Periodic Table

Notice the valence shells of each atom in each group.

To

form an acidic oxide, you need a non-metal and oxygen

I. Group 1 (Alkali Metals)
Lithium (Li3), Sodium (Na11), Potassium (K19), Rubidium (Rb37), Cesium (Cs55), Francium
(Fr87) [Fr is rare in nature and radioactive]
Good conductors of electricity & heat with shiny surfaces when freshly cut with a knife. Alkali
metals are stored in oil as they vigorously react with O2, Halogens and H2O. All the alkali metals
have the same reaction, e.g.:
- Li(s) + O2(g)  Li2O(s) - K(s) + O2(g)  K2O(s)
- 2Li(s) + 2H2O(l)  2LiOH(aq) + H2(g)
- 2Na(s) + 2H2O(l)  2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
Properties:
 Softness = Increase as trend goes down
 Reactivity = Increase as trend goes
down (explosive is more barbaric than
vigorous)
 Density = Increase as trend goes down
 Melting = Decrease as trend goes down
 Boiling = Decrease as trend goes down

II. Group 2 (Alkali Earth Metals)

Beryllium (Be4), Magnesium (Mg12),
Calcium (Ca20), Strontium (Sr38), Barium
(Ba56), Radon (Ra88)
Good conductors of heat & electricity, silvery-grey when purely clean. Tarnish when left in air due to
formation of metal oxide on their surfaces. They burn (using Bunsen burner) in oxygen/air with
characteristic flame colors to form solid white oxides. Ca  brick red, Sr  scarlet red, Ba  apple
green
- 2Ca(s) + O2(g)  2CaO(s) - 2Sr(s) + O2(g)  2SrO(s)
CaO reacts vigorously with H2O. If water is dripped on lumps of CaO, the water boils off as solid
lumps begin to expand and crack open. Slightly soluble
CaO(s) + H2O(l)  Ca(OH)2(s)
In excess water, some of Ca(OH)2 dissolves to form a weakly alkaline solution with pH of 11.
Ca(OH)2(s) – water  Ca2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq)
The reaction and dissolving of Group 2 metal oxides in water is as follows:
O2-(s) + H2O(l)  2OH-(aq)

React to water less vigorously than group 1. [hot Mg uses steam whereas Ca uses cold water]
- Mg(s) + H2O(g)  MgO(s) + H2(g) - Ca(s) + 2H2O(l)  Ca(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)
Going down the trend, the hydrogen gas is released more and more rapidly when Group 2 reacts with
water.

MgCO3, CaCO3, SrCO3, BaCO3 is insoluble in water but will react with dilute acid. They form a salt
and water and giving off CO2 gas.
- MgCO3(s) + H2SO4(aq)  MgSO4(aq) + H2CO3
Mg2+ CO32- H+ SO42- H2O + CO2
- CaCO3(s) + 2HNO3(aq)  Ca(NO3)2(aq) + H2CO3
Ca2+ CO32- H+ NO3- H2O + CO2
When thermally decomposed (heated), group 2 with carbonate will break down to form metal oxide
and CO2 gas. The temperature at which thermal decomposition takes place increases as trend goes
down.
MgCO3(s) – heat  MgO(s) + CO2(g)
When thermally decomposed (heated), group 2 with nitrates will break down to metal oxides, nitrogen
oxides and O2. NO2 (nitrogen(IV) oxide/nitrogen dioxide) is a toxic brown gas.
2Ca(NO3)2(s) – heat  2CaO(s) + 4NO2(g) + O2(g)
Properties:
 Size = Increase as trend goes down as 2 electrons occupy a new principal quantum
shell further from the nucleus
 Softness = Increase as trend goes down (harder than Group 1)
 Reactivity = Increase as trend goes down
  Density = Increase as trend goes down
 Melting = Decrease as trend goes down. Be has a stronger force between its atoms (the
radii is smaller) compared to Ra, therefore Be has a stronger metallic bond.
 Boiling = Decrease as trend goes down
Limestone is mainly made of CaCO3 but there are many types of it as well, which provide useful rocks
for buildings. Shaped into blocks then stacked on e/o using mortar. Mortar was used to be made with
lime and sand but now it’s cement and sand, though cement is made from lime. Marble is another
form of CaCO3 used as a building material (like expensive tiles).
Most CaCO3 is used to make cement. Manufactured by roasting limestone in a lime kiln. At high
temperatures in the kiln, it decomposes to form CaO (lime/quicklime).
CaCO3(s) – heat  CaO(s) [lime] + CO2(g)
CaO is then roasted with clay to make cement. Cement is mixed with sand and small rocks to make
concrete. You can make concrete stronger by letting concrete set with iron rods running through it.
Slaked lime (calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2)) is used by farmers to raise pH of acidic soil. Ca(OH) 2 is
basic, therefore will neutralize acid.

III. Group 7 (Halogens)

Fluorine (F9) pale yellow, Chlorine (Cl17) green/yellow, Bromine (Br35) brown, Iodine (I53)
gray/purple, Astatine (At85) [At is toxic] [diatomic F2, Cl2, Br2, I2]
Reacting to hydrogen to produce hydrogen halides, which dissolve in water to form acidic solutions.
- H2(g) + Cl2(g)  2HCl(g) - HCl(g) + H2O  HCl(aq)  H+(aq) + Cl-
(aq)
Reacting with metals to produce ionic metal halides.
2Fe3+(s) + 3Cl2-  2FeCl3(s)
Equation for reaction Description of reaction
H2(g) + F2(g)  Reacts explosively even in cool, dark conditions
2HF(g)
H2(g) + Cl2  2HCl(g) Reacts explosively in sunlight
H2(g) + Br2  2HBr(g) Reacts slowly on heating
H2(g) + I1 ⇌ 2HI(g) Forms an equilibrium mixture on heating

 Fluorine (fluoride form) used in in drinking water & toothpaste (reduces tooth decay by
hardening the enamel on teeth).
 Chlorine is used to make PVC plastic as well as household bleaches, to kill bacteria & viruses in
drinking water.
 Bromine is used to make disinfectants, medicines and fire retardants.
 Iodine is used in medicines, disinfectants and as a photographic chemical.

Displacement reactions prove the reactivity (oxidizing power) of the halogens. When chlorine water
Cl2(aq) is mixed with a solution of NaBr (contains Br-(aq) ions), said solution from colorless to
yellowish brown caused by the presence of dissolved Br2(aq) found in bromine water.
 Cl2(aq) + 2NaBr(aq)  2NaCl(aq) + Br2(aq)
Cl2(aq) + 2Br-(aq)  2Cl-(aq) + Br2(aq)
Cl is more electronegative than Br atoms so they have a stronger tendency to form negatively charged
ions. Br will do the same with I solutions:
Br2(aq) + 2NaI(aq)  2NaBr(aq) + I2(aq)
Br2(aq) + 2I-(aq)  2Br-(aq) + I2(aq)
The colors of the halogen molecules in solution are
hard to identify correctly in these displacement
reactions but dissolving the halogens in
cyclohexane (which is immiscible in water,
forming 2 layers) can be distinct in color.
Therefore, adding this organic solvent after mixing
the halogen solutions, shaking them and allowing it
to form layers can show which halogen is present
as its diatomic molecules.

Precipitation reaction with silver nitrate solutions where X represents halide ions:
AgNO3(aq) + X-(aq)  AgX(s) + NO3-(aq)
The aqueous nitrate ions can be left out to produce the ionic equation; they are spectator ions that don’t
get involved in the reaction:
Ag+(aq) + X-(aq)  AgX(s)
The added ammonia can complex ions that are soluble:
Halide Color of AgX precipitate when Effect on precipitate Effect on precipitate
Ions added to AgNO3 solution (dilute NH3) (concentration NH3)
Cl-(aq) White Dissolves Dissolves
Br-(aq) Cream Remains insoluble Dissolves
I-(aq) Pale yellow Remains insoluble Remains insoluble

Properties:
 Size = Increase as trend goes down
 Softness = Increase as trend goes down
 Reactivity = Decrease as trend goes down
- Outer shell become further from nucleus & more shielding from inner electrons.
Attraction between nucleus and valence electrons decreases.
- A more reactive halogen will displace halide ions of a less reactive halogen in an aqueous
solution of its salt.
Cl2 + NaBr  NaCl + Br2 (Cl more reactive)
Br2 + KI  KBr + I2 (Br more reactive)
Br2 + KF  no reaction (F more reactive)
Cl2 + NaI  NaCl + I2 (Cl more reactive)
 Density = Increase as trend goes down (F gas, Cl gas, Br liquid, I solid)
 Melting = Increase as trend goes down
  Boiling = Increase as trend goes down, since they’re diatomic, they have intermolecular
forces. The forces increase as trend goes down (more no. of e-) thus boiling point increases.

IV. Group 8 (Noble Gases)

Helium (He2), Neon (Ne10), Argon (Ar18), Krypton (Kr36), Xenon (Xe54), Radon (Rn86)
Octet Rules: Atoms have full number of electron in outer shells (2n2) where n is the number of shells
 He2 used in party balloons: less dense than air so balloons float & He is non-flammable
 Ne10 used in advertising signs
 Ne10 & Xe54 used in lights
 Ar18 used in lightbulbs because it doesn’t react with the tungsten filament unlike air
 Ar18 used in shielding gas in welding: denser than air so keeps air off of metal and inert so
metal won’t oxidize
 Ar18/Kr36/Xe54 used in gas in filament lamps: inert
 Kr36 & Xe54 used in anesthetics
 Rd86 used in radiotherapy to cure cancer
Properties:
Unreactive, monatomic gases (exist as He rather He2) that have 8 electrons in their outer shell
(except He, it has 2). Being unreactive makes it hard to form molecules for they already full outer
shells meaning they have a stable arrangement of electrons.
 Density = Increase as trend goes down
 Boiling = Increase as trend goes down

V. Transition Elements
 Harder and stronger than Group 1 & 2
 Higher densities than Group 1 & 2
 High melting points because they have more electrons than Group 1 & 2 except mercury (liquid
in room temp). The forces between the sea of electrons and the positive nucleus in a metallic
atom (metallic bonding) is stronger. Ionic and covalent bonding is the force between 2 or more
atoms.
 Less reactive metals
 They form a range of brightly compounds
 Good conductors of heat & electricity
 They show catalytic activity as elements & compounds. E.g.: Iron is used in the industrial
production of NH3 gas (Haber process)
 Don’t react (corrode) so quickly with oxygen and/or water

Electron Configuration s = 2e- p = 6e- d = 10e- f = 14e-

1s
2s 2p
3s 3p 3d
4s 4p 4d 4f
5s 5p 5d 5f
6s 6p 6d
7s 7p

11 Na = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 P = 3 G = IA

26 Fe = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d6 P = 4 G = VIII B

18
Ar = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 P = 3 G = VIIIA
Group A = ns and ns np
Group B = ns and nd
ns (n – 1)d
8,9,10 = VIIIB
11 = IB
12 = IIB

29 Cu = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 4s2 3d9  1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 4s1 3d10 P = 4 G = IB