1. 5.3 Chemical Families

2. Elements within the same family of the periodic table have similar properties because they have the same number of valence electrons.

3. The Most Active Metals Alkali Metals Family 1
Hydrogen isn’t considered an alkali metal
1 valence electron
Soft, silver-white, shiny metals
Good conductors of heat and electricity
Extremely reactive (react violently with water)
Never found uncombined in nature

4. Alkaline Earth Metals:
Family 2 of Periodic Table
Never found in nature uncombined
2 valence electrons
Lose the 2 electrons
Not quite as reactive
High melting & boiling points
Silver in color

5. Transition Metals Transition metals Families 3 through 12
Properties similar to one another and other metals
Copper, tin, zinc, iron, nickel, gold, and silver
Good conductors of heat & electricity
1 or 2 valence electrons
Lose 1 or both electrons when combining with other atoms

6. From Metals to Nonmetals
Boron Family
3 valence electons
Boron is a metalloid
Other elements, including aluminum, are metals
Boron is hard and brittle
Aluminum is 3rd most abundant metal in Earth’s crust

7. Carbon Family Family 14 Atoms have 4 valence electrons
Carbon is nonmetal
Silicon and germanium are metalloids
Tin and lead are metals
Silicon is 2nd most abundant element in Earth’s crust

8. Nitrogen Family Family 15 Atoms have 5 valence electrons
Share electrons when they bond with other atoms.
Nitrogen is most abundant (78%) element in Earth’s atmosphere
Antimony, white & red phosphorus, bismuth, and arsenic all have five electrons in the outermost energy level of their atoms. Nonetheless, they are strikingly different from each other in both physical properties and chemical behavior. Nitrogen is a nonmetallic gas; phosphorus is a solid nonmetal; arsenic and antimony are metalloids; and bismuth is a typical metal.

9. Oxygen Family Family 16 Atoms have 6 valence electrons
Elements share electrons when forming compounds
Oxygen is most abundant element in Earth’s crust
Oxygen forms ozone (O3)

10. The Halogens Halogen Family Family 17 Atoms have 7 valence electrons
Most active nonmetals
1 electron will fill outer energy level
Very reactive
Never found free in nature
React with alkali metals very easily
Fluorine is most active halogen

11. The Noble Gases Noble Gases Family 18 All elements are unreactive
Also called inert gases
Except for helium, all elements have 8 valence electrons
All noble gases are found in Earth’s atmosphere
Radon is used to treat certain cancers.

12. Rare-Earth Elements Lanthanide Series Soft, malleable metals
High luster & conductivity
Actinide Series
All actinides are radioactive