Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids Some periodic tables are color coded to show what elements are metals, nonmetals, and metalloids. In general, elements located in the left two-thirds or so of the periodic table are metals. Properties include good conductors, shiny luster, malleable, ductile. The nonmetals are on the right side of the table. Properties include brittle, dull, not good conductors (insulators). The dividing line (zig zag line) between the metals and nonmetals are elements called semiconductors or metalloids. Metalloids have properties of both metals and nonmetals. They are often called semi-conductors. When looking at several periodic charts, you will see many color variations. Some without color at all. One other way the chart can be color coded to help you understand it is by its element. It will separate the elements into metals, nonmetals, and conductors. The metals and nonmetals are separated, although not in a straight line, by the semiconductors, those elements that sometimes act like metals and sometimes act like nonmetals.

Periods Go Left to Right (7) Every element in the top row (first period) has one orbital for its electrons. Every element in the second period has two energy levels available. Elements in the third period have 3 electron shells The periods are color coded to show each row. Every element in the top row (1st period) has on orbital for its electrons. Every elements in the second row (2nd period) has two orbitals for their electrons and we continue down the chart. As said before, the atoms of the elements on the left are usually larger and lighter, and the atoms on the right are usually smaller and heavier.

Families or Groups Elements in the red group have 1 electron in their outer shell. Elements in the orange group have 2 electrons in their outer shell. As you keep counting the colored columns, you add an additional electron. Purple has 8 electrons in its outer shell. (Don’t include the white group) An example of the families are shown here. All elements in the red column have l electron in its outer orbit. When you move on to the other elements in the colored columns an electron is added. The middle columns that are not colored follow a different order. Those we will discuss in another lesson.

Groups / Families Each column of elements is called a family or group. Elements in a family have similar but not identical properties. The group # indicates the number of electrons in their outer energy shell Elements in a group have the same number of valence electrons Each column on the periodic table is called a family or group. The elements in a family have similar but not identical properties. The number at the top of the column lets you know how many electrons the element has in its outer shell. If the elements are in the same column, they have the same number of elements in their outer orbital.