Periodic Table
Atomic Number
Atomic Number refers to the amount of protons an atom has.
Elements are organized by their atomic number
No two elements have the same amount of protons
Atomic Mass
Atomic Mass refers to the weight of an atom it is calculated by adding the number of protons and neutrons together
Group = Column
Elements in a group share similar characteristics and trends in physical & chemical properties
Group 1: Alkali Metals
The metals themselves are not alkaline
Can form oxides and hydroxides that are alkaline
Very reactive
Sodium (Na) is used in street lamps and it could be also used by our body alongside potassium to transfer electrical signals called nerve impulses
Density increases as you go down the group and their melting and boiling points also decrease, when they mix with water, they form a reaction.
Reactivity increases as you go down the table
When alkali metals are burnt in air, they produce metal oxides. On the other hand when they react with halogens, they produce halides.
Group 2: Alkaline Earth Metals
They can form oxides and hydroxides that dissolve slightly in water to make an alkaline solution.
Their density. melting and boiling points are higher than group 1 metals.
Their density increases as we go down the group while their melting and boiling points decreases.
Reactivity increases as you go down the group
Beryllium is used to make a mineral called beryl and beryllium also combines with other metals to make alloys.
Magnesium is used to make fireworks and alloys.
Group 7: Halogens
The melting and boiling point of halogens increases as you go down the group.
The reactivity of halogens decreases as you go down the group.
Fluorine is a pale yellow poisonous gas. it can be reacted with hydrogen to create hydrogen fluoride, it is used to etch glass surfaces.
Chlorine is used to kill bacteria in water supply systems
Group 8: Noble Gases
They are gases at room temperature, and very unreactive (inert)
Helium is lighter than air and it is used in meteorological balloons and oxygen tanks.
Neon is used in neon lights for advertising displays
Argon is used in wire filament bulbs, it replaces oxygen in light bulbs because it does not react with tungsten
Krypton is used in high intensity lights.
Xenon is used in flashlights for cameras or headlights for cars
Hydrogen
Its properties are not that compatible with other elements.
It is the lightest atom
A colorless gas without smell and it is highly flammable (easy to explode)
Future uses of hydrogen includes electrical vehicles and cars with a combustion engine.
Burning of hydrogen can produce electricity for hydrogen cars.