The Periodic Table Element Groups

Most Important The periodic table of elements is much more than a list of element symbols, atomic masses and element symbols. You will use the periodic table to check your electron configurations, orbital notations and Lewis dot notations. You will use it to predict relative properties of elements such as reactivity, electronegativity and metallic characteristics.

THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES

Metals have characteristic properties of luster, heat and electricity conductivity and malleability. Except for mercury, they are solids at room temperature. Nonmetals tend to form negative ions and do not possess the properties of the metals. Many are gases at room temperature. Only Bromine is a liquid at room temperature. Carbon, sulfur and phosphorous are solids. Metalloids are semiconductors and tend to have characteristics of both metals and nonmetals. THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES

Periodic Table Element Groups

The Alkali Metals

Examples: Li, Na, K Soft, gray, light metals. VERY reactive Will ignite and even explode in contact with water. What is left is an alkaline solution such as sodium hydroxide.

The Alkali Metals

The Alkaline- Earth Metals

Alkaline Earth Metals Examples: Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba Somewhat soft metals. Less reactive than Alkali metals, but more reactive than most metals. Usually found combined with oxygen

The Alkaline- Earth Metals

The Transition Metals

The Transition Metals Examples: Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Ti, Fe, Cr, Co, Ni “Typical metals” Most are gray, hard and dense Lustrous, malleable, ductile Conduct heat and electricity Less reactive than alkaline earth metals

The Transition Metals

Other Metals

examples: Aluminum, Tin, Lead Softer than transition metals Gray, malleable Less reactive than most metals.

Other Metals

Metalloids

ex: Boron, Silicon, Antimony, Bismuth Properties between those of metals and non-metals Semiconductors of heat and electricity Reactivity depends upon the properties of the other elements in the reaction.

Metalloids

Halogens

Fluorine (gas), Chlorine (gas), Bromine (liquid), Iodine (solid) VERY reactive Can form compounds with almost all metals Commonly used in cleaners (caustic) Their compound are called salts.

Halogens

Noble Gases

He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn Colorless, odorless gases at room temperature Are chemically “inert” (Normally will not undergo any chemical reactions, so they rarely form any compounds - not reactive)

Noble Gases

Other Non-metals

Other Non-metals H, C, N, O, P, S “Life elements” Light, non-malleable, brittle Poor conductors of heat and electricity Reactivity depends upon the element

Other Non-metals

Lanthanides

Actinides

Lanthanides and Actinides Ex: Uranium, Plutonium Rare-Earth Elements There properties are very similar and they are often found mixed together. Most are radioactive Many are not found naturally on Earth. Highly reactive (ex: Plutonium)

Periodic Table Element Groups