4.

The Periodic Table of the Elements

4.1 The Historical Development of the Periodic Table
1 Complete the following sentences:
a) The periodic table is a way to classify the ________________
b) The first scientist to attempt to group substances into groups based on similar chemical properties
was _____________________________
c) _______________________________ showed that elements with similar chemical properties can
be arranged into groups of __________; and the atomic mass of the second element in the group is the
average value of the first and third member of the group. This is called the Law of Triads.
d) The Law of Octaves, proposed by _______________________, stated that every __________
element in a series arranged according to atomic mass has the same properties as the first element;
similar to musical notes in an octave.
e) _______________________________ plotted a graph of atomic volumes against atomic mass. He
showed that elements occupying the corresponding positions of the curve exhibit similar chemical
properties.
f) _____________________ arranged elements in order of increasing atomic mass. He left gaps for
elements yet to be discovered.
g) __________________ successfully calculated the ___________ number of the elements. He
arranged the elements in order of increasing ____________________.
This is the basis for classifying elements in the modern periodic table.

4.2 The Arrangement in the Periodic Table of Elements

1. Elements in the periodic table are arranged horizontally in _______________ order of their
_________________ numbers.
2. Each vertical column of elements in the table is called a ________________. There are ______
vertical columns of elements in the Periodic Table, known as ______________ to _____________
3. The elements in the same group will have the same number of ___________ ___________ and
therefore the same __________ _____________but have different __________ _____________.
4) Coming down a group in the Periodic table, how does the following change?
i) proton number _________________ ii) atomic size _______________
iii) relative atomic mass ___________ v) metallic properties ______________
iii) number of electron shells _____________________________
5. Each horizontal row of elements in the periodic table is known as a __________________
There are seven horizontal rows known as __________________ to __________________
6. Period 1 contains _________ elements, Period 2 and 3 contains ____________ and Period 4 and
Period 5 contain _________ elements.
7. Elements in Groups ________________ are metals. Elements in Groups ______ to _______ called
the transition elements are also ______________. Elements in Groups ______________ are non-
metals. Silicon and germanium in Group ________ are known as _______ _________.
8. The number of ___________ ________________ determines the position of an element in a group.
The number of ________ __________ ________ determines the position of an element in a period.
9. Elements with the same number of ___________ __________ will have the same ___________
__________________ and are placed in the same ________________. Elements with the same number
of ________ __________ ________ will be placed in the same _______________.

4.3 Elements in Group 18: The Noble gases and their behaviour
a) Noble gases consist of __________, __________, __________, __________, __________ and
___________. These elements are grouped in Group ________ in the Periodic table.
b) Air contains about __________% of noble gases according to volume, the majority being
_________________.
c) Except for _________, the atoms of noble gases have _____ electrons in the outermost shell. These
arrangements are very ___________ and it explains the ___________ properties shown by Noble gases.
d) Noble gases are known as _______________ gases because its particles consist of _________ atoms.
e) The noble gases have a _____________ or ________________ electron arrangement. These
arrangements are very ______________. Noble gas atoms do not need to ________________ electrons
with other atoms of the same kind because the __________________________ of these atoms are very
stable. Atoms of noble gases do not need to _____________, ____________ or _______________
electrons with other atoms. They exist as __________- atoms and are _________________inert.
3. Trends down the Group:
Property Changes coming Explanation for changes down the group
down the Group

Atomic Size
Melting and
boiling points
Density

Solubility in water
Electrical and heat
conductivity

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Uses of Group 18 Elements
1. State two properties that enable helium to be used to fill up the tyres of aeroplanes and weather
balloons. i) _______________________________ ii) _______________________________
2. Name the noble gases used for the following:
a) For chromatography and for welding works - _____________________.
b) For signboards and lights to illuminate the runway - ______________________.
c) For cancer treatment because of its radioactivity - ______________________.
d) For filling discharge tube - _____________________________.
e) Used in bulbs to reduce filament damage - _________________________.
f) Mixed with oxygen for diving purposes - __________________________.

4.4 Elements in Group 1 – The Alkali Metals

1. a) The first five elements in group and electron arrangements are
Element
Symbol
Electron
arrangement
Atomic size
Density
Melting Points

b) All the elements in group 1 are known as the ________________________. The alkali metals are
so called because they react with water to form ________________
c) The atoms of group 1 have ____________ valence electrons.
d) The alkali metals have typical ____________ properties and are chemically very ____________.

Physical Properties
1. The metals in group 1 are:
a) ___________metals (can be cut with a knife) b) ________________ electric conductors
c) metals that has a ______________ density with a _____________ appearance.
d) metals that has a _________ melting and __________ boiling point.
e) are _________ conductors of heat and electricity
2.a) When coming down from top to bottom in Group 1, the proton number of an element _________
and the ___________________ properties change gradually.

3
b) The density of metals ________________ from lithium to potassium. _________, __________ and
_____________ are _____________ than water but rubidium and caesium are denser than water.
c) The melting and boiling point of Group 1 elements ________________ from lithium to caesium.

Chemical Properties
4. a) The metals in Group1 have the same chemical properties because they have the same ______
____ _________ ________, that is the atoms in Group 1 have ______ electron in the outermost shell.
b) The metals in Group 1 are very ____________ chemically. These metals atoms ____________
________ electrons to form ions with a _________ charge. They are normally kept under _________.
c) The metals in Group 1 reacts actively with water to form a _________ solution and release
___________ gas.
d) The metals in Group 1 burn in oxygen to form oxides with _____________ properties. These
oxides will dissolve in _________ to form an _________ solution.
e) The metals in Group 1 combine with chlorine to form _______________ salts.
5. The difference in chemical reactivity for the metals in Group 1 is because of their different
________________. Going down the group, __________ size ___________ from lithium to
francium. Hence the single valence electron becomes ____________ from the ____________. The
_______ __ _______________ between the nucleus and ___________ ___________ becomes
_________ Thus the valence electron becomes ___________ easily ________________ and
___________ increases down the group.

Experiment: Reactions of Group 1 elements with water

(a) Manipulated: ____________________________

(b) Responding: _____________________________

(c) Fixed: __________________________________

Results:
Colour change of
Metal Observation
phenolphthalein
Lithium

Sodium

Potassium

4
Questions:
1. From your observations arrange the alkali metals in order of increasing reactivity.
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. From the change in the colour of the indicator, make an inference.
___________________________________________________________________
3. Name (i) the solution produced, and (ii) gas released when sodium reacts with water.
(i) ________________________________ (ii) __________________________
4. Write a chemical equation for the reaction between sodium and water.
_________________________________________________________________________________
5. What is the relationship between reactivity of the alkali metals and their proton numbers?
________________________________________________________________________________
6. Rubidium is in the same group as potassium in the periodic table, but placed lower in the group.
i) How will rubidium react with water? _____________________________________________
ii) Name the products formed. _________________________________________________
iii) Write a chemical equation for the reaction.
______________________________________________________________________________
iv) Explain why the reactivity of rubidium is different from that of potassium. (3marks)
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

Experiment: Reactions with Oxygen gas

The alkali metals are burnt in a gas jar of oxygen

(a) Manipulated: _________________________________

(b) Responding: _________________________________

(c) Fixed: _______________________________________

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 Alkali Observations Residue + water +
Metal phenolphthalein
Lithium

Sodium

Potassium

1. From your observations arrange the alkali metals in order of decreasing reactivity with oxygen.
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. Name the products formed and write the chemical equations for the reactions:
Reaction Product formed Chemical Equation
Lithium + oxygen

Sodium + oxygen

Potassium + oxygen

3. a) The products of combustion between the alkali metals and oxygen are dissolved in a test tube
and the solution formed in tested with phenolphthalein solution. What do you observe?
_______________________________________________________________________________
b) Explain your observation.
________________________________________________________________________________c)
Write a chemical equation to show the reaction between lithium oxide and water.
_______________________________________________________________________________
4. All alkali metals show the same chemical properties. Explain why.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Experiment: Reaction of the alkali metals with chlorine

The alkali metals are burnt in a gas jar containing chlorine

Chlorine, Cl2 gas. Chlorine is a greenish-yellow gas.

6
 Experiment Observations
Lithium + chlorine

Sodium + chlorine

Potassium + chlorine

1. Based on your observations arrange the alkali metals in order of increasing reactivity with chlorine.
_______________________________________________________________________
2. Write chemical equations to show the reaction of (i) sodium and (ii) potassium with chlorine.
(i) ____________________________________________________________________________
(ii) ____________________________________________________________________________
3. The reactions of the alkali metals with chlorine form a white solid. Name the white solid formed
between sodium and chlorine. ________________________________________________

Changes in Reactivity of Elements Going Down Group 1

When an element in group 1 takes part in a reaction, its atoms ____________ their outer electron and
form _________________ charged ions, called ____________. The more ___________ these cations
form, the more ______________ the metal.
The reactivity of group 1 elements increases as you go down the group because:
a) the atoms become ____________
b) the outer electron becomes _________________ from the nucleus
c) the force of ______________ between the ____________ and the ____________ electron
_______________. the _____________ electron is _______________ more easily

4.5 Elements in Group 17 – The Halogens

1. The elements in Group 17 are known as the ____________. These are reactive ______ ________.
Halogen Proton Electron Physical Colour Atomic Reactivity
No. Arrangement State Size
Fluorine, ___ 9
Chlorine, ___ 17
Bromine, ___ 35
Iodine, _____ 53

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2. The halogens are placed in Group 17 because its atoms have __________ electrons in the
_________________ electron shell, also called the ______________ shell.
3. Like all other groups, the elements in Group 17 shows different _______________ properties with
the increase in proton numbers but similar _______________ properties.
4. The molecules of Group 17 elements consist of ______ atoms, called ____________ molecules.
5. The melting and boiling points of elements in Group 17 is ___________ because of a _______
attractive force between molecules called the __________________________________ force.
6. Coming down Group 17, the melting and boiling points ___________ because the __________ of
the molecules ______________ causing the attractive force between them to ______________.
________ energy is needed to overcome this attractive force and as a result, the melting and boiling
points _________________.
7. In line with the change of melting point and boiling points, the physical state of elements in Group
17 changes from ____________ to ______________ to ________.
8. The elements in Group 17 have the same chemical properties because they have the ________
number of ____________ ____________. During chemical reactions, halogen atoms __________
_____ electron to form a _______________ charged ion.
9. All the elements in Group 17 have similar chemical properties because they have the same
_______________________________ but is __________ reactive as the number of protons increase.
10. The reactivity of the halogens ______________ down the group. When coming down Group 17,
the size of the atom ______________ and the attractive force of the nucleus towards the valence
electron shell ____________. It becomes _____________ for the atom to ______________ electrons
causing the atom to become ____________ reactive.
11. The elements in Group 17 dissolves in water to form an _____________ solution and reacts with
sodium hydroxide to form _________ and _____________.
12. The halogens react with metals to form metal ___________ that have a ________ melting and
boiling point. Iron burns in chlorine gas to form ___________ ____________ which is _________ in
colour.
13. A __________ reactive halogen can displace a __________ reactive halogen from solutions of
its salts. For example, chlorine is _________ reactive than iodine. A solution of chlorine can displace
iodine from _____________ __________ solution
14. In all these reactions the reactivity of the halogens increases from ______________ to
____________ to _____________.

8
Experiment: Reaction of the halogens with water and sodium hydroxide

• the halogen is dissolved in water

• solution formed is observed and tested with blue and red litmus paper
• sodium hydroxide solution is added and mixture observed.

Halogen Electron arrangement Colour Physical State

Chlorine
Bromine
Iodine

Observations:
Element Solubility in Colour of solution Effect on litmus paper Addition of NaOH
water formed
Chlorine
Bromine
Iodine
1 (a) How does the solubility of halogen in water change down the group?
______________________________________________________________________________
(b) Explain this observation. _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. Explain the change in the colour of the litmus paper when chlorine dissolves in water.
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. Complete the table:
Reaction Equation
a) Chlorine and water
b) Bromine and water
c) Iodine and hot water
d) Chlorine and sodium hydroxide
e) Bromine and sodium hydroxide
f) Iodine and sodium hydroxide

5. Fluorine is on top of chlorine in Group 17. Predict:

a) Can fluorine dissolve in water? _________________
b) Can fluorine dissolve in sodium hydroxide solution? ___________________
c) Write the equation for the reaction between fluorine and sodium hydroxide solution.
__________________________________________________________________________

9
6. Astatine, is under Iodine in Group 17 of the Periodic able. Predict:
a) Astatine’s physical state and colour at room temperature. ______________________.
b) Formula. ___________ c) Solubility in water. _______________________________
d) Reaction between astatine and sodium hydroxide solution.
___________________________________________________________________________.

Experiment: Reaction between the halogens and iron

Bromine and iron
The reaction is carried out differently for each
halogen:
The halogen produced is passed over heated
iron wool.
Excess chlorine and bromine is passed over
sodium hydroxide solution and is absorbed by
the alkali.

Chlorine and iron Iodine and iron

Observations:
Experiment Observations Colour of Product
Chlorine + iron
Bromine + iron
Iodine + Iron

1. Arrange the reactivity of the halogens with iron is descending order.

_______________________________________________________________________________
2. Write chemical equations between iron and (i) chlorine (ii) bromine, and (iii) iodine
(i) ____________________________________________________________________________
(ii) ____________________________________________________________________________
(iii) ___________________________________________________________________________

10
3. Explain the change in the reactivity of the halogens coming down the group.
Going down group 17:
• the atoms become ____________
• the outer electron shell becomes _____________ from the nucleus
• the force of attraction between the nucleus and the outer shell _______________
• an outer electron is gained ____________ easily
• the halogen becomes ____________ reactive

4. Halogen displacement reactions

Fill in the observations:
Reaction Potassium chloride Potassium bromide Potassium iodide
Chlorine water No reaction
Bromine water No reaction
Iodine water No reaction

Write equations for the following reactions:

i) chlorine and potassium bromide solution: _________________________________________
ii) bromine + potassium iodide solution: ___________________________________________
iii) iodine + potassium chloride solution: ___________________________________________

4.6 Understanding Periods - Elements in Period 3

1. What are “periods” in the periodic table? ____________________________________________
2. The Periodic Table consists of _________ periods, from Period __________ to Period _________
3. Potassium has a proton number of 19.
a) Write the electronic arrangement for potassium. ____________________.
b) Predict the period where potassium would be in the periodic table. __________.
c) Explain how you made the prediction. ________________________________________________
d) Explain the group number of potassium in the periodic table. _____________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
e) Explain how you made the prediction.
_________________________________________________________________.

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Changes in Physical Properties of Elements Across Period 3.

4. Moving across a period from left to right in a periodic table

a) Proton number or ___________________________________________________ increase.
b) The positive charges in nucleus ___________________________ one by one.
c) The number of electrons _____________ one by one but the number of ___________________
does not change.
d) The size or radius of the atom ____________. This is due to the increase in the number of
____________ in the nucleus. This increase in _____________ charge in the nucleus exerts an
increasingly stronger pull on the _________ which are in the _________ number of electron shells
across a period. This causes the electrons to be pulled ___________ to the nucleus across the period.
Therefore atomic ________ or ____________ decreases across a period.
e) The electronegative properties of the element ____________ and the ____________________
properties decrease. As atomic size decreases across a period, the strength of the _____________ to
attract ____________ towards the nucleus increases
f) The element changes from _____________ to ______________ and in the end to ___________.
Electrical conductivity changes for the elements across a period going from ___________ electrical
conductors to __________ conductors to __________ conductors.
g) The physical state of the element turns from ___________ to ______________ or ____________.
h) ______________ or semimetals are elements that have both ____________ and non-___________
properties. Most metalloids have some physical properties of metals and some physical properties of
nonmetals.
i) An oxide of an element changes from _______________ to __________________ and in the end to
_________________.

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5.
Element Fluorine Sodium Potassium Sulphur Chlorine
Symbol F Na K S Cl
Proton Number 9 11 19 16 17

a) The electronic arrangement for the carbon atom is written as C: 2.4. Show in the same way, the
arrangements for the following:
F: _______________ Na: ______________ K: _____________, Cl: ___________
b) Between those elements in the table, choose two that are in the same
(i) group: ______________________ (ii) period: __________________________
c) Arrange the elements according to the size of the atom, starting with the largest.
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. The diagram below shows part of the Periodic Table with the elements P, Q, R, S and T

a) Arrange the atomic sizes of P, Q, R, S and T in descending order.

_______________________________________________________________________________
b) How does the electronegativity of the elements change going across Period 3 from left to right?
_______________________________________________________________________________
c) Explain your answer. [3marks]
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. The table below shows elements of the third period in the periodic table. Complete the table.

Element Na Mg Al Si P S Cl
Physical State

Electron
arrangement
Metal or non-
metal?
Formula of its
oxide

13
Properties of the oxides of elements in Period 3
1. The elements in Period 3 can be classified into metals or non-metals based on the _________ or
____________ properties of their oxides.
2. The following ways are used to classify the Period 3 elements.
i) Metals form oxides with __________ properties only.
ii) Some metals can form oxides with both __________ and __________ properties. These oxides are
known as ___________ oxides.
iii) Non-metals form oxides with __________ properties only.
iv) The properties of the oxides of elements in Period 3 change from __________ to ______________
properties and then ___________ properties when going across the period

Determining the Properties of Oxides of Elements in Period 3

Experiment A: Reaction of Oxides of Period 3 with Water

Observations
Oxide Colour & Physical Solubility in Inference
pH value
state Water
Na2O 14
MgO 8
Al2O3 7
SiO2 7
P4O10 3
SO2 3
Cl2O7 1

Experiment B: Reaction of Oxides of Period 3 with acids and alkali

Results:
Oxide Solubility in NaOH Solubility in HNO3 Inference

MgO

Al2O3

SiO2

14
Questions:
1. What is the purpose of using the reagents:
a) Sodium hydroxide: ___________________________________________________________
(b) Nitric acid: _________________________________________________________________
1. State whether these oxides have acidic, amphoteric or basic properties:
a) sodium oxide: _________________ b) magnesium oxide__________________
c) aluminium oxide: _______________ d) silicone dioxide : _________________
e) phosphorus pentoxide: ___________ f) sulphur dioxide: _________________
2. Based on the above experimental results, how does the acidic or basic properties of
the oxides change across the periodic table? ___________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. Explain this change in chemical properties of the oxides as stated in (1) above
_______________________________________________________________________________
4. Write chemical equations for the following reactions:
a) Sodium oxide + water: _________________________________________________________
b) Phosphorus(V) oxide + water: ___________________________________________________
c) Sulphur (IV) oxide + water: _____________________________________________________
d) Aluminium oxide + nitric acid: __________________________________________________
e) Aluminium oxide + sodium hydroxide: ____________________________________________
f) Silicon (IV) oxide + sodium hydroxide: ____________________________________________

Uses of Semi-Metallic Elements

A metalloid is an element that has properties that are intermediate between those of __________ and
________________. Metalloids can also be called _________________.
1. Silicon, as a semimetal (metalloid), is a _________ conductor of electricity.
2. In industry, silicon is doped with boron or phosphorus so that it becomes a ________ conductor
of electricity known as semiconductor.
3. Semiconductors are used in the microelectronic industry to make __________, ____________, and
other electronic components.
4. Semiconductors are also used to make microchips which are integrated circuits containing many
electronic components on small thin pieces of silicon wafer.
5. Microchips are widely used in the manufacture of _____________, ______________, cell
phones, video cameras, ___________________, televisions and other microelectronic equipment.

15
6. Apart from silicon, _________________ is another semimetal or metalloid used in the
microelectronic industry
7. Many solar panels are made from silicon as well.

4.7 Transition Elements

Transition Metals and its Properties
1 The transition elements are ___________. Across the period, physical properties of transition
metals such as _____________ size are almost the same. They have ___________ melting and
boiling points, _________ densities, and are ____________ heat and electrical conductors.
2. The Transition elements consists of ordinary metals such as (i) _________________________
(ii)_______________ (iii) ______________ (iv) ___________________ (v) _______________

Special Properties of the Transition elements

1) Form coloured _________ or _________________.
Ion of Transition Metal Formula of Ion Colour of ion in aqueous soln
Copper(II) ion
Iron (II) ion
Iron (III) ion
Chromium (III) ion
Chromate (VI) ion
Dichromate (VI) ion

2. Have various _____________ states (or oxidation numbers)

Transition Metal Oxidation number
Iron, Fe
Copper, Cu
Chromium, Cr
Manganese, Mn +2, +3, +4, +6, +7

3) Form ______________ precipitates of metal hydroxides with ________________ and

____________________ solution.

16
Reactions of transition metal ions with alkalis:
Reaction Chemical Equation Name of Colour of
Precipitate precipitate
CuCl2 + NaOH
Zn(NO3)2 + NH4OH
FeSO4 + NaOH

4) Form _______________ Ions.

A complex ion is a bigger-sized polyatomic ion formed when a fixed number of small molecules or
ions (known as ligands) are bonded to a central transition metal ion.

Example: Reaction of Cu2+ with ammonia may form tetraamminecopper(II), [Cu(NH3)4]2+ ion.
Other examples of complex ions are:
o Hexacyanoferrate(II) ion, [Fe(CN)6]2-
o Hexacyanoferrate(III) ion, [Fe(CN)6]3-
o Hexaaquocobalt(II) ion, [Co(H20)6]2+
o Hexaamminechromium(III) ion, [Cr(NH3)6]3+

5) Act as a __________________.

Catalysed chemical reactions

1. Catalysts are used in chemical reactions to increase the rate of reaction.

2. The following are a few laboratory reactions that use catalysts.
• ________ acts as a catalyst in the hydrogenation of
unsaturated vegetable oils to form the corresponding
saturated __________ called ________________.
• _______________________ acts as a catalyst
in the reaction of zinc with dilute sulphuric
acid to liberate hydrogen gas.
• ________________________ is used as a
catalyst in the decomposition of hydrogen
peroxide to liberate oxygen gas.

17
 Name of Process To Manufacture Catalyst Conditions of Reaction
Hydrogenation 200oC, 4 atm pressure
Haber Process 500 oC ; 250m atm pressure
Contact Process 500 oC, 1 atm
Ostwald Process 850 oC

Uses of Transition Elements in Industry

Catalysed industrial processes
• Catalysts are used in industrial processes to speed up reactions.
• A few industrial processes that use transition elements or their compounds as catalysts are:
1. Haber process:
__________ is used as a catalyst in the Haber process to manufacture __________ from the reaction
of _____________ gas with _______________ gas at 450°C to 550°C and a pressure of 200 to 300
atmosphere.

2. Contact process:
________________ is used as a catalyst in the Contact process to manufacture _________________
Vanadium(V) oxide catalyses the reaction between sulphur dioxide and oxygen (air) to produce
sulphur trioxide at about 500°C and a pressure of one atmosphere.

3. Ostwald process:
____________ is used as a catalyst in the Ostwald process to manufacture __________acid.
Platinum catalyses the reaction between ammonia and oxygen (air) to produce nitrogen monoxide and
water at about 850°C and a pressure of 2 to 5 atmospheres.

4. Hydrogenation of vegetable oil:

____________ is used as a catalyst in the hydrogenation of vegetable oil to manufacture
_______________. Nickel catalyses the reaction between vegetable oil and hydrogen gas at 200°C.

5. Other uses of transition metals include:

18
a) Iron is often made into steel, widely used in construction materials, tools, and vehicles.
b) Titanium often used in fighter aircrafts, artificial hips and pipes in nuclear power stations.
Titanium alloys are also used for artificial body-part replacements, such as hip and bone implants.
Titanium dioxide is an important ingredient in white paint.
c) Copper because it is such a good conductor of electricity, copper is often used in electricity cables.
d) Nickel nickel is mainly used in Stainless Steel.
e) Platinum: Automobile catalytic converters, which control hydrocarbon, nitrogen oxide and carbon
monoxide emissions, make use of platinum to convert these pollutant gases into water and carbon
dioxide.
f) Gold and silver are used to make jewellery as it does not react with air or water at room
temperature

19
SPM Practice

20