Csec Chemistry Chapter 4: Periodic Trends

Objectives:

2.1

Explain the basis for the arrangement of elements in the periodic table;

Mention historical development of the periodic table, for example, contributions from
Mendeleev and Dobereiner. Classification based on atomic number, atomic structure.

Arrangement in periods and groups.

2.2

Explain trends in Group II;

Ease of ionisation, reactivity with oxygen, water, and dilute hydrochloric acid.

Reactions of magnesium and calcium with water, air, and dilute hydrochloric acid.

2.3

Explain trends in Group VII;

Consideration of the following properties: physical state at room temperature, strength of

oxidising power.

2.4

Identify trends in period 3;

Metallic to semi-metallic to non-metallic properties.

2.5

Predict properties of unknown elements based on the position in periodic table.

Plan and design an investigation of the position of element X in the periodic table.
Early Developments

Dobereiner Traids:

In 1817, John Dobereiner suggested that elements could be groups together in groups of
three (traids). He:

 Linked these triads with an increase in their atomic weights

 Deduced that the middle elements of many of the traids had an atomic weight that was
the average of the first and third elements of the traid
 Suggested that some traids had a similar chemical property

Newlands “Law of Octave”

 Between 1863 and 1866, John Newlands:

 Listed elements in order of their atomic weights
 Noted that similar elements were separated by intervals of eight elements’

Mendeleev’s Periodic Table

 Dimitri Mendeleev developed his first periodic table of elements in 1869. He:
 Based his reasoning on chemical characteristics
 Listed elements in order of atomic weights
 Arranged the elements in groups and periods
 Left gaps in the table where elements had not yet been discovered so that elements with
similar properties fell in the same vertical group
 Showed that there was a gradual change in properties across a period

The Structure of The Periodic Table

Trends in Group II – The alkaline earth metals

 Elements in Group II all have similar chemical properties because their atoms all have
two valence electrons. They react by losing these valence electrons to form positively
charges atoms called cations
 When they lose electrons, it is said to be ionized
 The easier an element ionizes, the more reactive it is
 The ease of ionization increases moving down Group II, therefore the reactivity of the
elements increase moving down the group
The Reactivity and Ease of Ionization
There are three things that which influence the energy required to remove an electron:

1. Distance of outer electrons form the nucleus: the further the outer electrons are from
the nucleus, the smaller the attraction to the nucleus and the lower the energy needed
to remove the outer electrons
2. Nuclear charge: The greater the number of protons in the nucleus, the more energy is
required to remove the outer electrons
3. Inner electron shells: Reduce the amount of nuclear charge felt by the outer electrons.
This is called shielding or screening. The greater the number of inner shells of electrons,
the lower the energy to remove the outer electrons

The energy decreases down the group because the increase in the size of the atoms and the
increased screening outweigh the effect of increased nuclear charge

Trends In Group VII

Elements in Group VII exist as diatomic molecules, these being F2,Cl2,Br2 and I2.

They all have similar chemical properties because their atoms all have seven valence
electrons. They react by gaining one valence electron to form negatively charges ions called
anions. When they gain this electron, it is said to be ionized. The ease of ionization
increases moving up Group VII, therefore the reactivity of the elements increase moving up
the group
Displacement Reactions

A displacement reaction is a reaction in which one type of atom or ion has replaced another
in a compound.

e.g when an aqueous potassium bromide, the chlorine displaces bromine and iodine and
the bromine will displace iodine from their compounds:

Explanation on the displacement reactions

Displacement reactions can be explained by looking at the relative strength of oxidizing

power of the elements. This is determined by how easily one substance takes electrons from
another substance

As you go up the group:

The strength of the oxidizing power of Group VII elements increases moving up the group
because the ability to ionize and take electrons from another reactant increases moving
upwards.

Chlorine will take electrons from bromide (Br-) ions and bromine will take electrons from
iodide (I-) ions
The halogens get less reactive going down group VII. This is because of differences in the
oxidizing power of the halogens.

As you go down the group:

 The radius of the halogen atom increases

 The oxidizing ability of the halogens decreases. A halogen higher in the group is a better
oxidizing agent than one lower down
 The oxidizing ability decreases like this because it is more difficult to add an electron to
a halogen atom to form a negative ion if the halogen atom is larger

A stronger oxidizing agent will accept electrons from a weaker oxidizing agent, so:

Chlorine (stronger oxidizing agent – (better electron acceptor) will displace bromine from
bromide

Bromide (weaker oxidizing agent – worse electron acceptor) will not displace chlorine from a
chloride

Halogens vs Halides

Halogens are diatomic molecules that are elements

Halides are ionic compounds containing fluoride, chloride, bromide or iodide ions.

Trends In Period 3 Of The Periodic Table

Moving along period 3 from left to right, the metallic nature of the elements decreases and
the non-metallic nature increases. Silicon in group IV is a semi-metal or metalloid.

Each element has three occupied electron shells

 The ease of ionization and reactivity of the metal’s sodium, magnesium and aluminum
decreases moving along the period
 The ease of ionization and reactivity of the non-meals phosphorus and chlorine
increases moving along the period
 Silicon does not usually ionize; it usually reacts by sharing electrons with other non-
metal atoms
 Argon does not ionize and is chemically unreactive
 Across the period the boiling point increases then decreases which reflects the different
structures of the elements
Example of one change in chemical properties and reactivity across a period

In the reaction with water:

 Sodium reacts very rapidly and forms an alkaline solution

 Magnesium reacts very slowly and forms a slightly alkaline solution
 Aluminum only reacts slowly when heated in steam
 Silicon, phosphorus and sulfur do not react
 Chlorine reacts to form an acidic solution
Deducing the Properties of Unknown Elements