Elements in a Period

Periodic Table consists of 7 periods

( Period 1 to Period 7 ).
Period number is the number of shells
occupied with e−.
When across a period from left to right,
- proton number & number of valence e−
increase by 1 from one element to the
next.
- both physical & chemical properties
change in a certain pattern.
 Change in properties across Period 3
Element Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
Proton number 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
e− arrangement 2.8.1 2.8.2 2.8.3 2.8.4 2.8.5 2.8.6 2.8.7 2.8.8
Atomic radius / 186 160 143 118 110 104 100 94
pm
Electronegativity 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1 2.5 3.0 -
Metallic property Metals semi Non-metals
MP / ºC 98 649 660 1411 44 113 −101 −189
BP / ºC 886 1090 2467 2355 280 444 −35 −186
Physical state solid gas
Electrical good weak Cannot conduct
conductivity electricity
Across Period 3,
atomic size ↓
All atoms of elements in Period 3 have 3
shells occupied with e−. Across the period
from left to right, the number of protons
& electrons ↑. This causes the attraction
by nucleus on e− becomes stronger & pull
the e− closer to nucleus. Therefore, the
atomic size ↓ across Period 3.
Across Period 3,
Electronegativity ↑
The increase in positive charge
( protons ) of the nucleus & decrease
in the atomic size cause the strength
of nucleus to attract e− to ↑. Therefore,
electronegativity ↑.
Across Period 3,
Physical state change from solid to
gas
Sodium → sulphur are solids due to high
melting & boiling points.
Chlorine & Argon are gases because their
melting & boiling points are low.
Across Period 3,
Metallic properties
*Elements on the left ( Na → Al ) are
metals.
They conduct electricity.
*Elements on the right ( P → Ar) are non-
metals. They cannot conduct electricity.
*Si – semi-metal / metalloids – shows both
metallic & non-metallic properties.
Si is a weak conductor of electricity.
Electrical conductivity ↑ with the presence
of boron / phosphorus.
Properties of oxides of elements in
Period 3
Metals form oxides with basic
properties.
Non-metals form oxides with acidic
properties.
Al2O3 exhibit both basic & acidic
properties – known as amphoteric
oxides.
 Observation
Oxide With NaOH solution With HNO3 solution

Al2O3 White powder White powder

dissolves to form dissolves to form
colourless solution colourless solution
MgO No change. White powder
dissolves to form
colourless solution
SiO2 White powder No change.
dissolves to form
colourless solution
 Oxides of Na2O Al2O3 SiO2 , P4O10 ,
element in MgO SO2 , Cl2O7
Period 3
Properties Basic Amphoteric Acidic
of oxide

Al2O3 (s) + 6HNO3 (aq) → 2Al(NO3)3 (aq) + 3H2O (l)

Al2O3 (s) + 2NaOH (aq) → 2NaAlO2 (aq) + 3H2O (l)

sodium aluminate
 Uses of semi-metals
Silicon – weak conductor of electricity but
the conductivity ↑ with the ↑ in temperature.
Si when doped with phosphorus / boron, it
becomes a good conductor of electricity,
known as semiconductor.
Semiconductor only allows electric current
to flow in one direction & is used to make
diodes, transistors etc.
Germanium used in microelectronic
industry.
 Transition elements
Group 3 to Group 12.
All transition elements are metals.
Solids with shiny surfaces.
High melting & boiling points.
High densities.
Good conductor of heat & electricity.
High tensile strength ( stay in their shape without
breaking when force is applied to it ).
Ductile (able to be stretched ) & malleable (able
to be bent ).
Form coloured ions / Form complex
compounds (gemstones) ion

Special
Properties of
Transition
Elements

Exhibit different
oxidation numbers in Act as a catalyst
compounds
 (a) Form coloured ions / compounds
Ions Formula ion colour
Copper (II) Cu2+ blue
Iron (II) Fe2+ Pale green
Iron (III) Fe3+ brown
Cobalt (II) Co2+ pink
Nickel (II) Ni2+ green
Chromium (III) Cr3+ green
Manganese (II) Mn2+ Light pink
Manganate (VII) MnO4- purple
Chromate (VI) CrO42- yellow
Dichromate (VI) Cr2O72- orange
(b) Exhibit different oxidation numbers
Oxidation number – charge on the
element.

Transition element Oxidation number

Iron +2 , +3
Nickel +2 , +3
Copper +1 , +2
Manganese +2 , +3 , +4, +6 , +7
Chromium +2 , +3 , +6
(c) Form complex ions
Complex ion – bigger-sized polyatomic ion
formed when molecules / ions bonded to a
central transition metal ion.

Examples :
Hexacyanoferrate (II) ion, [ Fe(CN)6 ]4-
Hexacyanoferrate (III) ion, [ Fe(CN)6 ]3-
 (d) Act as a catalyst
Catalyst – substance that alters the rate of
reaction but is not consumed in the
reaction.
Reactions Catalyst
hydrogenation Ni
Zn + H2SO4 CuSO4
Decomposition of H2O2 MnO2
Haber process Fe
Contact process V2O5
Ostwald process Pt
Words themselves have no
tangible weight, but a careless
remark can weight people’s
hearts down.
~ Still Thoughts