Concepts

• Structure of the periodic table

• Periodicity of physical properties
• Periodicity of chemical properties
• Oxides of Period 3 elements
• Effect of water on oxides and hydroxides of Period 3 elements
• Chlorides of Period 3 elements
• Effect of water on chlorides of Period 3 elements
• Deducing the position of an element in the Periodic Table
Learning outcomes
• -describe and explain the periodicity in the variation of atomic radius, ionic
radius, melting point and electrical conductivity of the elements
• -describe and write equations for the reactions of the elements with oxygen
to give Na2O,MgO,Al2O3,P4O10, and SO2
• -describe and write equations for the reactions of the elements with
chlorine to give NaCl.MgCl2,AICI3, SiCl4 and PCl5
• -describe and write equations for the reactions of Na and Mg with water
• -describe and explain the variation in the oxidation number of the oxides
and chlorides in terms of their outer shell electrons
• -describe and write equations for the reactions, if any, of oxides and
chlorides, with water, including the likely pH of the solutions obtained
Learning outcomes
• -describe, explain and write equations for the acid/base behaviour of
Na2O,MgO,Al2O3,P4O10, SO2,SO3,NaOH, Mg(OH), and Al(OH)3
• -describe the amphoteric behaviour of Al2O3 and Al(OH)3
• -describe and write equations for the reactions, if any, of NaCl,MgCl2,SiCl4, and
PCl5 with water, including the likely pH of the solutions obtained
• -explain the variations in the trends in reactivity of the oxides and chloride above
in terms of bonding and electronegativity
• -deduce the types of bonding present in oxides and chlorides of Period 3 from
their chemical and physical properties
• -predict the characteristic properties of an element in a given group using
knowledge of periodicity
• -deduce the nature, position in the Periodic Table and identity of unknown
elements from given information
Physical appearance of Period 3 elements
• https://www.thoughtco.com/chemical-element-
pictures-photo-gallery-4052466
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKGZG6W51Os
• What comment can you give on the physical appearance of an element?
• Are there any general trends you observe?
Structure of the Periodic Table
 Refresher: Structure of the Periodic Table
• Periodic Table is arranged in increasing number of protons (atomic number)
• Group 1 and 2 are in s-block (including Helium)
• Group 3 to 12 are in d-block
• Group 13 to 18 are in p-block (except Helium)
• The number of electron in the outermost energy level (or shell) can be
deduced by its group.
• Group 1 – contains 1 valence electron
• Group 2 – contains 2 valence electron
• Group 13 to 18 (except Helium it contains 2)
• Subtract 10 to the Group number
• Example Boron Group 13: 13-10 = 3 valence electron
• Oxygen Group 16: 16-10 = 6 valence electron
• The Period in the Periodic Table tells us the number of energy level or shell
of the element
 • Periodicity – recurrence of same pattern
Periodicity • This pattern is observable as well with the other
period
 Periodic pattern of Atomic radii
• Atomic radius across the period decreases
• The increasing positive nuclear charge (from the
increasing number of proton) pulls the electrons in
the outer shells closer to the nucleus
• As the number of proton increase, electron increase
but since they are in the same period (means the
electron is added in the same shell), the shielding
effect remains constant.
• Shielding effect – inner shell electrons block the
attraction of nucleus and the outer shell electrons
 Periodic pattern of Ionic radii
• The ionic radius decreases across a period although
the negative ions (i.e. P3-, S2-, Cl-) have larger ionic
radii than the positive ions (i.e. Na+, Mg2+, Al3+, Si4+)
• For positive ions (cations) electrons are removed.
• Positive ions have completely removed all of their outer
electrons in their last shell from original atom which is the
main reason why positive ions are smaller compared to
negative ions.
• Cations are always smaller compared to their original atom
• For negative ions (anions) electrons are gained.
• There is more ‘extra’ electrons in their outermost shell
which increases repulsion between electrons while
nuclear charge remains constant.
• Anions are always bigger compared to their original atom
 • The trend in the melting point of Period 3 can be
Periodic pattern explained by the type of bonding and structure.
of melting point • Silicon has the highest melting point because of its giant
covalent structure – every silicon atom is held by strong
covalent bond.
• Melting point increases from Group 1 (Na) to Group 13
(Al).
• There are more electrons donated and increasing charge on the
metal ions in the giant metallic lattice which makes a stronger
electrostatic forces of attraction between the cation and the
delocalized electrons
• Group 15 (P) to 18 (Ar) - most elements have simple
molecular structures so they have relatively low melting
points. There are only weak id-id forces between their
molecules.
 Periodic pattern of electrical conductivity
• The trend in Electrical conductivity can also be can be explained by the type of
bonding and structure.
• Electrical conductivity increases across the metals of Period 3 from Sodium (Group
1) to aluminum (Group 13).
• The ‘sea’ of delocalized free electrons makes the metal conduct electricity.
• There are more delocalised electrons available to drift through the structure when aluminium
metal conducts an electric current, making aluminium a better electrical conductor than sodium.
• This drops in Silicon (a semimetal or metalloid) which is a semiconductor
• Its electrical conductivity is much lower than the metals at the start of the period because there
are no delocalised electrons free to move around within its structure
• This falls even further to non-metals insulators Phosphorus and Sulfur.
Periodic patterns of ionization energies
• First ionization energy – energy required to remove the
first outermost electron
• There is a general increase in first ionisation energy across
a period because the increasing nuclear charge and
decreasing atomic radius makes the attractive forces
between the nucleus and outer electrons greater which
makes it harder for an electron to remove.
• EXCEPTIONS:
• Group 13 – there is less attraction in electron in the p-
orbital because the distance between the nucleus and
outer electron increases slightly (e.g. 1s2 2s2 2p1),
shielding by inner shells increases slightly which is why
Group 13 1st ionisation energy is lower relative to Group
12.
• Group 16 – The 1st ionisation energy is lower relative to
Group 15 because of spin-pair repulsion
Reactions of Period 3 with oxygen

•https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=2AGMuNVHviQ
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=NVV9siAuW3s
Reactions with oxygen
• Sodium reacts vigorously when heated and placed in a gas jar of oxygen.
The sodium burns with a bright yellow flame. The main product when
sodium burns in a limited amount of oxygen is a white solid, sodium oxide.
4Na(s) + O2 (g) → 2Na2O(s)
• Magnesium also reacts vigorously when heated in oxygen, forming
magnesium oxide. Burns with white flame.
2Mg(s) + O2 (g) → 2MgO(s)
• Aluminium metal is protected by a layer of aluminium oxide, but powdered
aluminium does react well with oxygen. Burns with white flame
4Al(s) + 3O2 (g) → 2Al2O3 (s)
Reactions with oxygen
• Silicon reacts slowly with oxygen to form silicon(IV) oxide (silicon dioxide)
Si(s) + O2 (g) → SiO2 (s)
• Phosphorus reacts vigorously with oxygen. A yellow or white flame is seen, and
clouds of white phosphorus(V) oxide are produced
4P(s) + 5O2 (g) → P4O10 (s)
• Sulfur powder, once ignited, burns gently with a blue flame in a gas jar of oxygen
gas. Toxic fumes of sulfur dioxide gas are produced
S(s) + O2 (g) → SO2 (g)
Further oxidation of sulfur dioxide with V2O2 catalyst gives sulfur trioxide.
2SO2 (g) + O2 (g)  2SO3 (g)
• Chlorine and argon DO NOT react with oxygen
Reactions of Period 3 with chlorine gas
• http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFR8mGXN8l5jGObFCZF3i8o1Wzf1B
fWde
Reactions of Period 3 with chlorine gas
• When sodium, magnesium and aluminum metal is heated then plunged into a gas
jar of chlorine there is a vigorous reaction, forming sodium chloride:
2Na(s) + Cl2 (g) → 2NaCl(s)
Mg(s) + Cl2 (g) → MgCl2 (s)
2Al(s) + 3Cl2 (g) → AlCl3 (s)
• Silicon reacts slowly with chlorine giving silicon(IV) chloride:
Si(s) + 2Cl2 (g) → SiCl4 (l)
• Phosphorus also reacts slowly with excess chlorine gas:
2P(s) + 5Cl2 (g) → 2PCl5 (l)
• Sulfur form chlorides, such as SCl2 and S2Cl2
• Argon does not form chlorides
Reactions of sodium with water
• Sodium reacts vigorously with cold water, melting into a ball of molten
metal. It moves across the surface of the water, giving off hydrogen gas. It
quickly gets smaller and smaller until it disappears, leaving a strongly
alkaline solution (e.g. pH 14) of sodium hydroxide behind
2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2NaOH(aq) + H2 (g)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmcfsEEogxs
Reactions of magnesium with water
• Fresh magnesium reacts extremely slowly with cold water, taking several
days to produce a test-tube of hydrogen gas. The solution formed is very
weakly alkaline (e.g. pH 11), as any magnesium hydroxide formed is only
slightly soluble. Therefore, a lower concentration of OH−(aq) ions enters the
solution compared with the result when sodium is added to water. This is
because sodium hydroxide is much more soluble in water than magnesium
hydroxide.
Mg(s) + 2H2O(l)  Mg(OH)2 (aq) + H2 (g)
• When heated, magnesium does react vigorously with water in the form of
steam to make magnesium oxide and hydrogen gas
Mg(s) + H2O(g) → MgO(s) + H2 (g)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_1uLP30uxY
Oxidation numbers of oxides

• The maximum oxidation number of each element rises as we

cross the period.
• This happens because the Period 3 element in each oxide can use
all the electrons in its outermost shell in bonding to oxygen
• They all exist in positive oxidation states because oxygen has a
higher electronegativity than any of the Period 3 elements
Effect of water on oxides of Period 3 elements

• Sodium oxide and Magnesium oxide produces alkaline (basic) solutions when it
reacts with water in the form of hydroxide (OH-)
Na2O (s) + H2O (l)  2NaOH (aq) strong alkaline/basic solution (pH 14)
MgO (s) + H2O (l)  Mg(OH)2 (aq) weak alkaline/basic solution (pH 10)
• Magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide is commonly used as remedy for
hyperacidity since it will neutralize the excess acid in the stomach (e.g. Milk of
magnesia)
MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2O(l)
Mg(OH)2 (s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + 2H2O(l)
Effect of water on oxides of Period 3 elements

• Aluminum oxide does NOT react or dissolve with water. The oxide layer of
aluminum metal protects it from corrosion.
• Aluminum oxide is amphoteric which means it can act as an acid or a base.
• Aluminum oxide react and dissolve when acidic or alkaline (basic) solutions are
added.
• With acid:
Al2O3 (s) + 3H2SO4 (aq) → Al2 (SO4 )3 (aq) + 3H2O(l)
• Aluminum oxide acts a base and reacts with sulfuric acid
• With hot concentrated alkali or base:
Al2O3 (s) + 2NaOH(aq) + 3H2O(l) → 2NaAl(OH)4 (aq)
• Aluminum oxide acts an acid and reacts with sodium hydroxide
Effect of water on oxides of Period 3 elements

• Silicon dioxide is NOT soluble in water because water cannot break down
its giant molecular (covalent) structure.
• Silicon dioxide have is an acidic oxide. Most acids (e.g. HCl, HNO3, H2SO4
etc) do NOT react and dissolve silicon dioxide.
• Silicon dioxide will react and dissolve in hot, concentrated alkali:
SiO2 (s) + 2NaOH(aq) → Na2SiO3 (aq) + H2O(l)
This is also the reason why concentrated alkali can etch or react with glass
since glass is mostly made of silicon dioxide.
Effect of water on oxides of Period 3 elements

• Phosphorus(V) oxide reacts vigorously and dissolves in water to form an

acidic solution of phosphoric(V) acid (pH 2)
P4O10 (s) + 6H2O(l)  4H3PO4 (aq)
• The oxides of sulfur, SO2 and SO3 , both react and dissolve in water, forming
acidic solutions (pH 1)
To summarise:
Period 3 oxide Na2O MgO Al2O3 SiO2 P4O10 SO2, SO3
Acid/base nature Basic Basic Amphoteric Acidic Acidic acidic
Reaction with Reacts and Reacts and Does not react Does not react Reacts and Reacts and
water dissolves dissolves with and dissolves and dissolves dissolves with dissolves with
with water to water to with water with water water to water to
produce a produce a base produce an produce an
base acid acid

Neutralises Neutralises and Can react with -Does NOT Neutralises and Neutralises and
and reacts reacts with both acid and react with acid reacts with reacts with
with acid acid base -Reacts with a base base
base
Effect of water on oxides of Period 3 elements
• We can also explain the behaviour of the oxides by looking at their structure and
bonding

• As we go across Period 3, the structure of the oxides changes from ionic metal
oxides (which are basic oxides) to giant covalent oxides to simple molecular oxides
(which are acidic oxides).
Effect of electronegativity

• Electronegativity - power of an atom to attract the electrons in a

covalent bond towards itself. Electronegativity increases across a
period and decreases down a group
• The greater the difference between the electronegativity of an
element and oxygen (3.5), the more likely it will produce an ionic
bonding in the oxide which will produce basic solution when
dissolved in water (Examples are the metals Sodium oxide and
magnesium oxide)
• Nonmetallic oxide form a covalent bond with oxygen which
produces acidic solution when reacts with water (Phosphorus
oxide, Sulfur oxide)
Oxidation numbers of the Period 3 chlorides
• The oxidation numbers rise as we cross Period 3, until we reach sulfur in Group
16. This happens because the Period 3 elements from sodium to phosphorus use
all the electrons in their outermost shell, their valence electrons, in bonding to
chlorine (ox. no. = −1). They all exist in positive oxidation states because chlorine
has a higher electronegativity than any of the other Period 3 elements
• Phosphorus also has a chloride with the formula PCl3, in which its oxidation
number is +3. Sulfur also has a chloride S2Cl2, in which its oxidation number is +1.
Effect of water on chlorides of Period 3
elements
Effect of water on chlorides of Period 3
elements
• Ionic chlorides of sodium (NaCl) and magnesium (MgCl2 ) do NOT react
with water
• Ionic chlorides of sodium (NaCl) and magnesium (MgCl2 ) are soluble or can
be dissolved in water
• The polar water molecules are attracted to the ions, that can dissolve the
chloride by breaking down the giant ionic structures.
Example:

The metal ions and chloride ions are called hydrated ions.
Effect of water on chlorides of Period 3
elements
• Aluminum chloride (sometimes AlCl3) has an ionic
bonding and have a giant ionic lattice.
• But without a hydrate (water) in its solid crystal,
aluminum chloride can exist as Al2Cl6 which is a
covalently bonded dimer molecule.
• When we add water, the dimer molecule will be
broken down to aluminum ions and chloride ions
which turns the solution acidic because the highly
charged Al3+ causes a water molecule to lose its H+
ion.
[Al(H2O)6 ]3+(aq) → [Al(H2O)5OH]2+(aq) + H+(aq)
Effect of water on chlorides of Period 3
elements
• The non-metal chlorides SiCl4 and PCl5 are hydrolysed in water, releasing
white fumes of hydrogen chloride gas (HCl) in a rapid reaction.
• The SiO2 is seen as an off-white precipitate. Some of the hydrogen chloride
gas produced dissolves in the water, leaving an acidic solution (hydrochloric
acid)
SiCl4 (l) + 2H2O(l) → SiO2 (s) + 4HCl(g)
• Phosphorus(V) chloride also undergoes hydrolysis when added to water
which produces a highly acidic product that is soluble in water
PCl5 (s) + 4H2O(l) → H3PO4 (aq) + 5HCl(g)
Deducing the position of an element in the
Periodic Table
•We can deduce the possible position of an
element in the Periodic Table by looking at
its physical and chemical properties.
•We can also predict, as Mendeleev did, the
physical and chemical properties of an
element in a given group if we know its
position