Periodic Table
Periodic Table
Periodic Table
chlorin
e nitrogen
silver
gold
mercury
oxygen hydrogen
helium
sodium niobium
neodymium
carbon
Elements
Science has come along
way since Aristotle’s
theory of Air, Water, Fire,
and Earth.
Scientists have identified
90 naturally occurring
elements, and created
about 28 others.
Elements
The elements,
alone or in
combinations,
make up our
bodies, our
world, our sun,
and in fact, the
entire universe.
The most abundant element in the
earth’s crust is oxygen.
Periodic Table
The periodic table organizes the elements in a
particular way. A great deal of information
about an element can be gathered from its
position in the period table.
For example, you can predict with reasonably
good accuracy the physical and chemical
properties of the element. You can also predict
what other elements a particular element will
react with chemically.
Understanding the organization and plan of the
periodic table will help you obtain basic
information about each of the 118 known
elements.
Key to the Periodic Table
Elements are organized on
the table according to their
atomic number, usually found
near the top of the square.
The atomic number refers
to how many protons an
atom of that element has.
For instance, hydrogen has
1 proton, so it’s atomic
number is 1.
The atomic number is
unique to that element. No
two elements have the
same atomic number.
What’s in a square?
Different periodic tables
can include various bits
of information, but
usually:
atomic number
symbol
atomic mass
number of valence
electrons
state of matter at room
temperature.
Atomic Number
This refers to how many
protons an atom of that
element has.
No two elements, have
the same number of
protons.
Wave Model
Atomic Mass
Atomic Mass refers to
the “weight” of the atom.
It is derived at by adding
the number of protons
with the number of
neutrons.
This
H
is a helium atom. Its
atomic mass is 4
(protons plus neutrons).
C Carbon
their own unique
symbol.
It can consist of a
Cu
single capital letter,
or a capital letter
and one or two
Copper lower case letters.
Common Elements and Symbols
Valence Electrons
The number of valence
electrons an atom has
may also appear in a
square.
Valence electrons are the
electrons in the outer
energy level of an atom.
These are the electrons
that are transferred or
shared when atoms bond
together.
Properties of Metals
Metals are good conductors
of heat and electricity.
Metals are shiny.
Metals are ductile (can be
stretched into thin wires).
Metals are malleable (can
be pounded into thin
sheets).
A chemical property of
metal is its reaction with
water which results in
corrosion.
Properties of Non-Metals
Non-metals are poor
conductors of heat
and electricity.
Non-metals are not
ductile or malleable.
Solid non-metals are
brittle and break
easily.
They are dull.
Many non-metals are
Sulfur gases.
Properties of Metalloids
Metalloids (metal-like)
have properties of both
metals and non-metals.
They are solids that can
be shiny or dull.
They conduct heat and
electricity better than
non-metals but not as
well as metals.
They are ductile and
malleable.
Silicon
Families Periods
Columns of elements are Each horizontal row of
called groups or families. elements is called a
Elements in each family period.
have similar but not The elements in a period
identical properties. are not alike in properties.
For example, lithium (Li),
In fact, the properties
change greatly across
sodium (Na), potassium even given row.
(K), and other members of The first element in a
family IA are all soft, period is always an
white, shiny metals. extremely active solid. The
All elements in a family last element in a period, is
have the same number of always an inactive gas.
valence electrons.
Hydrogen
The hydrogen square sits atop Family
AI, but it is not a member of that family.
Hydrogen is in a class of its own.
It’s a gas at room temperature.
It has one proton and one electron in its
one and only energy level.
Hydrogen only needs 2 electrons to fill
up its valence shell.
Alkali Metals
The alkali family is found in
the first column of the
periodic table.
Atoms of the alkali metals
have a single electron in
their outermost level, in
other words, 1 valence
electron.
They are shiny, have the
consistency of clay, and are
easily cut with a knife.
Alkali Metals
They are the most
reactive metals.
They react violently
with water.
Alkali metals are
never found as free
elements in nature.
They are always
bonded with
another element.
What does it mean to be
reactive?
We will be describing elements according to their
reactivity.
Elements that are reactive bond easily with other
elements to make compounds.
Some elements are only found in nature bonded
with other elements.
What makes an element reactive?
An incomplete valence electron level.
All atoms (except hydrogen) want to have 8 electrons in
their very outermost energy level (This is called the rule of
octet.)
Atoms bond until this level is complete. Atoms with few
valence electrons lose them during bonding. Atoms with 6,
7, or 8 valence electrons gain electrons during bonding.
5
Alkaline Earth Metals
They are never found uncombined in nature.
They have two valence electrons.
Alkaline earth metals include magnesium
and calcium, among others.
Transition Metals
Transition Elements
include those elements
in the B families.
These are the metals
you are probably most
familiar: copper, tin,
zinc, iron, nickel, gold,
and silver.
They are good
conductors of heat and
electricity.
Transition Metals