Department of Chemistry

Electron configuration and the

periodic table

25/ 10/2022
Standard: NGSS
HS-PS1-3/PS1.A Plan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare
the structure of substances at the bulk scale to infer the strength of electrical forces
between particles
 Electron configuration

1. Describe the general properties of the alkali metals, the halogens and the noble
gases.
2. describe the relationship between electrons in sublevels and the length of each period
in the periodic table

3. locate and name the four blocks of the periodic table. explain the reasons for these
names

Key terms:
Noble –gas notation, period , noble gas, halogens, alkali
metals
 Warm up + Starter

(1) (2)

How many periods are in How many Groups are in

the periodic table? the periodic table?
7 18
(3)

What is the name of Name the first element in

group 18 the periodic table?
Nobel gas Hydrogen
 Describe the general properties of the alkali metals, the halogens and
the noble gases.
• Groups labeled with an “A” are the Main Group Elements

• The properties of it is largely predictable based on their position in the periodic table

• The properties of transition elements are less predictable

1A 8A
2A
Transition 3A 4A 5A 6A 7A 8A
Metals 3A 4A 5A 6A 7A

Inner
Transition
Metals
Describe the general properties of the alkali metals, the halogens and
the noble gases.
Chemist gave four representative groups special names:

Group 1A are the alkali metals

(highly reactive)

Group 2A are the alkali earth metals

(highly reactive)
Group 7A are the Halogens

Group 8A are the Nobel gases

Keep it in your
mind, please
Describe the general properties of the alkali metals, the halogens and
the noble gases.
Properties of Alkali metals: Sea
rch
a
oth bout
pro e
per r
ple ties,
a se
!

Soft solid (we can cut it by a Highly reactive (don’t appear in

knife) free state)

Good conductors of heat and Low melting and boiling points

electricity
Describe the general properties of the alkali metals, the halogens and
the noble gases.
Properties of halogens:
• They are the most reactive non-metals

• The reactivity decreases down in the group

• All elements are diatomic molecules

• They all form negative ions carrying a single charge

Uses of halogens:
Halogen Uses
Fluorine In tooth pastes, Teflon (plastic)
Chlorine Purify water in wells
Bromine Camera films, disinfectant
Iodine In ratification rain, Iodized salt,
soaps
 Describe the general properties of the alkali metals, the halogens and
the noble gases.
Properties of Nobel gases:

• All Nobel gases are monoatomic

• They are chemically inert (unreactive)

• They have 8 electrons in the outer

shell
• All elements are colorless, and tasteless

• They have low melting and boiling points

Uses of Nobel gases:

Gas Uses
Helium Fill balloons
Argon In light bulbs, protect other metals
Neon Advertising signs
Krypton Lasers (eye surgery), Car headlights
Xenon Car headlights, Operation room
 describe the relationship between electrons in sublevels and the
length of each period in the periodic table

Link to prior knowledge

What are valence electrons

How many subshells are there and name them

S P F D
Subshell Subshell Subshell Subshell
describe the relationship between electrons in sublevels and the
length of each period in the periodic table
Because there are four different energy
sublevels (s, p, d, and f), the periodic table
is divided into four distinct blocks

https://ptable.com/#Properties
 describe the relationship between electrons in sublevels and the
length of each period in the periodic table
Think : going left to right in the periodic table

Why does the

length of (S)
subshell = 2
groups

Why does the

length of (d)
subshell = 10
groups

Why does
the length of
Why does
(P) subshell =
the length of
6 groups
(F) subshell =
14 groups
 describe the relationship between electrons in sublevels and the
length of each period in the periodic table
How many electrons can every The length of each subshell = the
subshell hold at its maximum? maximum number of electrons that
can be held by the sublevel

the length of (S) subshell

S Subshell 2 electrons
= 2 groups

the length of (P)

P Subshell 6 electrons
subshell = 6 groups

10
So the length of (d)
d Subshell
electrons subshell = 10 groups

14 the length of (f) subshell

f Subshell
electrons = 14 groups
 describe the relationship between electrons in sublevels and the
length of each period in the periodic table
Think : going left to right in the periodic table

Why does the

first period
consist of 2
elements?

Why does the

second and
third period
consist of 8
elements?

Why does
the fourth
period
consist of 18
elements?
 describe the relationship between electrons in sublevels and the
length of each period in the periodic table
How many electrons can every The length of each period = the total
subshell in every period hold at number of electrons that can occupy
its maximum? the sublevels in that period.

S subshell can hold 2

It has only
Period 1 electrons SO, period 1
s subshell
has 2 elements
S subshell can hold 2
It has s electrons, P subshell can
Period 2,3 and P hold 6 electrons SO,
subshells periods 2 and 3 has 8
elements

S subshell can hold 2 electrons,

It has S, P P subshell can hold 6
Period 4,5 and d electrons, d subshell can hold
subshells 10 electrons SO, periods 4 and
5 has 18 elements
Could you find what is the length of
period 6 ???
 locate and name the four blocks of the periodic table. explain the
reasons for these names
Draw the electron configuration for the following

[ N]
7
[ Na]
11
[ Fe]
26

1s2 2s2 2p3 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 1S22S2 2P63S2 3P64S2 3d6

[He] 2s2 2p3 [Ne] 3s1 [Ar] 4S2 3d6

What is the type of last energy level occupied by electrons in each one of them?

[7N] P [11Na] S [26Fe] d

subshell
subshell subshell
1s2 2s2 2p3 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 1S22S2 2P63S2 3P64S2 3d6

[He] 2s2 2p3 [Ne] 3s1 [Ar] 4S2 3d6

In which block will the element be in the periodic table?

P block S block d block

 locate and name the four blocks of the periodic table. explain the
reasons for these names
Summary : the element will be located at the last
occupied energy level in the periodic table
[ N]
7
P
11
[ Na] S
26
[ Fe]
d
subshell
subshell subshell
1s2 2s2 2p3 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 1S22S2 2P63S2 3P64S2 3d6

[He] 2s2 2p3 [Ne] 3s1 [Ar] 4S2 3d6

P block S block d block

[Ar] 4s2 3d2

[He] 2s22p2
d-block
p-block
[Ne] 3s² 3p⁴
p-block
[Ne] 3s2 3p1
[Ar] 4s² s-block
p-block
 locate and name the four blocks of the periodic table. explain the
reasons for these names
Valence electrons: are the electrons in the highest principal energy
level of an atom 16
S [Ne] 3s2 3p4

The highest energy level of an

element (n), indicates the period
number on the periodic table

11
Na [Ne] 3s1 Period 3

23
V [Ar] 4s2 3d3 Period 4 Locate the element
which is in
period 5, group 17
6
C [He] 2s2 2p2 Period 2

12
Mg 41
Nb 53
I
 locate and name the four blocks of the periodic table. explain the
reasons for these names
Valence electrons: are the electrons in the highest principal energy
level of an atom 16
S [Ne] 3s2 3p4

To indicate the number of the group

of any element follow the following:

For s block elements : number of group =total 1 valence electron ,

number of valence electrons of that element
11
Na [Ne] 3s1 so it is in group 1

Solve for 12
Mg
For d block elements : number of group =total 23
V [Ar] 4s2 3d3 2+3=5 , so it is in
number of valence electrons of that element group 5

Solve for 41
Nb
 locate and name the four blocks of the periodic table. explain the
reasons for these names
Valence electrons: are the electrons in the highest principal energy
level of an atom 16
S [Ne] 3s2 3p4

To indicate the number of the group

of any element follow the following:

• For periods 2 and 3

For p block elements : number of group =total
4 valence electron + 10
number of valence electrons of that element + 10 6
C [He] 2s2 2p2
, so it is in group 14

Solve for 16
S
• For periods 4 and 5
For p block elements : number of group =total 53
I [Kr] 5s2 4d10 5p5 2+10+5=17 , so
number of valence electrons of that element it is in group 17

Solve for 33
As
 locate and name the four blocks of the periodic table. explain the
reasons for these names
-Without looking at the periodic table, identify the period, Check Up
block, and group of an element that has the electron configuration
[Ar] 4s2 3d10 4p3.
The last energy level occupied by
electrons is p subshell, so it is in the p So, the
block
element
The highest energy level occupied by must be (As)
electrons is n=4, so it is in the period
4 arsenic

Since it is in period 4 and in the p

block ,number of group =total number
of valence electrons of that element

[Ar] 4s2 3d10 4p3 2+10+3=15 , so

it is in group 15
 locate and name the four blocks of the periodic table. explain the
reasons for these names
-An element has the electron configuration [Ar] 4s2 3d6. Without Check Up
looking at the periodic table, identify the period, block, and group in
which this element is located.
The last energy level occupied by
electrons is d subshell, so it is in the d So, the
block
element
The highest energy level occupied by must be (Fe)
electrons is n=4, so it is in the period
4 Iron

Since it is in period 4 and in the d

block ,number of group =total number
of valence electrons of that element

[Ar] 4s2 3d6 2+6=8 , so it is

in group 8