CHEMISTRY FORM 4 CHAPTER 4 : PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS

Elements in the periodic table are arranged horizontally in increasing ordered. Two main component of the
periodic table are : Group and Period

GROUPS are The vertical column of elements in the periodic table arranged according to the number of
valance electron in the periodic table are called group. There are 18 vertical columns aka groups

Specific name of groups

GROUP 1 – Alkali Metal

GROUP 2 – Alkali – Earth Metal

GROUP 3 to GROUP 12 – Transition metals

GROUP 17 – Halogens

GROUP 18 – Noble Gas

PERIODS Are The horizontal row of elements in the Periodic Table consist of the same number of shells
occupied with electrons in an elements are called period There are seven horizontal row of elements

Scientists Discoveries

1 Antoine Lavoiser

-classified all the substances, include the light &heat into metals & non-metals.

-Unsuccessful because light and heat are not elements

2 Johann W. Dobereiner

- divided the elements into the groups of 3 elements with similar chemical properties Known as
Dobereiner’s Triad

-The atomic mass of the middle element was approximately the average atomic mass of the other 2
elements in each triad but Triad system was confined to some elements only.

3 John Newlands

- arranged the elements in order of increasing atomic mass

-proposed that Elements with similar properties recurred at every 8 element known as the Law of Octaves

-Failed because the Law of Octaves was obeyed by the 17 first elements only.
-Shows the existence of a periodic pattern for the properties of elements

4 Lothar Meyer

-plotted graph of the atomic volume against the atomic mass

- He found that the properties of the elements formed a periodic pattern against their atomic masses.

5 Dmitri Mendeleev

-arranged the elements in order of increasing atomic mass & grouped them according to similar chemical
properties in vertical columns

-He left gaps in the table to be filled by undiscovered elements.

6 Hendry J. G. Moseley

-He arranges the elements in order of increasing proton number in the Periodic Table. The modern Periodic
Table is based on the foundation of Henry J.G Moseley.

4.2 ANALYSING GROUP 18 ELEMENTS

Noble gases are monoatomic gases at room temperature

Physical properties

1) Can’t dissolve in water, can’t conduct electricity & heat

2) Low densities

3) Colorless gaseous state at room temperature & pressure

4) low Melting & boiling point because they have very low Van der Waals force of attraction

Changes of physical properties when going down group 18:

Atomic size increases because the number of occupied shells increases.

Melting &boiling point increase Because when the atomic size increases, The Van Der Waals forces of
attraction between particles strengthen. Thus, more heat is needed to overcome the force.

Density increases because the mass increases faster than volume.

Down the group, noble gases Increase in boiling point, melting point, density, and atomic radius

Chemical properties of noble gases

Unreactive / inert. Atoms don’t need to donate, accept/share electrons because the outermost shell of
noble gas atom is in stable duplet / octet electron arrangement.
 Uses of noble gases:

(a) Helium -to fill airships

(b) Neon – used to fill neon lights

(c) Argon – to fill light bulbs

(d) Krypton – to fill photographic flash lamps.

(e) Xenon- used in making electron tubes.

(f) Radon – used in cancer treatment.

4.3 ANALYSING GROUP 1 ELEMENTS

Group 1 element are known as alkali metal. Alkali metals consist of Lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium,
Cesium, Francium which can be simplified into an acronym: LiNa Kelly Ruby plays CSGO in France.

They are all metals which react with water to form alkaline solution. All alkali metals are,

(a) low densities and melting points

(b) Silvery and shiny surfaces

(c) Soft solid

(d) Conductors of electricity

Change in Physical properties of alkali metals down the group

The melting points, boiling points of the atoms decrease down the group because the size of the atoms
increases down the group causes the metallic bonding between atoms become weaker. Thus, less heat is
needed to overcome the weaker bond.

The atomic radius increases down the group because the lower members have more shells of electrons.
Thus, mass of atom increases.

The density increases down the group due to its increase in mass is faster than the increase in volume.

Electropositivity is a measure of the ability of an atom to lose its valence electrons. The valence electrons
that are further away from the nucleus have weaker nucleus attraction, therefore can be easily donated.
Thus, electropositivity increases down the group.

Chemical properties:
All alkali metals have same chemical properties. They donate one electron to form a +1 charged ion.

Reactivity of alkali metals

Reactivity increases down the group. This is because the bigger the atomic size, the weaker the nucleus
attraction towards the valence electron more easily to form a +1 charged ion when going down the group.

Alkali metals react with oxygen gas to form metal oxides. Example: Na + O2 = Na2O,

(c) Alkali metals react with water to form alkaline metal hydroxide solution and hydrogen gas. Example:

2K + 2H2O = 2KOH + H2

d) Alkali metals react with halogen (fluorine, chlorine and bromine) to form colorless, crystalline ionic salts
called halides. Example: 2Li + Cl2 = 2LiCl

Safety precautions:

(a) Lithium, sodium, and potassium are highly reactive, thus must be kept under non-reactive liquid
(paraffin oil).

(b) Reaction of potassium, rubidium, cesium and francium are explosive. Thus, a small piece should be
used during experiment.

(c) Never handle alkali metals with your fingers because they are corrosive.

4.4 ANALYSING GROUP 17 ELEMENTS

Halogens are diatomic molecules, which consists of Fluorine, Chlorine, Iodine, Bromine and astatine. In
short, F Cl Is BrIAt.

Physical properties

 Non-metals
 Doesn’t conduct heat & electricity
 Low densities
 Low melting point & boiling point

Changes of properties when going down the group.

 Atomic size Increases Because the number of shells of electrons increases

Chemical Properties

1) Same chemical properties because all halogen atoms have 7 valence electrons.

2) Reactivity decreases down the group. This is because the atomic size increases down the group. The
strength of the nucleus to attract one electron to form a -1 charged ion decreases.

Reaction of halogens

Reacts with water to produce 2 acids. The equation is X2 + H2O = HX + HOX

Reacts with hot iron to form a brown solid iron halides. The equation is 3 X2 + 2Fe = 2FeX3

Reacts with sodium hydroxide solution, NaOH to form sodium halide(I) & water. The equation is X2 +
2NaOH = NaOX + H2O

Safety precautions:

(a) Vapour of fluorine, chlorine, and bromine are poisonous.

(b) Iodine affects negatively the respiration of all living things.

(c) Astatine is radioactive.

(d) All experiments of halogens should be done inside a fume chamber.

(e) Safety goggles and gloves should be used.

4.5 ANALYSING ELEMENTS IN A PERIOD

Horizontal rows in the periodic table

There are 7 periods known as period 1 to 7

The period number of an element represent the number of shells occupied with electron in its atom
 Period 3 elements are Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar

PROTON NUMBER increases one by one down the group starting from 11.

ELECTRON ARRANGEMENT. The number of electrons increase one by one down the group starting from
2.8.1.

Physical changes across the period 3 ( From left to right)

1. Atomic Radius decreases because :

a) The proton number increases by one unit from one element to the next element

c) This causes The number of positive charge in the nucleus increase

d) This causes Nucleus attraction on the valance electron increase

e) Thus, The atomic radius of the elements decreases across period 3.

2. Electronegativity increases

Electronegativity is The tendency of an atom in an element to attract electron toward its nucleus.

The atomic radius decrease due to the increasing nuclei attraction on the valance electron

The strength of nucleus to attract electron into its valence shell to form negatively-charged ion also
increase.

Thus, electronegativity of elements increases across group 3.

3. Changes in physical state across group 3

Na, Mg and Al are metals. They are Good conductors of electricity but The conductivity decrease with
increasing temperature.

Si is a Semi-metal and is a Weak electrical conductivity. It is used as semiconductor.

P, S, Cl, Ar are Non-metals and cannot conduct electricity but electroconductivity increases with
temperature and the presence of impurities.

4. Changes in the properties of oxides of period 3 elements

Elements of group 1 and 2 form Basic Oxides. Basic oxides are Metals oxides that can react with acid to
form salt and water. When dissolved in water, it forms alkaline solution.

Elements of group 14 to 17 form acidic oxides. Acidic Oxides are Non-metal oxides that can react with alkali
to form salts and water. When dissolved in water, it forms acidic solution.
Aluminium forms amphoteric oxides. Amphoteric oxides are oxides that can react with both alkali and acid
to form salt and water. Aluminium oxide shows both acidic and alkaline properties.

4.6 TRANSITION ELEMENTS

Properties of transition elements

- Transition elements are placed between group 3 to group 12.

- Transition elements have high melting points and boiling points

- They have high density

- They have high tensile strength

- They are ductile and malleable solids with shiny surfaces

- They are good conductors of heat and electricity

Special characteristics of transition elements

- They have variable oxidation state, e.g. Iron (Fe) appear as Fe2+ or Fe3+

- They form colored compounds, e.g. CuSO4 is blue, FeSO4 is green

- They form complex ions, e.g. MnO4-, Manganate (VII) ions

- They act as catalysts

Uses of transition elements

- Most transition elements and their compounds act as catalysts which speed up chemical reactions

- Iron is used in Haber Process for manufacture of ammonia

- Vanadium (V) oxide is used in contact process to manufacture sulfuric acid

- Nickel is used in hydrogenation to form margarine

- Platinum is used in Ostwald process for manufacture of nitric acid.

Advantage of transition elements

- Since transition elements speed up chemical processes in industries, they saves time in manufacture

- Less energy is needed for manufacture in industries, hence lower cost

- Since less energy is needed, more energy resources can be conserved, e.g. oil to generate electricity
in producing iron.