PERIODICITY

The periodic table and physical properties

Periodic Properties
• Elements show gradual changes in certain physical
properties as one moves across a period or down a group
in the periodic table.
• These properties repeat after certain intervals. In other
words they are PERIODIC.
• Periodic properties include:
• Ionization Energy
• Atomic Radii
• Ionic Radii
• Electronegativity
• Electron Affinity
TRENDS IN
IONIZATION
ENERGY
Ionization energy:
The energy required to remove each outermost electron from one mole of atoms or
ions of an element in the gaseous state is known as the ionization energy.
Largest toward upper right corner of periodic table since these atoms hold on to their
valence electron the tightest.
Activity
• Using relevant data from the data booklet, use
excel to create graphs for the following data:
• First ionization energy down group 1, and
• First ionization energy across period 3.
• Using the graphs obtained, describe and explain
the trends observed.
1st I.E. down group 1
• Down a group, the 1st first ionization energy/kJ
mol-1
I.E. decreases. 600

• The outer electron to be

500
removed is in a higher
principal energy level. 400

• It is further away from

300
the attraction of the
nucleus. 200

• Thus, less energy is

needed to remove the 100

electron from the atom. 0

lithium sodium potassium rubidium caesium
1st I.E. across period 3
• Across a period, the 1st I.E. first ionization energy/kJ
generally increases. mol-1
• There are more protons in 1600

each nucleus so the nuclear 1400

charge in each element
increases. 1200

• Therefore the force of

1000
attraction between the
nucleus and outer electron is 800
increased.
600
• There is a negligible increase
in shielding because each 400
successive electron enters
the same energy level. 200

• More energy is needed to 0

remove the outer electron.
1st I.E. across period 3
• However, there are first ionization energy/kJ
discontinuities in the mol-1
general trend: 1600

• 1st I.E. decreases from Mg 1400

to Al. 1200
• Electronic configuration of
Mg: 1000

• [Ne] 3s2 800

• Electronic configuration of Al:
• [Ne] 3s2 3px1 600

• Electron is removed from the 400

3s orbital in Mg while it is
removed from the 3p orbital 200
in Al.
0
• 3p orbital is further away
from the nucleus and
therefore, lower I.E.
1st I.E. across period 3
• 1st I.E. decreases from P to first ionization energy/kJ
S. mol-1
1600
• Electronic configuration of P:
• [Ne] 3s2 3px1 3py1 3pz1 1400

• Electronic configuration of S: 1200

• [Ne] 3s2 3px2 3py1 3pz1 1000

• Electron in S is removed 800

from a paired electron in the
px orbital which experiences 600

slightly greater inter- 400

electronic repulsion.
200
• Therefore, less energy is
0
required to remove the
electron => lower I.E.
TRENDS IN
ATOMIC AND
IONIC RADII
The atomic radii represents the size of the atom and it is determined by the
distance from the center of the nucleus to the boundary of the surrounding
cloud of electrons.
The ionic radii represents the size of the atom when it loses/gains one or
more electrons. Anions will be greater and cations smaller than the
corresponding atomic radii.
Activity
• Using relevant data from the data booklet, use
excel to create graphs for the following data:
• Atomic radii down a group,
• Atomic radii across a period,
• Ionic radii vs. atomic radii across period 3,
• Using the graphs obtained, describe and explain
the trends observed.
Trend in atomic radii down a group
• Down a group, the atomic radius/pm
atomic radii increases. 300

• The outer electrons are in

250
an increasingly higher
principal energy level and
200
therefore are increasingly
further away from the
nucleus. 150

• Although there are also

more protons, the inner 100

electrons are shielding the

outer most electrons from 50

the increased nuclear

charge. 0
lithium sodium potassium rubidium caesium
Atomic radii across a period
• Across a period, the atomic radius/pm
atomic radii decreases. 200

• The number of protons 180

increases, resulting in 160

increased nuclear charge. 140
• Although the number of
120
electrons also increases,
they are found in the same 100

principal energy level. 80

Thus, there is negligible 60

additional shielding effect.
40
• The outer electrons are
more strongly attracted by 20

the nucleus, and hence are 0

pulled closer to the

nucleus.
Atomic radii vs ionic radii
250
• Cations have smaller
radii than their parent 200

atoms.
• Electrons are lost from 150

atoms to form cations to

achieve a stable noble gas 100

electronic configuration.
• The outermost energy level 50

becomes empty, resulting

in the cation having one 0
occupied energy level less
than the atom.
atomic radius / pm ionic radius / pm
Cation Sizes

+
Li Li+
0.152 nm 0.078 nm
3 e and 3 p 2 e and 3 p

• CATIONS are SMALLER than the atoms from

which they come.
• The electron/proton attraction has gone UP
and so the radius DECREASES.
Atomic radii vs ionic radii
• Anions have larger radii
300

than their parent atoms. 250

• Electrons are gained by

atoms to form anions to 200

achieve a stable noble gas

electronic configuration. 150

• The effective nuclear

charge decreases as the 100

same number of protons is

attracting a larger number 50

of electrons.
0
• Hence, the outer electrons
are further away from the
nucleus. atomic radius / pm ionic radius / pm
Anion Sizes

+ e- -
Cl Cl-

• ANIONS are GREATER than the atoms from

which they come.
• The electron/proton attraction has gone DOWN
and so the radius INCREASES.
 This concept was first
proposed by Linus Pauling
(1901-1994). He later won the
Nobel Prize for his efforts.

ELECTRONEGATIVITY
Can you give a definition of electronegativity?
It is a measure of the ability of an atom in a molecule to
attract electrons to itself.
Can you predict its trend?
Trends in Electronegativity
Electronegativity
increases across a
period and up a group
Trends in Electronegativity
• In a group: Atoms with
fewer energy levels can
attract electrons better
(less shielding). So,
electronegativity increases
UP a group of elements.
• In a period: More protons,
while the energy levels are
the same, means atoms
can better attract
electrons. So,
electronegativity increases
RIGHT in a period of
elements.
Trends in Electronegativity

.20
TRENDS IN ELECTRON
AFFINITY
Can you give a definition of EA?
The energy released when an electron is added to an atom.
Can you predict its trend?
Trends in
Electron Affinity
The electron
affinity is highest
along the elements
of the upper right
corner of the
periodic table
(excluding the
noble gases) since
these atoms have
a great affinity for
electrons.
Summary of Trends
Two main factors governing periodic
trends are:
Effective nuclear charge
• The greater the number of protons, the higher the nuclear
charge. This will contribute to larger effective nuclear
charge.
• The greater the number of electrons in lower energy
levels, the greater the electron shielding effect. This will
contribute to smaller effective nuclear charge.

Distance of the electrons in the highest energy

level from the nucleus.
• Electrons further away from the nucleus are less strongly
attracted.