Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table Lesson 8:

The History of the Periodic Table

 Spot the Difference
These are two old versions of the periodic table. What similarities and differences
can you spot?
Newlands’ periodic table
H F Cl Co/Ni Br Pd I Pt/Ir
Li Na K Cu Rb Ag Cs Tl
G Mg Ca Zn Sr Cd Ba/V Pb
Bo Al Cr Y Ce/La U Ta Th
C Si Ti In Zn Sn W Hg
N P Mn As Di/Mo Sb Nb Bi
O S Fe Se Ro/Ru Te Au Os • Newlands
periodic table
Mendeleev’s periodic table
doesn’t have
Group I Group ll Group lll Group IV Group V Group VI Group VII Group
VIII
group
H numbers.
Li Be B C N O F
• The elements
are arranged
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl
in a different
K Ca Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni order.
Cu Zn As Se Br
• Mendeleev has
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo I Ru Rn Pd left gaps in his
Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te
periodic table.
Dmitri Mendeleev: Social Media Page
You have 2 minutes to discuss with the
person sitting next to you the sort of
things Dmitri Mendeleev would want
to post on his social media page.
0 2
Points to consider:
S F
• Who might be corresponding start finish
with Mendeleev?
John Newlands
• Which scientist was working
on organising the elements at
the same time as Mendeleev?
Newlands
• What do you think others
would say about Mendeleev’s
periodic table?
There were lots of gaps. Newlands
might ask Mendeleev to explain
why he had arranged the elements
in this way.
 The Periodic Table
Add the following information to your copy of the periodic table.

Elements in vertical columns

are known as groups.

Horizontal rows are called

periods.

The group number shows the

amount of electrons in the
outermost shell.

Reactivity Rules: in group 1,

the elements become more
reactive as you move down
the group.

Reactivity Rules: in group 7, reactivity

decreases as you move down the group.
 Identifying an Element Given the
Group and Period Number
Name the element found in:

group 4, period 3 Groups

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0
silicon 1
group 7, period 5 2
3
iodine
Periods

4
group 0, period 1 5
6
helium
7
group 2, period 4

calcium
 Exam-Style Questions
Silver: Part of Mendeleev’s periodic table is shown below.
Group I Group ll Group lll Group IV Group V Group VI Group Group
VII VIII
H

i. Give the symbols of Li Be B C N

o
O F
two elements that Na Mg Al Si P S Cl
Mendeleev placed in
K Ca Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni
group 2 which are not
found in group 2 Rb
Cu
Sr
Zn
Y Zr Nb
As
Mo
Se
I
Br
Ru Rn Pd
today.(2 marks)
Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te
Zn and Cd
ii. Name these two elements. (2 marks)
zinc and cadmium
iii. Mendeleev left gaps in his periodic table. Explain why. (1 mark)
For undiscovered elements.
iv. How are elements arranged in today’s periodic table? (1 mark)
In order of atomic number.
 Exam-Style Questions
Gold:

The periodic table, as we know it today, is very different from

o
the early published
periodic tables. Discuss how the periodic table has changed and, where possible,
name the scientists involved. Your answer should be in chronological order.
(4 marks)

Students’ answers may vary.

• 1817, Johann Dobereiner and his Law of Triads. Placed elements into groups of
3 based on appearance and similar reactions.
• 1864, John Newlands and his Law of Octaves. Arranged elements in order of
atomic mass and suggested that each element was similar to the element eight
places further on.
• 1869, Dmitri Mendeleev. Placed elements in order of atomic mass but left
spaces for undiscovered elements. Mendeleev wasn’t afraid to switch elements
around in the table.