THE PERIODIC TABLE

The periodic table shows all existing elements. The elements are arranged according to
their atomic number (proton number). The first element is hydrogen with atomic number
of one (1).

He
Alkali Inert
metals
Alkali

halogens
earth TRANSITION gases
metals METALS

Metals are found on the left in the periodic table and are separated roughly from non-
metals by a zig-zag line.

a) Period

It is the horizontal row of elements. The period number is equal to the number of shells
of an atom.

E.g. Period 1 members are Hydrogen and Helium with one shell only.

Period 2 members are Li, Be, ‘

B,C,N,O, and Ne with two shells only.

Trends in the periodic table

1. Metallic character across a period.

On moving from left to right across period three, elements change from metallic to non-
metallic.

Eg…………….. ……. ….. …………………………………..

2. Reactivity across period III

Sodium has one valence electron hence it is very reactive because it is easy to lose one
electron.

Magnesium has two valence electrons hence it is harder to lose two electrons so
magnesium is less reactive than sodium.

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Silicon is even less reactive because it has to lose/ gain four electrons. After Silicon
elements gain electrons and reactivity start increasing again. Chlorine needs only one
electron hence it is the most reactive element in period three. Argon however will not
react at all.

3. Electronegativity across period three (III)

Electronegativity: it is the electron pulling power of an atom on a pair of electrons in a

molecule.
NB. In some cases, covalent bond acquires an ionic character if one atom has greater
pulling power than the other one.
Eg. HCl is a covalent compound but in aqueous solution, H+ and Cl- ions are formed.

Metals.
They lose/push electrons hence, least electronegative.

Non metals
They pull/gain electrons hence they are more electronegative.

Electronegativity of elements increases as we move from left to right across a period.

4. Atomic size across a period

As move from left to right across a period, size of atoms decreases.i.e Atoms contract
and become smaller in size.
Why?
more positive protons in the nucleus resulting in a greater nuclear force, this pulls the
electrons more strongly towards the nucleus,

b) GROUP

it is the vertical column of elements. The group number is equal to the number of outer
most electrons of an atom. It can also show the oxidation state of some elements.

Eg.
Group I Electronic configuration Oxidation state

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Important groups.

a) Group 1 metals

They are called alkali metals because they react with water producing an alkali solution
(soluble metal hydroxide). The other product is hydrogen gas.

Eg. __________________________________________________________________

All members have only one outer-most electron.

Physical properties

 Conduct electricity.
 Shiny when freshly cut.
 Very soft – easily cut with a knife.
 Have low density (float on water)
 Have low melting and boiling points.

E.g.
Metal Melting point/oC boiling point/oC density
Li 181 1347 0.535
Na 98 883 0.951
K 64 774 0.862
Rb 39 688 1.53
Cs 29 678 1.90
Fr 27 677 …….

The table above shows that there is a trend in properties of group 1 elements.
Describe the trends it the following properties.

i) Melting point

_____________________________________________________________________

ii) Boiling point

_____________________________________________________________________

iii) atomic radius.

_____________________________________________________________________

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 Chemical properties

 They are very reactive hence, they are stored under oil to protect them from
reacting with oxygen and moisture.
 Lose one electron forming cations with a charge of________________

Eg.

 Reacts with water producing metal hydroxide (alkali solution) and hydrogen
gas. (the reaction is exothermic……………………………………)

REACTIONS WITH WATER

A small piece of metal is cut and placed into water. Write down the observations
of the reaction on the table below.

Element Observations in water

Lithium

Sodium

Potassium

Reaction equations (balanced)

1.______________________________________________________________________

2_______________________________________________________________________

3_______________________________________________________________________

Conclusion; what happens to reactivity of group 1 elements as you move down the
group?

________________________________________________________________________

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Why does reactivity of group one metals increase down the group?
**Negative electrons on the shells are attracted to the positive protons in the nucleus. As
you go down the group the atom becomes bigger therefore, the outer electron gets further
away from the attractive force of the nucleus. This makes it easier for an electron to
escape from a bigger atom due to weak electrostatic forces.

Reactions with Oxygen

Group one metals burn in air with colourful flames producing metal oxides. The process
is called oxidation.

Eg. Lithium + Oxygen Lithium Oxide

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Sodium + Oxygen Sodium Oxide

………………………………………………………………………………………………
Potassium + Oxygen Potassium Oxide

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Group II elements

Their trends in reactivity, melting point, boiling point, density and all other properties are
like those of group I elements.

GROUP VII

They are also called the halogens. They have seven electrons in their outer shells.

Data for physical properties of the halogens

Symbol Melting point Boiling point State at room colour

o o
C C temperature
F2 -218 -188 Colourless
Cl2 -101 -34 Yellow green
Br2 -7 59 Red brown
I2 114 185 Grey-black

Describe the trends it the following properties of halogens.

i) Melting point

_____________________________________________________________________

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 ii) Boiling point

_____________________________________________________________________

iii) Intensity/darkness of Colour.

_____________________________________________________________________

iv) State at room temperature.

________________________________________________________________________

Chemical properties

 They gain one electron forming anions called halides with a charge of -1.
e.g

……………………………………………………………………………….
 They exist as diatomic molecules. E.g. F2,Cl2,Br2 and I2.
 They form covalent compounds with other non-metals.
e.g. HCl, CCl4,
 Form ionic compounds with metals. E.g. FeCl2, NaCl, CaCl2, etc.

Reactivity of group VII elements

Reactivity of halogens decreases down the [Link] Elements become less reactive as
we move down the group.

Why? As you go down the group, elements get bigger therefore an electron entering the
outer shell is weakly attracted because it is far from the attractive nucleus.

Q. Why is fluorine the most reactive in group vii?

A fluorine atom is smaller therefore an electron entering its outer shell is strongly
attracted because it is nearer to the attractive nucleus.

NB: Small halogens have few shells and ……………………………………………..

Bigger halogens have many shells and……………………………………………..

ELECTRONEGATIVITY (pulling force)

Electronegativity of halogens decreases as we move down the group.

i.e. Fluorine is the most electronegative.

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DISPLACEMENT REACTINS OF HALOGENS ( halogens in competition)

Displacement reaction-a reaction where a more reactive element pushes a less reactive
one out of a compound and replaces it with itself.

More reactive halogens always displace (‘push’) less reactive ones from compounds.

e.g. Chlorine + Potassium iodide Potassium chloride + iodine

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Observations ; The grey-black colour of iodine [Link] when a halogen is displaced,

its colour appears in solution.

Bromine + Sodium chloride No reaction.

NB: no reaction because chlorine is more reactive than bromine in group 7 hence it can
not be displaced.

EXPERIMENT

Write the observations (colours) and products for given reactions. If there is no reaction,
indicate by a cross (‫)ﻼ‬.

KCl KBr KI

Cl2

Br2

I2

Q. Complete and indicate the expected colours for the following reactions.

a. F2 + NaCl …………………………………………………..

Colour………………………………………………………………………………………

b. Cl2 + KBr ……………………………………………………………….

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Colour……………
`…………………………………………………………………………

c. Br2 + KI ……………………………………………………………

colour………………………………………………………………………………………

TRASITION ELEMENTS

They are all metals. They do not have a specific group because they do not have specific
oxidation states. Oxidation numbers can be used to place elements in groups. E.g. Group
I = +1, group II = +2, etc.

Properties of transition elements

 They have high melting points and boiling points

 Hard and less reactive
 Have high densities
 They are good conductors of heat and electricity.
 Malleable-can be shaped
 Ductile-can be drawn into wires.
 Their elements and compounds can act as catalysts to speed up reactions.
e.g

Manufacture of……. Catalyst

Ammonia (haber process) Iron
Sulphuric acid (contact process) Vanadium (v) oxide
Nitric acid (Ostwald process) Platinum/rhodium
oxygen Manganese (iv) oxide

 They have variable valences/oxidation numbers

e.g. (Fe2+,Fe3+), (Cu+,Cu2+) e.t.c.
 They mostly form coloured compounds (RE: main group elements form
colourless compounds).

e.g.
Symbol of ion colour compound
Cu2+ Blue CuSO4
Fe2+ Pale green FeSO4
Fe3+ Red-brown Fe(OH)3
MnO4- Purple KMnO4
Cr2O72- Orange K2Cr2O7

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GROUP VIII/(0)

They are called noble gases. They very unreactive because they have full outer shells
hence they are also called inert gases.

Properties
 Inert-unreactive
 Exist naturally as mono atomic gases
 Their density increases as we go down the group
 Their boiling points increases as we go down the group-the forces between
molecules get stronger as the molecules get larger.

Uses of inert gases

1. Helium

 Filling weather balloons because it is inert and light in mass

 Mixed with oxygen and used as a gas breathed by sea divers

2. Neon

 Used in neon lights for advertising because it emits colourful and bright light

3. Argon

 Fill electric bulbs to prevent the tungsten metal from burning because it is inert.
RE: Air has oxygen which supports burning.