Periodic Classification of Elements

Groups and Periods

1 18
2 13 14 15 16 17
1 Groups
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Periods
3
4
5
6
7
Description of periods

Seven horizontal rows called periods numbered from 1 to 7 .

Elements present in the same period have same number of shells.

The period number represents the shell number in which the

electrons are being added.
Description of periods

As we move from left to right, atomic number increases by one

unit and number of shells remains same.

Li Be B
Description of periods

The first period contains 2 elements and is thus the shortest

period.

Second and third periods contain 8 elements each and are called
as short periods.

Fourth and fifth period are called as long periods and contain 18
elements each.

Sixth period is the longest and contains 32 elements in it.

Seventh period was incomplete but now all elements are

discovered.
Period Shell Sub Shell No. of Name of
Elements
(n) elements Period

1 K 1s 2 1H – 2He Shortest

2 L 2s, 2p 8 3Li – 10Ne Short

3 M 3s, 3p 8 11Na – 18Ar Short

4 N 4s, 3d, 4p 18 19K – 36Kr Long

5 O 5s, 4d, 5p 18 37Rb – 54Xe Long

6 P 6s, 4f, 5d, 32 55Cs – 86Rn Longest

6p

7s, 5f, 6d,

7 Q 32 87Fr – 118Uuo Longest
7p
Description of Groups

Eighteen vertical columns called groups numbered from 1 to 18.

Elements present in the same group have same number of
valence electrons and show same chemical properties.

Be Mg
Description of Groups

Elements present in the same group have same outer electronic

configuration i.e. , same number of valence electrons.

Elements present in the same group show same chemical

properties .

Elements present in the same group show same chemical

properties. Elements of a group differ in their atomic numbers by
2, 8, 8, 18, 18, 32. These number are called magic numbers.
Description of Groups

1st/IA/Alkali metals

= 1s1

= 1s2, 2s1

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s1

= 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1

General electronic configuration = ns1

Number of valence shell e– = 1
Description of Groups

2nd/IIA/Alkaline earth metals

= 1s2, 2s2

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 4s2

(n = Number of shell)
General electronic configuration = ns2
Number of valence shell e– = 2
Description of Groups

13th/IIIA/Boron Family

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p1

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p1

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 4s2, 3d10, 4p1

General electronic configuration = ns2 np1

Number of valence shell e– = 3
Description of Groups

14th/IVA/Carbon Family

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p2

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p2

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 4s2, 3d10, 4p2

(n = Number of shell)
General electronic configuration = ns2 np2
Number of valence shell e– = 4
Description of Groups

15th/VA/Nitrogen family/Pnicogen
(Used in fertilizer as urea)

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p3

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p3

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 4s2, 3d10, 4p3

General electronic configuration = ns2 np3

Number of valence shell e– = 5
Description of Groups

16th/VIA/Oxygen family/Chalcogen
(Ore forming)

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p4

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p4

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 4s2, 3d10, 4p4

(n = Number of shell)
General electronic configuration = ns2 np4
Number of valence shell e– = 6
Description of Groups

17th/VIIA/Fluorine family/ Halogens (Salt forming)

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p5

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p5

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 4s2, 3d10, 4p5

General electronic configuration = ns2 np5

Number of valence shell e– = 7
Description of Groups

18th/Zero group/Inert gases/ Noble gases (Less reactive)

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6

= 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 4s2, 3d10, 4p6

(n = Number of shell)

General electronic configuration = ns2 np6 (except He)

Number of valence shell e– = 8
 Example

Using s, p, d, f notation, what is the electron configuration for a

neutral atom of beryllium and Magnesium ?

Solution
homework
Question

Which of the following elements belong to alkali metals ?

(1) 1s2, 2s2, 2p2

(2) 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 4s2, 3d10, 4p6, 5s1
(3) 1s2, 2s2, 2p5
(4) None of these

Answer
 Question

Which neutral element has the following electron configuration ?

1s2 2s2 2p6
(1) Argon
(2) Sulphur
(3) Oxygen
(4) Neon

Answer
 Question

Which group elements are known as alkali metals ?

(1) 1
(2) 2
(3) 3
(4) 4
Answer