1 Chapter 5 : Periodic Classification of Elements

1. Use Mendeleev’s Periodic Table to predict the formulae for the oxides of the following
elements: K, C, AI, Si, Ba.
Oxygen is a member of group VI A in Mendeleev's periodic table. Its valency is 2.
Potassium (K) is a member of group IA. Its valency is 1. Therefore, the formula of it is K2O.
Carbon (C) is a member of group IV A. Its valency is 4. Therefore, the formula of it is C2O4 or CO2.
Aluminium (Al) belongs to groups III A and its valency is 3. The formula of its oxide is Al2O3.
Silicon (Si) is present in group IV A after carbon. Its valency is also 4. The formula oxide is Si 2O4
or SiO2.
Barium (Ba) belongs to group II A and the valency of the element is 2. The formula of oxide of the
element is Ba2O2 or BaO.

2. What were the criteria used by Mendeleev in creating his Periodic Table?
Mendeleev concentrated on various compounds formed by the elements with Hydrogen and
Oxygen, because they are highly reactive and form compounds with almost all other
elements.Therefore the formulae of hidrides and oxides formed by various elements was made the
basis of classification of elements. He observed the relationship between the atomic masses and
physical properties of various elements while creating his periodic table.

3. Why do you think the noble gases are placed in a separate group?

Noble gases are placed in a separate group because of their inert nature, they generally do not
combine with other elements of the periodic table except Xe and found in very low concentration in
the atmosphere.They are kept in a separate group called Zero group so that they don’t disturb the
existing order of the periodic arrangement.

4. How could the Modern Periodic Table remove various anomalies of Mendeleev’s Periodic
Table?

(a) Some elements with higher atomic masses precede the elements with lower atomic masses.like
Atomic number of cobalt is 27 and nickel is 28. Hence cobalt will come before nickel even though
its atomic mass is greater.In the Modern Periodic table elements are arranged in the increasing
order of their atomic number. This removes the anomaly regarding certain pairs of elements in
Mendeleev’s periodic table.

(b) All isotopes of the same elements have different atomic masses, but same atomic number;
therefore they are placed in the same position in the modern periodic table.

5. a) Lithium, sodium, potassium are all metals that react with water to liberate hydrogen gas. Is
there any similarity in the atoms of these elements? (b) Helium is an unreactive gas and neon
is a gas of extremely low reactivity. What, if anything, do their atoms have in common?
a. Electronic configuration of the elements Li - 2,1 Na - 2,8,1 K- 2,8,8,1
They all have one valence electron in their outermost shells and as a result of this, they are
very unstable and become cation after releasing the single valance electron in order to achieve
the nearest nobel gas electronic configuration.So, they readily react with water to liberate
hydrogen. They are also called alkali metals.
b. Electronic configuration of the elements He - 2,2 Ne - 2,8,

PREPARED BY: JOYDEEP DAS (M.TECH, PhD PURSUING) PH: 7005008567/ 9863027277
2 Chapter 5 : Periodic Classification of Elements

We know that if there are 2 or 8 electrons present in the valance shell of any element they
possess high stability because of duplet or octate filled electronic configuration. For the
obvious reason large amount of energy will be required to ionise them to facilitate for any
chemical reaction.They react only in extreme circumstances and hence are called noble gases
or inert gases.
6. By considering their position in the Periodic Table, which one of the following elements would
you expect to have maximum metallic characteristic? Ga, Ge, As, Se, Be

The metallic property of the elements of the periodic table decreases when we move across the
group.Whereas it increases when we go down the group, as we go down the ‘number of electrons’
increases and thereby their distance from the ‘nucleus increases’.This increase causes them to
screen more electrons and thereby have a greater electropositive or the metallic character.
Among the elements listed in the question. Be and Ga are expected to be most metallic which can
be expalined with reference to their poisition in periodic table Out of Be and Ga, Ga is bigger in
size and hence has greater tendency to lose electrons than Be. Therefore, Ga is more metallic than
Be.

7. (a) What property do all elements in the same column of the Periodic Table as boron have in
common? (b) What property do all elements in the same column of the Periodic Table as
fluorine have in common?
(a)All the elements which lie in me same column as that of boron belong to group 13. Therefore,
they have three electrons in their respective valence shells.The general electronic configuration of
group 13 element is ns2np1 .Except, boron which is a non-metal, all other elements (i.e., aluminum,
gallium, indium and thallium) in this group are metals.
(b) All elements in the same column of the Periodic Table as fluorine have in common seven
electrons in their valence shell and they all are belong to group 17 ex-Cl,Br. The general electronic
configuration of group 17 element is ns2np5.
8. The position of three elements A, B and C in the Periodic Table are shown below–Group 16

(a) State whether A is a metal or non-metal.

(b) State whether C is more reactive or less reactive than A.
(c) Will C be larger or smaller in size than B?
(d) Which type of ion, cation or anion, will be formed by element A.

(a) When we move along a period non metallic character increases from left to right so element A is
a non-metal
(b) Group 17 elements are known for their high value of electronegativity.Electronegativity
decreases down the group so the reactivity of these elements also decreases .In this arrangement C
lies below A ,that is why C is less reactive than Element A.

PREPARED BY: JOYDEEP DAS (M.TECH, PhD PURSUING) PH: 7005008567/ 9863027277
3 Chapter 5 : Periodic Classification of Elements

(c) Atomic radius decreases from left to right along a period as number of shells remain same but
attraction of nucleus on the valence electrons increases.Here C lies in the right of B.So C is smaller
in size than B.
(d) Group 17 elements having 7 electrons in the outermost shell and they have a tendency to acquire
one more electrom in the valence shell in order to get the octate filled configuration and converted
into negatively charged ion i.e. anion. For the same reason A will form anion.

9. How does the electronic configuration of an atom relate to its position in the Modern Periodic
Table?
To know the position of any element in periodic table first we should know the electronic
configuration of the element. Valence electrons: The electrons, which are present in the outermost
shell of an atom are called valence electrons.The electronic configuration of an atom of an element
helps in finding the position of the element in the modern periodic table as follows:

1. The number of electron shells of an element is equal to the period number of the element.

2. The number of valence electrons present in the electronic shell (upto 2 valence electrons) gives
the group number of an element while more than 2 valence electrons, the group number is equal to
the number of valence electrons plus 10.
For example: The atomic number of element (Cl) = 17 Electronic configuration of element = 2,8,7
Valence electrons are 7 and no of shells are 3. So group no is 10+7=17 and period is 3

10. In the Modern Periodic Table, calcium (atomic number 20) is surrounded by elements with
atomic numbers 12, 19, 21 and 38. Which of these have physical and chemical properties
resembling calcium?
Chemical property of any element largely depends upon the electronic configuration and number of
valance electrons.
Calcium has an atomic number of 20, and thus has an electronic configuration of 2, 8, 8, 2. Thus,
calcium has 2 valence electrons. The electronic configuration of the element having atomic number
12 is 2, 8.2. Thus, this element with 2 valence electrons resemble calcium the most.

PREPARED BY: JOYDEEP DAS (M.TECH, PhD PURSUING) PH: 7005008567/ 9863027277