Some of these properties include atomic radius, electronegativity, ionization energy and metallic characteristics.įactors affecting these properties include the number of protons in the nucleus, the distance from the nucleus and amount of shielding inner electrons provide to the valence electrons. When elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number, there is a periodic repetition of their physical and chemical properties. All have a silvery or silvery-white luster in metallic form. All the elements of Actinides series are radioactive and most are synthetic, that is, human-made. The Actinides series consist of the elements in the f-block in the seventh period of the periodic table. Rare earth elements which are useful for their metallurgical properties in alloy form are composed of the lanthanide series plus Scandium and Yttrium. They are soft metals, all naturally occur except for Promethium The Lanthanides consist of the elements in the f-block in the sixth period of the periodic table. All noble gases have 8 electrons in their outer shell, making them stable and highly non-reactive. This prevents them from forming compounds readily. These elements have an oxidation number of 0. The noble gases are found in group 18 of the periodic table. The members the halogen family go from gas->liquid->solid at room temperature as you descend the group All halogens have 7 electrons in their outer shells, giving them an oxidation number of -1.

The halogens are five non-metallic elements found in group 17 of the periodic table. They have oxidation numbers of ±4, -3, and -2. The non-metals have no metallic luster, and do not reflect light. The non-metals can be gases, such as oxygen and solids, such as carbon. As opposed to metals, non-metallic elements are very brittle. Non-metals are not able to conduct electricity or heat very well. Non-metals are the elements in groups 14-16 of the periodic table. Some of the metalloids, such as silicon and germanium, are semi-conductors. Metalloids have properties of both metals and non-metals. Metalloids are the elements found between the boundary that distinguishes metals from non-metals. They have oxidation numbers of +3, ±4, and -3. All of these elements are solid, have a relatively high density, and are opaque. These elements, unlike the transition elements, do not exhibit variable oxidation states, and their valence electrons are only present in their outer shell. While these elements are ductile and malleable, they are not the same as the transition elements. The 'other metals' elements are located in groups 13, 14, and 15. This is why they often exhibit several common oxidation states. Their valence electrons are present in more than one shell. The 38 elements in groups 3 through 12 of the periodic table are called 'transition metals.' As with all metals, the transition elements are both ductile and malleable, and conduct electricity and heat. All alkaline earth elements have an oxidation number of +2, making them very reactive. The alkaline earth elements are metallic elements found in the second group of the periodic table. The alkali metals are softer than most other metals. As with all metals, the alkali metals are malleable, ductile, and are good conductors of heat and electricity. Therefore, they are ready to lose that one electron in ionic bonding with other elements. These metals have only one electron in their outer shell.

The alkali metals, found in group 1 of the periodic table, are highly reactive metals that do not occur freely in nature.

For our purposes we will define the following ten families: The Periodic table can also be divided into several families of elements each having similar properties. Elements of each group had similar properties. The modern one states that the properties vary with atomic number, not weight.Įlements in Mendeleev's table were arranged in rows called periods. His periodic law states that the chemical and physical properties of the elements vary in a periodic way with their atomic weights. He observed that many elements had similar properties, and that they occur periodically. Mendeleev created the first periodic table based on atomic weight. They both created similar periodic tables only a few months apart in 1869. The modern periodic table, based on atomic number and electron configuration, was created primarily by a Russian chemist, Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev, and a German physicist, Julius Lothar Meyer, both working independently.

Chemistry and Periodic Table Applications

Reactivity on periodic table