THE PERIODIC TABLE

CHEMISTRY
CONTENT

• Historical Development of the Periodic Table/Periodic Law.

• Features of the Periodic Table.
• Periodic Classification into Blocks and Families.
• Families of Elements.
 THE PERIODIC TABLE

The periodic table is the table which shows the arrangement of elements in the order of increasing
atomic number.
 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERIODIC
TABLE

 In Chemistry, the classification of elements began with Lavoisier in 1787, whose classification was
essentially into metals and non-metals. Other scientists like Doberainer, Newland and Lother Meyer
also attempted to classify elements based on their properties. In 1869, a Russian scientist, Dmitri
Mendeleev prepared the first periodic table where he arranged elements based on the atomic masses
of the elements.
 Mendeleev’s development of the periodic table was based on the periodic law. His periodic law stated
that the properties of the element varied periodically with their relative atomic masses. He arranged
the elements in increasing order of relative atomic mass. With this, elements having similar properties
kept recurring at regular intervals or periods forming families of related elements.
 With the discovery of the electronic structure of the atoms, it became clear that elements do vary
regularly not with their relative atomic mass, but with their atomic number. Hence, in the modern
periodic table, classification is based on atomic number, rather than relative atomic mass. Therefore,
the modern periodic law states that the properties of elements are periodic functions of their atomic
number.
 FEATURES OF THE PERIODIC TABLE

The modern form of the periodic table is divided into eight vertical columns known as GROUPS and seven
horizontal rows known as PERIODS.
 GROUPS:
The vertical columns of elements or groups are numbered from I to VIII (or 0). Elements in the same group
have the same number of electrons in the valence shell. Hydrogen can be placed in group I or VII because it
can donate its one electron like group I elements or accepts electron like group VII elements. But for
convenience and because of its simple valence electron, it is placed in group I. In group VIII, which is also
group 0, Helium has two electrons while the other elements have eight valence electrons. Besides the eight
groups, there are also, the transition groups of elements. These lay between group II and III in the periodic
table.
 PERIODS:
The horizontal rows of elements or periods are numbered from 1 to 7. Elements in the same period have
the same number of electron shells. Among the elements in the period six and seven are the elements of
Lanthanides and Actinides series knows as inner transitions metals.
 PERIODIC CLASSIFICATION INTO BLOCKS AND
FAMILIES

 The elements in the periodic table may be divided into blocks according to the orbital their
valence electrons are found which is responsible for the positions of the elements. The s-block
elements have s-electrons in the outermost energy level, while the p-block has both s and p-
electrons. The transition elements contain d-electrons in addition to its s and p-electrons,
while the lanthanides and actinides contain f-electrons in addition to the s, p and d electrons.
 Element Atomic Number Electronic configuration.
 H 1 1s1
 He 2 1s2
 Li 3 1s2 2s1
 Be 4 1s2 2s2
 B 5 1s2 2s2 2p1
Element Atomic Number Electronic configuration
 C 6 1s2 2s2 2p2
 N 7 1s2 2s2 2p3
 O 8 1s2 2s2 2p4
 F 9 1s2 2s2 2p5
 Ne 10 1s2 2s2 2p6
 Na 11 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1
 Mg 12 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2
 Al 13 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p1
 Si 14 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2
 P 15 1s2 2s2 2p63s23p3
 S 16 1s2 2s2 2p63s2 3p4
 Cl 17 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5
 Ar 18 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s23p6
 K 19 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s23p6 4s1
 Ca 20 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s23p6 4s2
 FAMILIES OF ELEMENTS

Elements in the same group may be said to belong to a family since they show similar properties because their
atoms have the same number of valence electrons. At the same time, certain properties of the element in the
same group show a gradual change with increase in atomic number. Such gradual change of property within a
group is known as GROUP TREND.
 GROUP I
The group I elements include Lithium (Li), Sodium(Na), Potassium(K), Rubidium(Rb), Caesium (Cs), and Francium
(Fr). They are univalent elements. The properties are as follows:
1. They are good reducing agents since they can readily donate one electron to form cations.
2. They are metals, thus they are good conductors of electricity and heat.
3. They react vigorously with cold water to liberate hydrogen gas and form alkali, hence, they are known as
ALKALI METALS. Example 2Na(s) + 2H2O(l)→ 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
4. The oxides of group I elements dissolve in water to give a very strong alkalis. Example
K2O(s) + H2O(l)→ 2KOH(aq)
GROUP II

Beryllium (Be), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Strontium (Sr), Barium (Ba), and
Radium (Ra) belong to group II. They are divalent elements and are also known as
alkaline earth metals. Their properties include:
1. They ionize by donating their two valence electrons; hence they are good reducing
agents.
2. They are hard metals, ductile malleable and can conduct both electricity and heat.
Beryllium does not react with cold water or steam, magnesium reacts with steam
only while calcium reacts slowly with cold water to liberate hydrogen gas.
3. Their oxides are insoluble in water except for calcium oxide which dissolves in
water to form an alkali.
CaO(s) + 2H2O(l)→Ca(OH)2(aq)
GROUP III

The group III elements are Boron (B), Aluminum (Al), Gallium (Ga), Indium (In) and
Thallium (Tl). They are trivalent elements. Their properties are:
1. They are reducing in nature since they can donate their three electrons to form
electrovalent compounds.
2. Only aluminium can react with steam at about750 oC to liberate hydrogen gas.
3. Oxide and hydroxide of aluminium are amphoteric in nature, i.e., they have both
acidic and basic properties. Example
 Al2O3(s) + 3H2SO4(aq)→ Al2(SO4)2 + 3H2O(l)
(aq)

 2Al(OH)3(s) + NaOH(aq)→NaAl(OH)4(aq)
GROUP IV

Group IV elements include Carbon (C), Silicon (Si), Germanium (Ge), tin (Sn)
and lead (Pb). They form covalent compounds.
1.They exhibit two oxidation states: +2 and +4. Due to inert pair effect of
electrons in the s-orbital of the valence shell, the +2 oxidation state
becomes more prominent down the group.
2.Electropositivity increases down the group. Carbon is a non-metal; silicon
and germanium are metalloids while tin and lead are metals.
3.Carbon does not react with water in any form, but silicon and tin react
with steam at red heat to form +4 state oxides and hydrogen.
Si(s) + 2H2O(l)→ SiO2(s) + 2H2(g)
GROUP V

Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb) and Bismuth
(Bi) belong to group V. They have the following properties
1.They exhibit oxidation states of -3 and -5.
2.They also show group trend. Nitrogen and phosphorus are non-metals;
arsenic and antimony are metalloids while bismuth is a metal.
3.They electron acceptors, hence they are oxidizing in nature.
4.They form oxides that dissolve in water to form acids except nitrogen
(I) oxide.
GROUP VI

Elements in group VI include: Oxygen (O), Sulphur (S), Selenium (Se),

Tellurium (Te), and Polonium (Po) Their properties are as follows:
1.They are non-metals and exist as solids at room temperature except
for oxygen
2.They are electron acceptors and oxidizing in nature.
3.They do not react with water in any form. But oxygen and sulphur
combine directly with hydrogen to yield water and hydrogen sulphide
respectively.
GROUP VII

Elements in this group include Fluorine (F), Chlorine (Cl), Bromine (Br),
Iodine (I) and Astatine (At). They are known as halogens (salt-makers).
Their properties include:
1.They ionize to form univalent anions.
2.They exist as diatomic molecules.
3. As electron acceptors, all halogens are good oxidizing agents.
4.They exhibit group trends. Fluorine and chlorine are gases, bromine is
a liquid and iodine and astatine are solids at room temperature.
GROUP VIII (0)

The elements in group 0 are known as rare or noble gases because they
are non-reactive and exist freely as monoatomic molecules in the
atmosphere. The elements that belong to this group are: Helium (He),
Neon (Ne), Argon (Ar), Krypton (Kr), Xenon (Xe) and Radon (Rn).
TRANSITION ELEMENTS

These are elements found in-between group II and III of the periodic table. The first
transition series consists of elements: Scandium (Sc), Titanium (Ti), Vanadium (V),
Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu) and Zinc
(Zn). Transition elements have the following properties:
1. High tensile strength
2. High melting and boiling points
3. Variable oxidation states
4. Formation of colored ions
5. Formation of complex ions
6. Paramagnetic in nature
7. Catalytic ability
LANTHANIDES AND ACTINIDES

 LANTHANIDES (RARE EARTH ELEMENTS): These are found in period

six. This series begins with Lanthanum (La) and ends with Lutetium
(Lu). They are altogether 15 and resemble one another greatly.
 ACTINIDES AND THE ARTIFICIAL ELEMENTS: The actinides are similar
to the Lanthanides. They are found in the seventh period, which starts
with Actinium (Ac) and ends with Lawrencium, (Lr). The famous
Uranium is in this group.
The elements with atomic number from 93 to 103 are known as the
artificial elements. This is because they do not occur naturally but were
formed during nuclear reactions.
 EVALUATION

1. State the modern periodic law

2. Explain the basis on which elements are arranged in the periodic table.
3. State the division of the modern periodic table
4. Hydrogen can be placed in group I or VII. Explain
5. Write the electronic configuration of the following element and state the group
and period to which they belong: 6C, 11Na, 14S, 18Ar
6. State the number of unpaired electron in each of the following
atom/ion: 12Mg2+, 16S2-, 17Cl.
 ASSIGNMENT

The electronic configuration of five elements represented by the letters P, Q, R, S and T are
indicated below:
P - 1s2 2s2 2p2
Q - 1s2 2s2 2p4
R – 1s2 2s2 2p6
S – 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2
T – 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5

Without identifying the elements, state which of them

1. belongs to group VI in the periodic table
2. readily ionize by gaining electron
3. contains two unpaired electrons in the ground state
4. does not participate readily in chemical reactions
5. is an s-block element