Moseley:

Properties of elements are the periodic functions of their atomic numbers.

The periodicity or the repetition of similar chemical properties of elements is because of the repetition
of the same valence shell electronic configuration.
• Elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic numbers.

• The modern periodic table also has Groups and Periods.

• Groups:

There are 18 vertical columns or Groups, numbered from 1 to 18.

The elements in a group are separated by definite gaps of atomic numbers (8, 8, 18, 18, 32).

The elements in a group have the same number of valence electrons and valency.

The elements in a group have identical chemical properties.

The physical properties and the chemical reactivities show a regular gradation within the group.
• Periods:
There are 7 horizontal rows or periods.

Each period marks a new electronic shell getting filled.

In a period, the number of valence electrons increases by 1 unit as we move from left to right.

The number of elements in a period is based on how the electrons are filled into various shells.

First period has 2 elements and is called Very Short Period.

Second and Third periods have 8 elements each and are called Short Periods.

Fourth and Fifth Periods have 18 elements and are called Long Periods.

Sixth and seventh periods have 32 elements and are also called Long Periods.

14 elements ( Z = 58 to Z = 71) belonging to the 6 th and 14 elements (Z= 90 to Z= 103) belonging to
the 7th Periods are placed at the bottom of the periodic table. These are known as Lanthanoids and
Actinoids respectively.
 Advantages of the modern periodic table:

• The position of the elements in the periodic table makes it easy to predict and compare
their properties, and explains the reason for their specific position in the periodic table.

• It gives explanation for the periodicity of elements and tells the reason why all elements
in a group have similar properties, which differ from those of other groups.

• One position for all isotopes of an element is justified since isotopes have same atomic
number.

• The positions of some elements which were misfits in the Mendeleev’s periodic table are
now justified because it is based on atomic numbers and not atomic masses.
 Names of some Groups

Group 1 (IA) - Alkali metals 

Group 2 (IIA) - Alkaline earth metals

Groups 13 (IIIA) – Boron family

Group 14 (IVA) – Carbon family

Group 15 (VA) – Nitrogen family/ pnictogens

Group 16(VIA) – Chalcogens ( ore forming)

Group 17 (VIIA) – Halogens ( salt forming)

Group 18 (VIIIA) – Inert gases/ Noble gases/ Rare gases

The End