Effective Nuclear Charge and
Periodic Trends
Valence Electrons
• Electrons in the outermost
shell of an atom
• Responsible for chemical
bonding and reactivity
• Their behavior is greatly
influenced by the nucleus
and inner electrons
Assessment:
Identify the number of valence electrons for each
of the following atoms:
• Sodium (Na)
• Chlorine (Cl)
• Magnesium (Mg)
• Oxygen (O)
• Aluminum (Al)
• Neon (Ne)
Effective Nuclear Charge (Zeff)
• The net positive charge experienced by an electron in a multi-
electron atom
• Imagine the nucleus as a magnet pulling on electrons
• Other electrons get in the way, weakening this pull
• Effective nuclear charge is how strongly an electron feels the nucleus's
pull after other electrons interfere
• Accounts for the attraction from the nucleus and the repulsion
from other electrons
• The "pull" that valence electrons feel from the nucleus
• Inner electrons shield valence electrons from the full nuclear charge
• Zeff is the net pull after accounting for this shielding
What Influences Zeff?
• Nuclear Charge
• Determined by the number of protons in the nucleus
• Increases as we move from left to right across the periodic table
• Directly proportional to the atomic number (Z)
• Electron Shielding (Screening)
• Caused by inner electrons (core electrons)
• Core electrons "shield" outer electrons from the full nuclear charge
• Reduces the net charge experienced by valence electrons
• Shielding effectiveness: s > p > d > f orbitals
↑Zeff :more protons, same shielding (shells)
↓Zeff :more shielding (shells)
Which Valence Electron Experiences Greater
Zeff?
• Sodium (Na) vs. Magnesium (Mg)
• Fluorine (F) vs. Chlorine (Cl)
• Lithium (Li) vs. Beryllium (Be)
• Oxygen (O) vs. Sulfur (S)
• Carbon (C) vs. Silicon (Si)
Assessment:
Which Valence Electron Experiences Greater Zeff?
• Neon (Ne) vs. Argon (Ar)
• Phosphorus (P) vs. Nitrogen (N)
• Potassium (K) vs. Calcium (Ca)
• Aluminum (Al) vs. Gallium (Ga)
• Bromine (Br) vs. Iodine (I)
• Arsenic (As) vs. Selenium (Se)
Periodic Trends - Atomic Radius
• Atomic radius is half the distance between the nuclei of two
adjacent atoms of the same element in a molecule
• For isolated atoms, it's the distance from the nucleus to the
outermost electron
• Atomic radius is inversely related to effective nuclear charge. As
Zeff increases, atomic radius decreases, and vice versa.
Atomic Radius and Zeff
• What is the trend down the group?
Atomic Radius and Zeff
• What is the trend across the group?
For each set of elements, arrange them in
order of increasing atomic radius.
• K, Na, Li
• F, Br, Cl
• Li, C, F
• Li, K, Rb
• Ba, Se, F
Assessment:
For each set of elements, arrange them in order of
increasing atomic radius.
• Be, Mg, Ca
• C, N, O
• Al, Si, P
• Na, Mg, Al
• S, Fr, As
Periodic Trends - Ionic Radius
• The radius of an atom after it has gained or lost electrons to form
an ion
• Cations: Smaller than parent atom
• Anions: Larger than parent atom
• Factors affecting ionic radius:
• Nuclear charge
• Number of electrons
Arrange in order of increasing ionic radius.
• Na+, Mg2+ , Al3+
• F- , Cl- , Br-
• K+ , Ca2+ , Sc3+
Assessment: Arrange in order of increasing
ionic radius.
• Cu2+ , Cu+
• S2- , Cl-
• Li+ , Be2+, F-
• Ar, Ca2+ , Cl- , K+ , S2-
Periodic Trends - Ionization Energy (IE)
• The energy required to remove the most loosely bound electron
from a neutral atom in its ground state
• First Ionization Energy: Energy to remove the first electron
• Cation: Positively charged ion
Understanding Ionization Energy Trends
• Effect of Zeff
• Higher Zeff → Higher Ionization Energy
• Effect of Electron Configuration
• Filled subshells are more stable → Higher IE
• Half-filled subshells are relatively stable → Local peaks in IE
Understanding Ionization Energy Trends
• Be (1s² 2s²) vs. B (1s² 2s² 2p¹)
• Be has higher IE despite lower Zeff
• Reason: Fully filled 2s subshell in Be is more stable
• N (1s² 2s² 2p³) vs. O (1s² 2s² 2p⁴)
• N has slightly higher IE despite lower Z_eff
• Reason: Half-filled 2p subshell in N is relatively stable
Predict the Higher First Ionization Energy
• Na vs. Mg
• P vs. S
• Al vs. Si
• O vs. F
• K vs. Ca
Assessment: Rank the following in order from
lowest to highest First Ionization Energy
• He, Ne , Ar
• B, Li, Ne
• Li, Be, B
• C, N, O
Periodic Trends - Electron Affinity
• Energy change when a neutral atom in
gaseous state gains an electron
X(g) + e- → X-(g) + Energy
"More negative" electron affinity means a
greater release of energy when gaining an
electron.
Higher Energy Release = More Stable Anion
Discussion
• Why do halogens form a stable
anions?
• Why nitrogen has a positive electron
affinity values?
• Describe the electron affinity of noble
gases.
Periodic Trends - Electronegativity
• The ability of an atom to attract shared electrons in a chemical
bond
in ionic bond in covalent bond
Discussion
• What is the trend of
electronegativity across
the periodic table?
• What is the trend of
electronegativity down
the periodic table?
• Why there are no values
assigned on this table?
Assessment: Arrange in order of increasing
electronegativity
• Na, Cl, Mg
• O, N, F
• Br, I, Cl