2.3: the periodic table

groups in the periodic table

  • metals   * conductors (to varying degrees)   * lose electrons   * malleable and ductile (flexible)   * shiny/lustrous
  • nonmetals   * nonconductors   * gain electrons   * brittle (not malleable or ductile)   * dull in texture/appearance
  • metalloids/semi-conductors   * bridge metals and non-metals, have qualities of both

\ metal groups

  • alkali metals   * have one valence electron (electron in the highest occupied energy level)   * most reactive metal group
  • alkaline earth metals   * 2 valence electrons   * less reactive than alkali metals   * 2nd most reactive group
  • transition metals   * multiple charges on ions   * some references refer to these elements as “post-transition metals”   * don’t behave consistently

\ nonmetal groups

  • halogens   * 7 valence electrons   * most reactive nonmetal group
  • noble gases   * 8 valence electrons (highest occupied energy level is full)   * most stable group

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the periodic table

  • periodic table: a systematic organization of the elements
  • elements are arranged in order of atomic number
  • the rows of the periodic table (left to right) are called periods
  • the columns of the periodic table (top to bottom) are called groups or families
  • elements in the same group have similar properties
  • periodicity
  • periodic = cyclical
  • there is a repeating pattern of reactivities and other properties as we move across the periodic table
  • metals are on the left side of the periodic table, whereas non-metals are on the right side of the table (except for Hydrogen). metalloids are near the right side but not on the far right.

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