PREODIC TRENDS AND CHEMICAL

REACTIVITY

Bhavya Singh

XI B1

13
Preodic trends and chemical reactivity are a
manifestation of the electronic configuration of the
elements .
Preodic Trends:
1. Atomic radius
2. Ionic radius
3. Ionisation enthalpy
4. Electron gain enthalpy
5. Electronegativity
 1. Atomic radius
Atomic radius is the distance from the nucleus to the outermost shell.

Down the group:

As we go down the group the new shell keeps on adding so the effective
nuclear charge decreases and since the effective nuclear charge decreases
the atomic radius increases down the group.

Across the period:

As we go left to right across a period the number of shells remain same
and more electron keeps on adding as a result the effective nuclear charge
increases and hence the atomic radius decreases across the period.
 2. Ionic radius

The removal of an electron forms cation whereas the gain of an electron forms an anion .
the ionic radius can be estimated by measuring the distances between the cations and
anions in ionic crystals.

A cation is smaller than the parent atom because the removal of electron will increase
the effective nuclear charge and since the effective nuclear charge increases the radius
decreases.

An anion is larger than the parent atom because the addition of new electron decreases
the effective nuclear charge and since the effective nuclear charge decreases the radius
increases.
 3. Ionization Enthalpy
It is the energy required to remove an electron from an isolated gaseous atom in its ground state .

Down the group:

As we go down the group the effective nuclear charge decreases so the tendency to lose electron will
increase so it will require less energy for the removal of electron and hence the ionization enthalpy
decreases as we go down the group.

Across the period :

As we go left to right across a period the effective nuclear charge increases so the tendency to lose
electron will decrease so it will require more energy to remove the electron so across the period the
ionization enthalpy increases.

Exception:

1. Boron and Beryllium 2. Nitrogen and Oxygen

 4. Electron Gain Enthalpy
It is defined as the enthalpy change accompanying the process when an electron is added to a neutral
gaseous atom to convert it into a negative ion .

Down the group:

As we go down the group the effective nuclear charge decreases so the tendency to lose electron will
increase and as result the electron gain enthalpy will become less negative down the group.

Across the period :

As we go left to right across a period the effective nuclear charge increases so the tendency to lose
electron will decrease so the electron gain enthalpy across the period will become more negative.

Exception:

1. Oxygen and sulphur 2. Fluorine and chlorine

 5. Electronegativity
It is the tendency of an atom to attract shared pair of electrons towards itself. It is not a
measurable quantity . However numerical scales such as Pauling scale , Mulliken-Jaffle scale
have been provided. Fluorine (4.0) is considered to have the highest electronegativity.

Down the group:

Since down the group the atomic radius increases therefore the electronegativity decreases
down the group.

Across the period :

As we go left to right in a period the atomic radius decreases therefore the electronegativity
increases across the period.
 Chemical Reactivity
Chemical reactivity are a manifestation of the electronic configuration of the
elements .

Chemical reactivity is highest at the two extremes of a period and is lowest in the
centre. The reactivity on the left extreme of a period is because of the ease of
electron loss. Highly reactive elements do not occur in nature in free state , they
usually occur in the combined form . Oxides of the elements on the left are basic as
they are metals and oxides of the elements on the right are acidic as they are non
metals. Oxides of the element in the centre are amphoteric or neutral.