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Periodic Classification
of elements
Key Concepts
1. Classification means identifying similar species 5. Mendeleevs Periodic Table :
and grouping them together. Mendeleev arranged 63 elements known at that
2. Lavoisier divided elements into two main types time in the periodic table. According to
known as metals and non-metals. Mendeleev the properties of the elements are
3. Doberiners Law of Triads: a periodic function of their atomic masses. The
According to this law, in certain triads (group table consists of eight vertical column called
of three elements) the atomic mass of the central groups and horizontal rows called periods.
element was the arithmetic mean of the atomic Merits of Mendeleevs Periodic Table:
masses of the other two elements. But in some (i) At some places the order of atomic weight
triads all the three elements possessed nearly was changed in order to justify the chemical
the same atomic masses, therefore the law was
and physical nature.
rejected.
(ii) Mendeleev left some gap for new elements
e.g., atomic masses of Li, Na and K are
which were not discovered at that time.
respectively 7, 23 and 39, thus the mean of atomic
masses of 1st and 3rd element is (iii) One of the strengths of Mendeleevs
Limitations of Doberiners Triads: He could periodic table was that, when inert gases
identify only a few such triads and so the law were discovered they could be placed in a
could not gain importance. In the triad of Fe, Co, new group without disturbing the existing
Ni, all the three elements have a nearly equal order.
atomic mass and thus does not follow the above Characteristics of the periodic table : Its main
law. characteristics are :
4. Newlands Law of Octaves: (i) In the periodic table, the elements are arranged
According to this law the elements are in vertical rows called groups and horizontal
arranged in such a way that the eighth element rows called periods.
starting from a given one has properties which (ii) There are eight groups indicated by Roman
are a repetition of those of the first if arranged Numerals I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII. The elements
in order of increasing atomic weight like the belonging to first seven groups have been
eight note of musical scale. divided into sub-groups designated as A and B
Drawback of Newlands law of Octaves: on the basis of similarities. The elements that
(i) According to Newland only 56 elements are present on the left hand side in each group
exists in nature and no more elements constitute sub-group A while those on the right
would be discovered in the future. But later hand side form sub-group B. Group VIII consists
on several new element were discovered of nine elements arranged in three triads.
whose properties did not fit into law of (iii) There are six periods (numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and
octaves.
6). In order to accomodate more elements, the
(ii) In order to fit new elements into his table
periods 4, 5, 6 are divided into two halves. The
Newland adjust two elements in the same
first half of the elements are placed in the upper
column, but put some unlike elements under
the same column. left corners and the second half occupy lower
Thus, Newlands classification was not right corners in each box.
accepted.
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Achievements of mendeleevs periodic table horizontal rows called periods. The
(i) The arrangement of elements in groups and groups have been numbered 1, 2, 3.......18
periods made the study of elements quite from left to right.
systematic in the sense that if properties of one (ii) The elements belonging to a particular
element in a particular group are known, those group make a family and usually named after
of the others can be easily predicted. the first member. In a group all the elements
(ii) Prediction of new elements and their properties contain the same number of valence
: Many gaps were left in this table for electrons.
undiscovered elements. However, properties of (iii) In a period all the elements contain the same
these elements could be predicted in advance number of shells, but as we move from left
from their expected position. This helped in the to right the number of valence shell
discovery of these elements. The elements electrons increases by one unit.
silicon, gallium and germanium were The maximum number of electrons that can
discovered in this manner. be accommodated in a shell can be
(iii) Correction of doubtful atomic masses : calculated by the formula 2n2 where n is
Mendeleev corrected the atomic masses of the number of the given shell from the
certain elements with the help of their expected nucleus.
positions and properties. 8. Trends in Modern Periodic Table : The trends
Limitations of mendeleevs classification : observed in some important properties of the
(i) He could not assign a correct position of elements in moving down the group (from top
hydrogen in his periodic table, as the properties to bottom of the table) and across a period (from
of hydrogen resembles both with alkali metals left to right in a period) are discussed below :
as well as with halogens. (i) Valency : Valency may be defined as the
(ii) The isotopes of the same element will be given combining capacity of the atom of an element
different position if atomic number is taken as with atoms of other elements in order to acquire
basis, which will disturb the symmetry of the the stable configuration (i.e. 8 electron in
periodic table. valence shell. In some special cases it is 2
(iii) The atomic masses do not increases in a regular electrons).
manner in going from one elements to the next. (ii) Atomic size : It refers to the distance between
So it was not possible to predict how many the centre of nucleus of an isolated atom to its
elements could be discovered between two outermost shell containing electrons.
elements. The atomic radius decreases on moving from
6. Modern Periodic Law : This law was given by left to right along a period. This is due to an
Henry Moseley in 1913. It states, Properties of increase in nuclear charge which tends to pull
the elements are the periodic function of their the electrons closer to the nucleus and reduces
atomic numbers. the size of the atom.
Cause of periodicity : Periodicity may be In a group atomic size decreases from top to
defined as the repetition of the similar properties bottom due to increase in number of shells.
of the elements placed in a group and separated (iii) Metallic and non-metallic properties : In a
by certain definite gap of atomic numbers. period from left to right metallic nature decreases
The cause of periodicity is the resemblance in while non-metallic character increases.
properties of the elements is the repetition of In a group metallic character increases from top
the same valence shell electronic to bottom while non-metallic character decrease.
configuration. (iv) Electronegativity : The relative tendency of an
7. Modern Periodic Table atom to attract the shared electron pair of
Moseley proposed this modern periodic table electrons towards itself is called
and according to which the physical and electronegativity.
chemical properties of elements are periodic In a period from left to right, the value of
function of their atomic number and not the electronegativity increases while in a group from
atomic weight. top to bottom the value of electronegativity
(i) The modern periodic table has 18 vertical decreases.
columns called groups and seven
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