1. Investigating Group Properties
For your assigned group on the Periodic Table:
1. State the “common” name of the group.
2. Describe the physical properties characteristic of
the group and any exceptions.
3. Describe some chemical properties (what it reacts
with) characteristic of the group.
4. Give the valence electron configuration and use it
to explain (identify) the common ion charge.
5. State some uses of key elements in the group.

2. IA IIA IIIA IVA
1.“Common”
name
2. Physical
properties
3. Chemical
4. Valence e-
configuration
Ion charge
5. Uses

3. VA VIA VIIA VIIIA
1.“Common”
name
2. Physical
properties
3. Chemical
4. Valence e-
configuration
Ion charge
5. Uses

4. Group IA
1.“Common” Alkali metals
name
2. Physical solids, soft, conduct…
properties
3. Chemical Reacts w/ H2O to form
properties a base and H2, react w/
HCl, oxidize
4. Valence e- s1
configuration
Ion charge 1+
5. Uses salts, bases

5. Group IIA
1.“Common” Alkaline earth metals
name
2. Physical solids, metallic luster,
properties conduct…
3. Chemical form bases in H2O
properties react w/ HCl, oxidize
4. Valence e- s2
configuration
Ion charge 2+
5. Uses salts, bases

6. Group IIIA
1.“Common” Aluminum family
name (Boron group)
2. Physical solids, metallic luster,
properties conduct
3. Chemical react w/ HCl, oxidize
properties
4. Valence e- s2p1
configuration
Ion charge 3+
5. Uses alloys, packaging

7. Group IVA
1.“Common” Carbon family
name
2. Physical solids, some metals,
properties & some non-metals
(metalloids)
3. Chemical combustible, oxidize
properties
4. Valence e- s2p2
configuration
Ion charge 4+
5. Uses semi-conductors

8. Group VA
1.“Common” Nitrogen family
name
2. Physical most are solids (N2 gas)
properties non-metals, metals
(metalloids)
3. Chemical oxidize
properties form acids
4. Valence e- s2p3
configuration
Ion charge 3-
5. Uses fertilizers

9. Group VIA
1.“Common” Oxygen family
name
2. Physical most are solids (O2 gas)
properties non-metals, nonconductors
(metalloids)
3. Chemical oxidize
properties form acids
4. Valence e- s2p4
configuration
Ion charge 2-
5. Uses for combustion

10. Group VIIA
1.“Common” Halogens
name
2. Physical non-metals,
properties (s), (l), & (g) w/in group
3. Chemical form salts
properties oxidize
4. Valence e- s2p5
configuration
Ion charge 1-
5. Uses salts, disinfectants

11. Group VIIIA
1.“Common” Inert (Noble) Gasses
name
2. Physical gasses, clear, colorless
properties
3. Chemical inert (unreactive)
4. Valence e- s2p6 (He = s2)
configuration
Ion charge 0
5. Uses lights, signs, balloons

12. Hydrogen is sometimes put in a separate group because with one valence electron it can lose or gain one electron. So sometimes it has a 1+ and sometimes a 1- ion charge. So it is not exactly a Group IA element; it is also a non-metal and diatomic like Group VIIA. It seems to act like both groups.