The periodic table

1. Periodic trends
 The Periodic Table is an arrangement of the elements in an order of increasing proton
number
 Elements in the same period have the same number of electron shells
o The period number shows the number of electron shells
o As we move left to right, there is a decrease in metallic properties
 Elements in the same group have the same number of valence electrons
o The group number shows the number of electrons
o The elements have similar chemical properties due to the same valence
electrons
o As we go down a group,
 Proton number increases
 Atoms get bigger
 The elements have more metallic properties, as it is easier to lose
electrons
 The group number of an element shows the number of valence electrons it has.

Group number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0
Ionic charge +1 +2 +3 tend to from covalent -2 -1 Do not from
compounds compounds

2. Group properties
 Alkali metals
o They are Group 1 metals.
o They are soft, have low melting and boiling points and low densities
o As we go down the group, the melting and boiling point decreases, while density
generally increases, and reactivity increases
o They are very reactive, due to the ease of losing one valence electron to attain
noble gas configuration.
 They are powerful reducing agents
o They can react with cold water, giving a metal hydroxide and hydrogen
 Intensity of the reaction increases as we use more reactive metals
 Sodium gives a yellow flame, potassium, a lilac flame
 Halogens
o They are Group 7 metals, being non-metals and existing as diatomic molecules
o They have low melting and boiling points, and are coloured
o As we go down the group, melting and boiling points increase, the colour of
halogens becomes darker, and reactivity decreases

Nickolas Teo
 o They are very reactive, due to the ease of gaining one electron to achieve noble
gas configuration.
 They are powerful oxidising agents
o The more reactive halogens can displace less reactive halogens from their halide
solutions
 Noble gases
o They are Group 0
o They are monatomic elements, colourless, are insoluble in water, are unreactive
and have low melting and boiling points that increases down the group
o Their valence shell is full, giving them stability, thus they do not lose, gain or
share electrons, causing them to be unreactive.
 They can provide an inert atmosphere (Argon and neon in light bulbs)

Nickolas Teo