Name _____________KEY________________ Period____________________ Date

Periodic Trends
ATOMIC RADIUS
1. What trend in atomic radius do you see as you go down a group/family on the periodic table?

Atomic Radius increases as you go DOWN a group/family.

2. What causes this trend?

Each period you go down increases the energy levels surrounding the atom (you can draw
Bohr Models to show this is true). For example, H and Li (in group 1A) both have 1 valence e -,
but H’s is in the first energy level, and Li’s is in the 2 nd. This trend continues down each
family/group.

3. What trend in atomic radius do you see as you go across a period/row on the periodic table?

Across (LR) a period, atomic radius decreases.

4. What causes this trend?

As you go across a period (LR) all of the elements have their valence e- in the same energy

level (you can draw a Bohr Model to show this is true). As you add more p +, you are increasing

the positive force in the nucleus that attracts the e -, and so the e- are pulled in closer to the

nucleus.

5. Circle the atom in each pair that has the largest atomic radius.
a) [Al] B b) [S] O c) [Br] Cl d) [Na] Al e) [O] F f) Mg [Ca]

6. Put the following elements in order from smallest to largest atomic radius and explain why:
C, O, Sn, Sr.
O<C<Sn<Sr O will have a smaller radius than C because it is in the same period, but has
more p+, and so holds its e- in more closely. C is smaller than Sn because it is in the same
group, but has less energy levels filled with e -, so it can hold them in closer to the nucleus. Sn
is smaller than Sr because it is in the same period, but has more p +, so can hold its e- in more
closely.
7. How does the ionic radius of a nonmetal compare with its atomic radius?
Non-metals tend to GAIN e-. When another e- is added to the valence shell, it adds more
negative charge. This causes all of the other e- to spread out more, because increasing the
negative charges causes a greater repulsive force.
IONIZATION ENERGY
8. Define ionization energy
The amount of energy needed for an atom to lose an e -
9. What trend in ionization energy do you see as you go down a group/family on the periodic table?
As you go down a group, I.E. DECREASES.
10. What causes this trend?
Think about the reason the radius gets bigger: adding more energy levels/electron shells. If my
valence e- are held further away from the attractive forces in the nucleus (the p +), then they
don’t feel as strong a pull from the nucleus, and are easier to remove.
11. What trend in ionization energy do you see as you go across a period/row on the periodic table?

As you go across (LR) a period, I.E. INCREASES.

12. What causes this trend?

Again, think about why atomic radius gets smaller across a period: more protons have a larger
attractive force acting on a certain number of energy levels. With a larger attractive force, it is
more difficult to pull the tightly held e- away from the nucleus.
ELECTRONEGATIVITY
13. Define electronegativity
The tendency for an atom to attract an e- in a chemical bond.
14. What trend in electronegativity do you see as you go down a group/family on the periodic table?
As you go down a group, electronegativity DECREASES
15. What causes this trend?
Think about atomic radius: we know the radius gets bigger as you go down a group, so the
valence shell gets further from the attractive force (p +) in the nucleus, so the valence shell feels
a weaker attractive force, and e- aren’t as easily pulled in.
16. What trend in electronegativity do you see as you go across a period/row on the periodic table?

As you go across (LR) a period, electronegativity INCREASES.

17. What causes this trend?

Think about atomic radius: more p+ create a stronger attractive force, causing the e - to be held
more closely to the nucleus. Since the valence shell is closer to that (stronger) attractive force,
it is easier to pull in e- from other atoms.
18. Circle the atom in each pair that has the greater electronegativity.
a) Ca [Ga] b) Li [O] c) [Cl] S d) [Br] As e) Ba [Sr] f) [O] S
GENERAL QUESTIONS

19. Which group (column) tends to form +1 ions? ___Group 1A (Alkali Metals)__________________

20. Which group tends to form +2 ions? ____Group 2A (Alkaline Earth Metals)_________________

21. Which group tends to form -1 ions? ____Group 7A (Halogens)___________________________

22. Which group tends not to form ions or react? ____Group 8A (Noble Gases)_________________
23. Define metallic character. Properties of metals: (1) Good conductors of heat/electricity

(2) Usually solid at room temperature, except Mercury (3) Ductile (can be pulled into thin wire)

(4) Malleable (can be hammered into thin sheets) (5) Lustrous (shiny)

24. Based on the concept of periodic trends, answer the following questions for these atoms: Li, Be,
Mg, Na. Be able to defend your answers.

a. Which element has the highest electronegativity? Be, has the smallest atomic radius, so
valence shell is closest to nucleus, where attractive force (p +) is.

b. Which element has the lowest ionization energy? Na, has largest atomic radius, s valence
shell is far from source of attractive force (the p+ in the nucleus).

c. Which element is the largest atom? Na, has the largest atomic radius because it has the
most energy levels, and few enough p+ to not be able to pull in the e- as close as the other
elements

25. Based on the concept of periodic trends, answer the following questions for these atoms: P, S,
Cl, F. Be prepared to defend your answers.

d. Which element has the highest electronegativity? F, has the smallest atomic radius
because it has 2 energy levels of e-, with the most p+. This means that the valence shell is
closest to the attractive force (the p+) in the nucleus.

e. Which element has the lowest ionization energy? P, three energy levels, and the least
amount of p+ in that period means it has the lowest attractive force, and the valence shell is
held further out from the nucleus.

f. Which element has the largest ion? P (see reasoning above).

26. Based on the concept of periodic trends, answer the following questions for these atoms: Au, Zn,
S, Si. Be able to defend your answers.

a. Which element has the highest electronegativity? S, has the least amount of energy levels
filled with electrons, and so the valence shell is closer to the attractive force (p +) in the
nucleus. This means that the e- will feel the strongest pull from this atom.

b. Which element has the lowest ionization energy? Au. Has the most energy levels filled with
e-, so the valence shell is farthest from the nucleus. This means its outer (valence) e - are
not as tightly held and require less energy to be pulled away.

c. Which element has the largest atom? Au (see reasoning above, shells are farthest from
nucleus)
27.Complete the following chart:

K Mg Ne N Cl Si
19 12 10 7 17 14
Atomic #

4 3 2 2 3 3
Period
1A 2A 8A 5A 7A 4A
Group #
Alkali Alkaline Noble n/a Halogens n/a
Family name
Metals Earth Gases
(if any)
Metals
1 2 8 5 7 4
# of valence e-

# protons ALWAYS 19 12 10 7 17 14
the same as atomic #!!!
Metal, nonmetal, Metal Metal Non-metal Non- Non- Metalloid
or metalloid? metal metal
Conducts Yes Yes No No No Semi-
electricity? conducto
(yes/no) r
Don’t
State at room
worry     
temperature?
about this
Ion Formed? Positive Positive None (full Negative Negative Varies
(positive, valence shell) (we didn’t
negative, none, cover this)
varies)

28._______G______ metal

29._______C______ chlorine a. alkaline earth metals

30._______D______ metalloid b. metals with unpredictable properties

31._______B______ transition elements c. a halogen

32._______E______ group 1 d. make good semiconductors

33._______F______ noble gases e. alkali metals

34._______A______ group 2 f. has a full outer energy level (shell)

g. loses electrons in bonding

 Instructions Below the diagram, create a key which connects arrows with the following periodic
trends: electronegativity, ionization energy, atomic radius. Specify “increasing” or “decreasing” for
each trend. More than one trend can associate with each arrow.

Electronegativity & Ionization EnergyAincreases // Atomic radius decrease

EN & I.E. increase // Atomic radius increase

B
C decrease
EN & I.E. increase // atomic radius

D
Electronegativity & Ionization Energy decrease // Atomic radius increase