AP Chemistry Summer Packet

GROUP 1 – Alkali Metals

Front: What elements are in Group 1 (Alkali Metals)?
Back: Lithium (Li), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Rubidium (Rb), Cesium (Cs), Francium (Fr)

Front: What is the typical ion charge for Group 1 elements?
Back: +1 charge (they lose 1 valence electron)

Front: What are the key properties of Group 1 elements?
Back: Very reactive (especially with water), soft, shiny, low melting points, not found pure in nature

GROUP 2 – Alkaline Earth Metals

Front: What elements are in Group 2 (Alkaline Earth Metals)?
Back: Beryllium (Be), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Strontium (Sr), Barium (Ba), Radium (Ra)

Front: What is the typical ion charge for Group 2 elements?
Back: +2 charge (they lose 2 valence electrons)

Front: What are the key properties of Group 2 elements?
Back: Less reactive than Group 1, harder, denser, still react with water (especially as you go down)

GROUP 13 – Boron Group

Front: What elements are in Group 13 (Boron Group)?
Back: Boron (B), Aluminum (Al), Gallium (Ga), Indium (In), Thallium (Tl)

Front: What is the typical ion charge of Group 13 elements?
Back: +3 charge (except some heavier ones like Tl may vary)

Front: What are the general properties of Group 13 elements?
Back: Metals and metalloids, Al is abundant and very reactive in compounds

GROUP 14 – Carbon Group

Front: What elements are in Group 14 (Carbon Group)?
Back: Carbon (C), Silicon (Si), Germanium (Ge), Tin (Sn), Lead (Pb)

Front: What are the typical oxidation states for Group 14 elements?
Back: Can be +4 or -4 (depends on bonding and element)

Front: What are the properties of Group 14 elements?
Back: Includes nonmetals (C), metalloids (Si, Ge), and metals (Sn, Pb); used in life and technology

GROUP 15 – Nitrogen Group / Pnictogens

Front: What elements are in Group 15 (Pnictogens)?
Back: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb), Bismuth (Bi)

Front: What is the typical ion charge for Group 15 elements?
Back: -3 charge (N³⁻, P³⁻)

Front: What are the key properties of Group 15 elements?
Back: Mix of nonmetals and metalloids, found in proteins, DNA, fertilizers

GROUP 16 – Oxygen Group / Chalcogens

Front: What elements are in Group 16 (Chalcogens)?
Back: Oxygen (O), Sulfur (S), Selenium (Se), Tellurium (Te), Polonium (Po)

Front: What is the typical ion charge for Group 16 elements?
Back: -2 charge (O²⁻, S²⁻)

Front: What are the properties of Group 16 elements?
Back: Reactive nonmetals, important in respiration and biochemistry

GROUP 17 – Halogens

Front: What elements are in Group 17 (Halogens)?
Back: Fluorine (F), Chlorine (Cl), Bromine (Br), Iodine (I), Astatine (At), Tennessine (Ts)

Front: What is the typical ion charge of halogens?
Back: -1 charge (F⁻, Cl⁻, etc.)

Front: What are the properties of halogens?
Back: VERY reactive nonmetals, form salts with metals (like NaCl), toxic in elemental form

Front: What is a “halide”?
Back: A halide is a compound containing a halogen ion (e.g., Cl⁻ in NaCl)

GROUP 18 – Noble Gases

Front: What elements are in Group 18 (Noble Gases)?
Back: Helium (He), Neon (Ne), Argon (Ar), Krypton (Kr), Xenon (Xe), Radon (Rn), Oganesson (Og)

Front: What is the typical ion charge for noble gases?
Back: None – they are inert and do not usually form ions

Front: What are the properties of noble gases?
Back: Colorless, odorless, nonreactive, full valence shell, used in lighting and signs

💡 BONUS: VALENCE ELECTRONS & GROUP TRENDS

Front: How do group numbers relate to valence electrons for main-group elements?
Back: Group number = number of valence electrons (Group 1 → 1 valence electron, Group 17 → 7, etc.)

Front: What group has a full valence shell naturally?
Back: Group 18 (noble gases) – stable and unreactive

Front: Why do Group 1 metals form +1 ions and Group 17 halogens form -1 ions?
Back: Group 1 loses 1 electron to achieve a full shell; Group 17 gains 1 electron to complete their shell

🎯 Mnemonics to Help You Remember

Group Names Order (1 → 18):

• Alkali metals

• Alkaline earth metals

• Boron group

• Carbon group

• Nitrogen group

• Oxygen group

• Fluorine group (halogens)

• Stable noble gases

• Heavy noble elements

• Neon gang... okay the end part’s silly, but it helps anchor the halogens → noble gases chain.