Alloy Nodica

CICT-125
2.5 The Periodic Table contd.
The elements can be further categorized by subcategory: in the first group, called lanthanides, is
top group is defined by having elements 3–18 in it; the transition metals in the bottom group are made
up of elements in columns 3–12; and inner transition metals are in the last two rows of the table, also
defined by having elements 3–12. The elements can be further divided into finer categories by their
compounding. For instance, group 1 elements have single atoms of the element and a hydrogen atom
together to form a compound. In addition to hydrogen, the alkali metals have the same chemical
properties, and are called that because they all belong to the same group of elements. Group 2
elements have compounds that consist of a single atom and two atoms of hydrogen: the elements in the
second column of the periodic table. In this class of elements, the metals exhibit similar traits. Some of
the individual elements include the chalcogens (group 16), the halogens (group 17), and the noble gases
(group 18). (group 18, also known as inert gases). These names can refer to each group via the first part
of each group: For instance, the chalcogens, which are also known as the oxygen group or oxygen family,
are included in the oxygen family. Hydrogen, a unique nonmetallic element with characteristics similar
to Group 1A and Group 7A elements, has properties similar to Group 1A and Group 7A elements.
Because of this, hydrogen could appear alone at the top of both groups, or appear at the top of both
groups together.

You might have discovered some things about certain atomic masses when you were looking at
the periodic table. The atomic mass of many elements with atomic numbers of 84 and higher (such as
polonium) is given in square brackets. In order to track unstable radioactive isotopes, we need a starting
point, and that's why we began here (you will learn more about radioactivity in the nuclear chemistry
chapter). Radioisotopes may vary significantly in relative abundance from one sample to the next, which
can lead to wildly divergent atomic weights that are not comparable. The atomic mass number (and
approximate atomic mass) of the most stable isotope of that element are in square brackets.