The periodic

table and
periodicity
Objectives

• Explain the basis for the arrangement of elements in the periodic table
• Explain trends in Group II
• Explain trends in Group VII
• Identify trends in period 3
• Predict properties of unknown elements based on the position in periodic
table
The History of the Periodic Table

• The periodic table is a classification of all elements. Elements in the periodic

table show periodicity. Periodicity is the recurrence of similar chemical and
physical properties at regular intervals that is seen in the elements in the
periodic table .

• Dmitri Mendeleev
• In 1869, Dmitri Mendeleev published his Periodic Classification of Elements in
which he:
- Arranged elements in increasing relative atomic mass.
- Placed elements with similar chemical and physical properties together in
vertical columns (groups).
- Left gaps when it appeared that elements had not yet been discovered.
- Occasionally ignored the order suggested by relative atomic mass and
exchanged adjacent elements so they were better classified into chemical
families.
• Mendeleev is credited with creating the first version of the periodic table.
Johann Dobereiner

Between 1817 and 1829, Johann Dobereiner proposed the law of Tri-
ads. He noticed that certain groups of three elements, which he called
triads, showed similar chemical and physical properties.

If the elements in any triad were arranged in increasing relative atomic

mass, the relative atomic mass of the middle element was close to the
average of the first and third elements. For example, lithium, sodium
and potassium have relative atomic masses of 7,23 and 39.
John Newlands

In 1865, John Newlands proposed the law of Octaves. He arranged the 56 ele-
ments that had been discovered at the time in order of increasing relative
atomic mass and discovered that each element exhibited similar chemical and
physical properties to the element eight places ahead of it in the list.

For example, sodium was eight places ahead of lithium and the two exhibited
similar properties. He then placed the similar elements into vertical columns
called groups.
Henry Moseley

In 1914, Henry Moseley placed the elements in increasing

atomic number which resulted in all elements with simi-
lar properties falling in the same groups.
The modern Periodic Table

• The modern periodic table contains 103

elements arranged in the order of
increasing atomic number .
• Elements in the modern periodic table
can be divided into metals and non-
metals . Metals are found on the left
side of the table and non-metals are
found on the right side of the table
• Some elements are also metalloids. The
properties of metalloids are
intermediate between those of metal
and non- metals e.g boron (B),
Silicon(Si), germanium (Ge), Arsenic (As),
antimony (Sb), tellurium (Te) and
polonium (Po).
Groups and Periods

• The periodic table is divided into vertical columns called groups and horizontal rows called periods
• Groups are vertical columns of elements.
• There are 18 groups, eight of which are numbered using
• Roman numerals from I to VII, and the last group is Group O.
- Group I – Alkali metals
- Group II – alkaline earth metals
- Group VI- halogens
- Group 0 – noble gases

• All elements in the same group have the same number of valence electrons (electrons in their outermost electron
shell).
• For elements in Groups I to VII, the number of valence electrons is the same as the group number.
• All elements in Group 0 have a full outer electron shell.
• Moving down any group, each element has one more electron shell than the element directly above it.
• All elements in the same group have similar chemical properties.
• Moving down a group, the metallic nature of elements increases and the non-metallic nature decreases.
• Between Groups II and III there are ten groups of elements called the transition elements or transition metals.
Transition metals usually have two valence electrons.
• Periods
• All elements in the same period have their valence
electrons in the same electron shell
• E.g Sodium (Na) , Magnesium (Mg) and aluminum (Al) are
all in the same period number and they all have their
valence electrons in shell number 3
• The number of occupied electron shells ( the number of
shells that contain electrons) is the same as the period
number
• E.g Calcium has 4 shells that contain electrons and it is in
Period 4.
• Moving along any period from left to right, each element
has one more valence electron than the element directly
before it.
• • Moving along any period from left to right, the metallic
nature of the elements decreases and the non-metallic
nature increases.
Electronic configuration of atoms

• The electronic configuration of an atom

can be determined from the group
number and the period number
• The number of valence electrons is the
same as the group number
• The number of occupied electron shells
is the same as the period number

• Potassium is in Group I and Period 4.

• A potassium atom has: 1 valence
electron 4 occupied electron shells
• Therefore the electronic configuration of
a potassium atom is 2,8,8,1
Questions
Silicon is Group IV and Period 3. What is the electronic configuration ?
Calcium has an electronic configuration of (2, 8,8,2). Determine the
group and period number .
Phosphorus is in group V and period 3. What is the electronic
configuration ?
General Trends In the Periodic table

• The trends in the period table is directly

related to electronic configuration of
elements in the same group and
elements in the same period
• Moving down a group, the metallic
nature of an element increases
• Moving down a group, the non-metallic
nature of the elements decreases
• Moving along a period , the metallic
nature of the element decreases
• Moving along a period , the non metallic
nature of the elements increases
• It is important to note that elements in
group 0 are chemically unreactive
Group II elements(Alkaline Earth Metals)
• They are fairly soft metals
• They are shiny , silver-white when freshly cut but turn
dull very quickly as they react with oxygen in the air
This reaction forms a dull oxide layer on the surface of
the metal
• They have fairly high melt and boiling points
Trends in Group II

• Elements in Group II all have similar chemical

properties because their atoms all have two
valence electrons. They react by losing these
valence electrons to form positively charged
ions called cations. The charge is +2.
• When they lose these electrons they are said
to ionise. The easier an element ionises, the
more reactive it is. The ease of ionisation
increases moving down Group II, therefore the
reactivity of the elements increases moving
down the group.
• The atomic radius increases going down the
group.
Chemical Reactivity of Group II Elements
• They react with oxygen to form basic oxides
• They react with water to form metal hydroxides and hydrogen gas
• They react with dilute hydrochloric acid to form salts known as metal
chlorides
• The reactivity increases going down the group .Beryllium at the top is
the least reactive and radium at the bottom of the group is the most
reactive
Group VII Elements (Halogens)

• All non-metals
• They are poisonous
• They are non-polar (share electrons equally) diatomic
molecules e.g F2, Cl2
• They have low melting and boiling points
• Their atoms have seven valence electrons
• Their atoms readily accept an electron into their valence shells
to form non metal anions with a charge of -1 eg. F-, Cl-
• They share an electron readily with other non-metal atoms
• When they gain this electron they are said to ionise. The ease
of ionisation increases moving up Group VII, therefore the
reactivity of the elements increases moving up the group.
• The tendency for atoms to attract electrons is known as electronegativity . The electronegativity of
the atoms ,increase going up Group VII. Florine is the most electronegative and astaine is the least
electronegative
Displacement

• In a displacement reaction an element in its free state takes the place of another element in a
compound. A more reactive element will displace a less reactive element. Chlorine w ill displace
bromine and iodine, and bromine will displace iodine from their compounds.
• e.g. CI,(g) + 2KBr(aq) --.... 2KCI(aq) + Br,(aq)
• Displacement reactions can be explained by looking at the relative strength of oxidising power of the
elements. This is determined by how easily one substance takes electrons from another substance.
The strength of oxidising power of Group VII elements increases moving up the group because the
ability to ionise and take electrons from another reactant increases moving upwards. Chlorine will
take electrons from bromide (Br-) and iodide (1 -) ions and bromine will take electrons from iodide
(1-) ions: e.g. CI,(g) + 2Br-(aq) --.... 2C1 -(aql + Br,(aq)
Trends in Period III

• Moving from left to right , the metallic nature of the

element decreases and the non-metallic nature
increase. The elements to the left are metals, those to
the right are non-metals and silicon n the middle is a
semi-metal or metalloid
• The ease of ionisation and reactivity of the metals
sodium, magnesium and aluminium decreases moving
along the period.
• The ease of ionisation and reactivity of the non-metals
phosphorus, sulfur and chlorine increases moving along
the period.
• Silicon does not usually ionise, it usually reacts by
sharing electrons with other non-metal atoms.
• Argon does not ionise and is chemically unreactive.
• Mtals
• They are sold at room temperature , except mercury whch is a liquid
• They have high melting and boiling points
• They have high densities
• They are good conductors of heat and electricity
• They are shiny n appearance
• They are malleable and ductle
• They are sonorous
• Non metals
• They are usually gases at room temperature , some can be solid and bromine is a liquid
• They have low melting and boiling points
• They have low densities
• They are poor conductors of heat and electricity
• In sold state, they are dull
• In sold state they are brittle and make a dull sound when hit
Questions
• 1 Outline the contributions of EACH of the following scientists to the development ofthe periodic table:
• a Johann Dobereiner
• b John Newlands
• c Dmitri Mendeleev
• 2 What are the features on which the arrangement of elements in the modern periodic table is based?
• 3 a What do all the elements in the same group of the periodic table have in common?
• b What do all the elements in the same period of the periodic table have in common?
• 4 The electronic configuration of an atom of element X is 2,8,5. Give the group number and period
number of element x.
• 5 Which element, magnesium or calcium, would you expect to react more vigorously with dilute
hydrochloric acid? Explain your answer. - '" ."
• 6 How does the state of the elements in Group VII at room temperature change moving down the
group?
• 7 Would you expect a reaction to occur if chlorine gas is bubbled into a potassium bromide solution?
Explain your answer based on the relative strength of oxidizing power of chlorine and bromine.