Elements with some properties like metals and other properties like non-metals are

called metalloids.
The Periodic Table is the regular repetition of elements with similar properties.
The vertical columns of similar elements are called groups.
The horizontal rows are called periods.
There are 18 vertical columns and 7 horizontal rows in the periodic table.
Transition elements are placed between Group 2 and Group 3. (chromium, iron nickel ,
copper and zinc)
All noble gases are colourless gases at room temperature with very low melting points
and boiling points.
Their melting points, boiling points and densities show a steady increase as their
relative atomic mass increases.
All noble gases exist as separate single atoms (monatomic molecules).
Inert gases  noble gases
unreactive gold, silver  noble metals
Noble gases are obtained industrially by the fractional distillation of liquid air.
Helium is used in meteorological balloons and airships because of its very low density
and because it is non-flammable.
Neon and argon are used in discharge tubes to create fluorescent advertising signs.
(neon – red; argon – blue)
Krypton and xenon are used in lasers.
Argon and krypton are also used in electric light bulbs.
Alkali metals react with water to form alkaline solutions.
Alkali metals become softer from lithium to potassium.
Alkali metals have low melting points and boiling points compared with other metals.
When alkali metals react with air, they burn vigorously forming white oxides.
4Na + O2  2Na2O
Lithium reacts steadily, sodium vigorously, potassium violently with cold water.
The products are hydrogen and an alkaline solution of metal hydroxide.
2Na + 2H2O  2NaOH + H2
Their densities are so low that they float on water.
The alkali metals become more reactive as their relative atomic mass increases.
The melting points and boiling points of alkali metals decreases from top to bottom
down the group.
Halogens are a group of reactive non-metals.
Astatine (At), which does not occur naturally, is an unstable radioactive element.
Halogens combine with metals in salts. (Salt formers)
Halogens are soft when solid, poor conductor of heat and electricity with low melting
points and boiling points.
Chlorine is a pale green gas. (Mr = 35.5)
Bromine is a red brown liquid. (Mr = 80)
Iodine is dark grey solid. (Mr = 127)
The halogens become less reactive as their relative atomic mass increases.
As the relative atomic mass of halogen increases:
 the colour of vapour becomes darker
 the melting points and boiling points increase
All halogens exist as diatomic molecules.
Strong covalent bonds hold the two atoms together as a molecule, but the forces of
attraction between the separate molecules are weak.
Moving down the group, the halogen molecules get larger and heavier. Thus, more
energy is needed to melt and to boil.

Chlorine
 pale green gas
 choking smell
 poisonous (toxic)
 denser than air
 dissolve in and reacts with water
 bleaches dyes and indicator
 reacts vigorously with most metals
Chlorine is also used in swimming pools to kill bacteria in the pool.
Fluorine is used to make Teflon.
Fluorides are added to toothpaste to harden the tooth enamel.
Bromine is used in medicines, as is iodine.
Before the discovery of antibiotics, iodine was widely used as an antiseptic.
The salts produced by the reaction between halogens and metals are sometimes called
halides.
Burning, respiration and rusting are three important examples of redox reactions.
A reaction in which a substance combines with oxygen is called oxidation.
A reaction in which a substance loses oxygen is called reduction.
Oxidation and reduction always happen together.
iron(III) oxide + carbon monoxide  iron + carbon dioxide
Fe2O3(s) + 3CO(g)  2Fe(l) + 3CO2(g)
zinc oxide + carbon (coke)  zinc + carbon monoxide
ZnO(s) + C(s)  Zn(s) + CO(g)
iron oxide(thermit) + aluminium  iron + aluminium oxide
heat
Fe2O3(s) + 2Al(s)  2Fe(l) + Al2O3(s)

Gas in the air

% of air by Boiling Point/
Gas Important uses
volume °C
making ammonia for nitric
nitrogen 78.1 -196
acid and fertilisers
oxygen 20.9 -182 steel making and welding
argon 0.9 -186 filling electric light bulbs

Carbon dioxide, neon, krypton and xenon make up about 0.1% of clean, dry air.
Ordinary air also contains some water vapour and waste gases from industry.

Oxygen is prepared by decomposing compounds that contain high proportions of

oxygen. (hydrogen peroxide)
hydrogen peroxide  water + oxygen
2H2O2(l)  2H2O(l) + O2(g)
Manganese(IV) oxide is used as a catalyst.

tap funnel

The aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide should be added slowly to the solid
manganese(IV) oxide. As soon as the hydrogen peroxide touches the manganese(IV)
oxide, there is a vigorous reaction and oxygen is produced. The first gas jar to be filled
with gas should be discarded as it will contain mainly air from the flask and delivery
tube. The oxygen can be collected over water even though it is slightly soluble.

Oxygen is
 a colourless gas at room temperature
 odourless
 about the same density as air
 slightly soluble in water
 able to help substances burn(e.g. relight a glowing splint)
The simple test for oxygen is that it will cause a glowing splint to relight.
Iron slowly develops a layer of rust on exposure to the air.
Shiny aluminium surfaces become dull with a layer of white aluminium oxide.
 Shake product with
Element Reaction with oxygen in air Product water, then add
universal indicator
bright yellow flame- white white solid dissolves
sodium
smoke and powder (sodium oxide) pH= 11 alkaline

dazzling white flame – white white solid dissolves slightly

magnesium
clouds and powder (magnesium oxide) pH= 8 alkaline

glows red hot and burns black-brown solid

iron insoluble
with sparks (iron oxide)

does not burn, but the black solid

copper insoluble
surface turns black (copper oxide)

colourless gas dissolves

carbon glows red hot, reacts slowly
(carbon dioxide) pH= 5 acidic

burns readily with a blue colourless gas dissolves

sulfur
flame (sulfur dioxide) pH= 3 acidic

The metal oxides are all solids.

The non-metal oxides are gases.
The oxides of metals are called basic oxides.
Basic oxides react with acids to form salts.
Most metal oxides are insoluble in water but a few react with it to form alkaline
solutions. These oxides are called alkaline oxides.
sodium oxide + water  sodium hydroxide
magnesium oxide + water  magnesium hydroxide
The non-metal oxides are called acidic oxides.
They react with water to form acidic solutions with a pH less than 7.
Acidic oxides react with alkalis to form salts.
carbon dioxide + water  carbonic acid
sulfur dioxide + water  sulfurous acid

Carbon dioxide
 colourless
  odourless
 denser than air
 slightly soluble in water
 does not burn
 substances will not burn in it
 acidic oxide
 simple molecular compound

Carbon dioxide is used in

 fire extinguisher
 soda water and fizzy drinks
 refrigeration
Carbon dioxide can be obtained from metal carbonate rocks such as calcium carbonate
(CaCO3) or copper carbonate (CuCO3).
acid + carbonate  salt + water + carbon dioxide
2HCl(aq) + CaCO3(s)  CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
Heating a metal carbonate strongly breaks the compound down to carbon dioxide and
the metal oxide.
heat
copper carbonate  copper oxide + carbon dioxide
heat
CuCO3(s)  CuO(s) + CO2(g)
CuCO3 = green solid
CuO = black solid
The reaction in which heating causes a compound to break down into two or more
compound is known as thermal decomposition.
1% of carbon dioxide that dissolves in water reacts to form carbonic acid(H 2CO3).
H2O + CO2  H2CO3
The solution of carbonic acid is very weak acid. It turns blue litmus paper only a
purplish-red.
Ca(OH)2 = limewater (a dilute alkali)
When carbon dioxide is bubbled into limewater, the liquid goes milky because a white
precipitate of calcium carbonate forms.
Ca(OH)2 + CO2  CaCO3 + H2O