Cambridge Court World School

Subject-Chemistry,Class-XI
Chapter – 3, Classification of Elements(SYNOPSIS)
History of Classification of Elements

1. Doberenier’s triad law:- According to triad law atomic mass of middle elements
is almost similar to average atomic mass of first and third elements if element
are arranged in a group of three. The properties of middle element is also were in
between those two elements. Ex:-

i) , , ii) , ,

Drawback’s of Dobereiner’s traid’s law- This law was not applicable for heavy
elements like lead, mercury, gold.

2. Newland’s law of octaves:-According to this law if elements are arranged in a

group of eight then properties of eighth element are similar to first element like
musical nodes.

Drawbakc’s of Newland’s law of octaves:-

i) It was also applicable for lower elements [upto calcium].

ii) The noble gases were not included in making of groups.

3. Mendeleev’s Classification:- Mendeleev arranged elements in increasing order

of their atomic masses.

Mendleev’s Periodic law:- Properties of elements are periodic function of their

atomic masses.

Periodicity:- Repetition in the properties of elements after same intervals.

Mendeleev’s Periodic Table: Characteristics

i) It is based on atomic masses.

ii) It has nine groups [I-VIII & zero] and seven periods.

iii) In first seven groups, each were divided into two sub group and eighth group
was divided into three sub groups(Total 17 subgroups).

iv) Prediction of new elements-He announced presence of few undiscovered

elements & left vacant places for these elements.

Ex: Eka - Aluminium – Gallium , Eka-Silicon – Germanium

v) Determination of correct atomic weights-With the help of this table ,atomic

weights of certain elements were corrected like Be.
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 Drawback’s of Mendeleev’s Periodic Table:
i) Position of Hydrogen was not fixed.
ii) Position of noble gases was not assigned.
iii) No place for Lantanides and Actinoids- f-block elements were not placed in
Mendeleev’s periodic table. Lanthanides = 58 Ce – 71Lu, Actinides = 90Th – 103Lr
iv) Position of isotopes of an element was not defined.
v) Few elements having greater atomic mass were placed before the elements
having lower atomic mass. For ex:- & , &
4. Modern Periodic Table: This was given by Henry Moseley.
Modern Periodic law:-Properties of elements are periodic function of their atomic
numbers.
Modern [Long Form] Periodic Table: Characteristics
i) It is based on atomic numbers.
ii) It has 7 periods and 18 groups.
iii) Noble gases are included in 18th group.
iv) Elements are arranged according to blocks like s, p, d, f.
v) Elements are classified into metals, non metals and metalloids.
Importance of Modern Periodic Table

1. Noble gases are placed in 18th group.

2. No separate places are required for isotopes of an element because of their same
atomic number.

Limitations of Modern Periodic Table

i) Position of Hydrogen is still not confirmed.
ii) No place for Lanthanides and Actinoids- f-block elements are not placed in
periodic table. Lanthanides = 58 Ce – 71Lu, Actinides = 90Th –
Note:- f-block elements are placed in two separate series of 14 elements each
below periodic table.

i) Lanthanide series 57La - 71Lu ii) Actinide series 89Ac - 103Lr

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 IUPAC naming of elements
0-nil,1-un,2-bi,3-tri,4-quad,5-pent,6-hex,7-sept,8-oct,9-enn,10- dec [Suffix –
ium]

1. 101 -Unnilunium[Uun] 2. 102-Unnilbium[Unb]

3. 104 -Unnilquadium[Unq] 4. 110-Ununnilum[Uun]

5. 111-Unununium[Uuu] 6. 120-Unbinilium[Ubn]

Position of element in periodic table

1. Block-According to last electron in sub shell.

2. Period-According to total number of shells.

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3. Group- For S-block-1 and 2 group. For P-block elements-12 is added in outer
configuration. For d-block-2 is added to in outer configuration.

1–2 3 - 12 13 - 18

s D p

Ex- 19K-1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 4s1 [s-block,Period-4,Group-1]

16S – 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p4 [Block-P,Period-3,Group-16]

Characteristics of s-block elements

i) General electronic configuration - ns1-2

ii) Position- At extreme left in 1st and 2nd groups.

iii) These are called as representative elements.

iv) Nature-These are electropositive or metallic in nature.

v) 1st group elements are alkali metals and 2nd group elements are alkaline earth
metals.

vi) Physical State-Soft metallic solids.

vii) Conductivity-These are good conductor of heat and electricity due to free
electrons.

viii) Oxidation state:- +1 and +2 .

Characteristics of p-block elements

1. General electronic configuration - ns2np1-6

2. These are also called as representative elements.

3. Position:- At right side of periodic table from 13th to 18th groups.

4. Nature:- These are electronegative or non metallic in nature. Few are metalloids
and very few are metals also.

5. Physical State:- These are found in solid, liquid and gases. Ex:- Bromine in
liquid state, Aluminum in solid state.

6. 18th Group elements are inert and called as inert gases or noble gases.

7. Conductivity:- These are bad conductor of heat as well as electricity.

8. 17th Group elements are called as halogens & 16th group elements are
chalcogens.

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 Characteristics of d-block elements

1. General electronic configuration-ns0-2(n-1)d1-10

2. Position-At middle of the periodic table. Between s and p block element[3rd to

12th group].

3. These are known as transition elements because these have partially filled
d-orbitals.

4. Nature:- There are electropositive and metallic in nature.

5. Physical State-These are hard solids. Fe, Cu etc, 80Hg- liquid state.

6. Conductivity- These are good conductor of heat and electricity due to free
electrons.

7. They form coloured complexes. [Link] of are paramagnetic.

10. These elements show variable valencies due to participation of s and d electrons
in bonding.

Characteristics of f-block elements

1. General electronic configuration: ns2(n-1)d0-1(n-2) f 1-14 .

2. These are known as Inner transition elements.

3. Position-Below the periodic table into 2 series of 14 elements each.

i) Lanthanide series 57La - 71Lu

ii) Actinide series 89Ac - 103Lr

4. Nature-These are electropositive or metallic in nature.

Note:-Actenides are radioactive in nature because they are mutable in nature and
emit radiations.

5. Phycal state-These are found in solid state.

6. They form coloured complexes.

Properties of elements and their variation in period and group

1. Size of Atom [Atomic size/ Atomic Radius]

Types of radius-

i) Covalent radius ii) Vanderwall’s radius iii) Ionic radius

i. Covalent Radius: Half of internuclear distance between two identical bonded

atoms is known as covalent radius.

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 + +
Cl Cl
Cr

ii. Vanderwall’s Radius: Half of internuclear distance between two adjacent non-
bonded identical atoms.

+ +
He He
Vr

Note- Vanderwall’s radius is always greater than covalent radius.

iii. Ionic Radius:- It is the distance form nucleus to influenced area of charge in a
cation or anion. (Cationic radius & Anionic radius)

iv. Metallic radius- Half of inter nuclear distance between two adjacent atoms in the
metallic solid. Note- Metallic radius is always greater than covalent radius.

Factors affecting radius

i) Number of shells-Radius increases with increase of shells.

ii) NFA-Nuclear force of attraction or ENC-Effective Nuclear charge-Force of

attraction from nucleus to per unit area of outer shell of an atom is known as
NFA. Atomic size 1/ENC

Variation of atomic size in period-Atomic radius in a period on moving from

left to right decrease because electrons are added in a same shell but number of
protons increase with atomic number which causes increase in nuclear force of
attraction therefore atomic size decreases.

Note:-Atomic size decreases till 17th group in a period and again it increases in
18th group.

Q. Noble gas element is largest in its period. Why?

Ans. Noble gas element is largest in its period because in noble gases vanderwall’s
radius is measured which is greater than covalent radius.
Variation of atomic size in Group-In a group on moving top to bottom atomic
size increases due to addition of a new shell in every period.

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Q. Cationic radius is smaller than radius of its parent atom. Why?

Ans. In a cation number of protons is greater than number of electrons. Hence

effective nuclear charge (ENC) increases & size decreases.

Q. Anionic radius is greater than radius of its parent atom. Why?

Ans. In anions number of electrons is greater than number of protons. Hence ENC
decreases, size increases.

Iso-electronic species or series: The series of elements & ions having same
electrons. In is electronic series size decreases with increase of positive charge
or size increases with increase of negative charge.

Ex- i) N 3 O 2 F  Ne Na  (10e-)

ii) (18e-)

2. Ionization energy/enthalpy or Ionization potential-The minimum energy

required to take out an electron from outermost shell of an isolated gaseous
atom.

Factors affecting ionization energy:-

i) Atomic size-If size of an atom is small then attraction of nucleus for electron is
more.

ii) NFA-Nuclear force of attraction or ENC-Effective Nuclear charge- IP  NFA/ENC

iii) Penetration effect: How much an orbital is penetrated towards nucleus?

[Closeness of orbital towards nucleus like s > p > d > f] [IP PE]

iv. Shielding effect/screening effect-Protection of outer electrons from nuclear force

due to repulsion of inner electrons.

v. Stability of electronic configuration-Half & full filled configurations are more

stable. IP  stability of E.C

Variation of Ionization energy in period-In a period ionization energy

increases because of decrease in atomic size.

Q. Ionization energy of noble gas element is highest in period. Why?

Ans. Due to their fulfilled stable electronic configuration.

Q. Ionization energy of Nitrogen is greater than Oxygen. Why?

Ans. Due to half filled stable electronic configuration of nitrogen (2p3) ionization
energy is greater.[Same in IP of phosphorus which is greater than sulphur].

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Q. IP of Be is higher than B. Why?

Ans. Due to fulfilled stable electronic configuration of Be and more penetration effect
of s- orbital.

Variation of Ionization energy in group- In a group ionization energy decreases

due to increase in size.

Types of ionization energy :-

1. First Ionization energy (IE1): Energy required to take out first electron. It forms
monopositive ion.

2. Second Ionization Energy (IE2):- Energy required to takeout second electron. It

forms dipositive ion.

3. Third Ionization energy (IE3):- Energy required to take out third electron. It forms
tripositive ion

i) Mg+ Mg2+

2, 8, 2 2, 8, 1 2, 8

ii) Al Al+ Al2+ Al3+

2, 8, 3 2, 8, 2 2, 8, 1 2, 8

Q. Second ionization energy (IE2) is always greater than first Ionization energy
(IE1).Why?

Ans. Because of the more number of protons than electrons in monopositive ion
which increases ENC. Hence IE2 is always greater than IE1.

Q. (IE2) of sodium is greater than (IE2) of Magnesium. Why?

Ans. In case of sodium 2nd electron is removed from 2p6 configuration which is
stable but in magnesium second electron is removed from 3s1 which is
comparatively easier. Therefore (IE2) of Na is greater than (IE2) of Magnesium.

3. Electron gain enthalpy [EGE]-Amount of energy released when an electron is

added into outermost shell of an atom.

Note:- Ionization energy is positive for an atom and electron gain enthalpy is
negative for an atom.

Factors affecting electron gain enthalpy

i) Size- EGE
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ii) ENC- EGE ENC or NFA

iii) Shielding effect:- EGE

Variation of EGE in period-Electron gain enthalpy in period on moving left to

right increases due to decrease in atomic size. In a period negative value of
electron gain enthalpy increases.

Note:- Electron gain enthalpy increases upto 17th group and then it becomes almost
zero in 18th Group. For noble gases electron gain enthalpy is almost zero but
sometimes it is positive because energy is required to overcome inter electronic
repulsion in the stable configuration.

Variation of EGE in Group-Electron gain enthalpy decreases in group due to

increases in size and decrease in ENC.

Q. Electron gain enthalpy of chlorine is greater than fluorine. Why?

Ans. Due to compact size of fluorine and absence of vacant d-orbitals in fluorine inter
electronic repulsion is more hence its electron gain enthalpy is lesser than
chlorine.

Q. Second (successive) electron gain enthalpy are always positive. Why?

Ans. Because electron is added into a negative charged ion which feels inter electronic
repulsion. To overcome this inter electronic repulsion energy is supplied to add
an electron.

4. Electronegativity (EN)-Tendency to attract shared paired of electrons is electro

negativity.

Factors affecting electronegativity

i) Size-

ii) ENC- EN ENC

Variation in period:-From moving left to right in a period EN increase because

atomic size decrease.

Note:- electro negativity increase till 17th group and for noble gases it is completely
zero because these elements do not form bond.

Variation in group:-In a group on moving top to bottom electronegativity

decreases due to increase in size.

Note:- Most electronegative elements are FON, i.e, Flourine>Oxygen>Nitrogen.

5. Electropositivity or Metallic Character (EP):-Tendency to lose electrons and to

form positive ion is known as EP.
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 Factors affecting electropositivity-

i) Size - EP Size

ii) ENC - EP

Variation in period -In a period left to right EP decreases due to decrease in size
of atom & increase in ENC.

Variation in group- In a group moving top to bottom EP increases due to

increase in size and decrease in ENC.

6. Valency:- Combining capacity of an element is known as [Link] depends on

valence electrons.

Variation in Period-In a period it increases from+1 to+4 then it decreases to 0.

I 2 13 14 15 16 17 18
Li Be B C N O F Ne

+1 +2 +3 +4 -3 -2 -1 0

Note:-d-block elements exhibit variable valences like (i) Fe3+, Fe2+ (ii) Cu+, Cu+2
Variation in Group:- In a group valence remains same because in a group
elements have same number of valence electrons.
Anomalous behaviour of Lithium and Beryllium in their groups:
Lithium and Beryllium exhibit few different properties from other elements of
their group known as Anomalous behaviour.
Reasons of anomalous behaviour
i) Due to smallest size.
ii) Absence of vacant d-orbitals.
iii) High charge density.
Anomalous Properties

1. Formation of covalent compounds especially halides like LiCl.

2. Formation of monoxides only-Lithium and Beryllium form mono [Link]-Li2O,

BeO.

3. Lithium and Be form nitrides:- Li and Be form nitrides with nitrogen. Ex- Li3N,
Be3N2.

4. Li and Be carbonates are less stable

5. LiOH is weak base but hydroxides of other alkali metals are strong bases.

Q.10 Lithium halides are covalent in nature and rest are ionic in nature. Why?

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Ans. Due to smallest size of action, it has more polarizing power which develops
covalent character hence lithium halides are covalent in nature.

Polarisation-Dispersion of charge in presence of opposite charged ion.

Fajan’s rule- i) Smallest cation-More polarizing power.[Li>Na]

ii) Larger anion-More polarizability. [Cl>F]

Diagonal Relationship-Elements of 2nd and 3rd period which are placed

diagonally exhibit few similar properties. It is known as diagonal relationship.
Due to their almost similar size these elements exhibit few similar properties.

Similarity between Li and Mg

i) Both form covalent halides.

ii) Both form nitrides with nitrogen.

iii) Carbonates of both are less stable.

iv) Both are harder elements.

v) Both form monoxides only but other elements form peroxides and super oxides
also.

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