Chemistry Department

OCR CHEMISTRY A
H432/01 Periodic table, elements and physical chemistry
H432/03 Unified chemistry

THE PERIODIC TABLE

TOPIC BOOKLET

Name: ANSWERS
THE PERIODIC TABLE

Learning Outcomes:

3.1.1 Periodicity

The structure of the periodic table

(a) the periodic table as the arrangement of elements:

(i) by increasing atomic (proton) number

Only elements are found in the periodic table.

On the periodic table, a symbol represents one atom of each element.
The symbol will always start with a capital letter and if it contains a second letter in the symbol, this
will always be lower case.
Each element has a different symbol.

Exercise 01 - Practice Question on the Structure of the Periodic Table

1. How are the elements arranged in the periodic table?
by increasing atomic (proton) number.

Exam Question:
H032-01 2018 Paper

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Learning Outcomes:

3.1.1 Periodicity   
The structure of the periodic table

(a) the periodic table as the arrangement of elements:

(i) by increasing atomic (proton) number

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:

 Missing elementsQuiz

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GROUPS & PERIODS
Learning Outcomes:

3.1.1 Periodicity

The structure of the periodic table

(ii) in periods showing repeating trends in physical and chemical properties (periodicity)

(iii) in groups having similar chemical properties

A group is a column down the Periodic Table; Group 1 is shown above starting with H.
The group number tells you the number of outer shell electrons.
Elements are arranged in the periodic table by increasing proton number.
 so that elements in the same group have the same number of outer shell electrons
 only outer shell electrons participate in chemical bonding
 so, elements with similar chemical properties are in the same group
The atomic radius (the size of an atom) increases down a group due to the increasing number of
electron shells.
Some of the ‘groups’ on the Periodic Table have names.
Group 1 = Alkali metals
Group 2 = Alkaline Earth Metals
Group 17 = Halogens
Group 18 = Noble Gases

A period is a row across the Periodic Table; Period 4 is shown above starting with K.
The period number tells you the number of occupied electron shells in the atom.
The elements in period 1 have 1 electron shell, the elements in period 2 have 2 electron shells.
This means that there are repeating trends in the physical and chemical properties of the elements
across each period. These trends are known as periodicity.
For example, the atomic radius (the size of an atom) decreases across a period.
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Exercise 02 - Practice Questions on Groups and Periods
1. State the name of the element in period 3 which has the smallest atomic radius

Argon
2. State the proton number of the element in group 2 which has the largest atomic radius
88

3. Explain why the elements fluorine and chlorine are both placed in group 17
fluorine and chlorine have similar chemical properties
they both have the same number of electrons in their outer shell
only outer shell electrons participate in chemical bonding
4. State the symbol of an Alkaline Earth Metal in period 4
Ca

5. State the name of the Noble Gas with the largest atomic radius
Rado

n
6. State the symbol for an atom of the element in group 17, period 3
Cl

Learning Outcomes:

3.1.1 Periodicity   
The structure of the periodic table

(ii) in periods showing repeating trends in physical and chemical

properties (periodicity)

(iii) in groups having similar chemical properties

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:

 Group, period and structureQuiz

 Group and propertiesQuiz

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FORMULAE

When writing chemical equations, it is important that we use the correct chemical formulae.
Some elements are ‘monatomic’ and others are ‘diatomic’.

Monatomic
Exist as a single atom
- there are six elements that are monatomic (Group 0)
- He Ne Ar Kr Xe Rn

Diatomic
Two atoms joined together with a covalent bond
- there are eight elements that are diatomic
- H2 N2 O2 F2 Cl2 Br2 I2 At2

Note: Sulfur has the formula S8 and phosphorus has the formula and P4.

Exercise 03 - Practice Questions on Formulae:

Give the chemical formula for the following substances:
a) An atom of arsenic As
b) An atom of hydrogen H
c) A molecule hydrogen H2
d) A molecule of iodine I2
e) An atom of chlorine Cl
f) An atom of iron Fe
g) A molecule sulfur S8

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STATE SYMBOLS

When writing a chemical equation, you may be asked to include state symbols for each of the
substances in the equation.

At room temperature and pressure (RTP), 298 K (25 0C), 100 kPa most elements are solids.

Solid = (s)

This is because most elements are metals (left-hand side of the periodic table -shaded grey)

All metals (apart from mercury) exist as solids at room temperature.

Metals & Non-Metals

Note the ‘ladder’ after aluminium, separating metals from non-metals

Non-metals are found on the right-hand side of the periodic table.

There are two elements that are liquids: Liquid = Hg(l), Br2(l)

There are eleven elements that are gaseous.

Gas = H2(g) N2(g) O2(g) F2(g) Cl2(g) He(g) Ne(g) Ar(g) Kr(g) Xe(g) Rn(g)

Chlorine, bromine and iodine are soluble in water.

Aqueous, dissolved in water = (aq)
A solution of bromine = Br2(aq)

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Solids, Liquids & Gases

Exercise 04 - Practice Questions on State Symbols:

1. Give the chemical formula for the following substances at room temperature and pressure
(RTP), include state symbols in your answer.
Potassium K(s) Diamond C(s)
Hydrogen H2(g) Phosphorus P4(s)
Chlorine Cl2(g) Mercury Hg(l)
Oxygen O2(g) Sulfur S8(s)
Zinc Zn(s) Bromine Br2(l)
Iodine I2(s) Cobalt Co(s)