Showing posts with label Periodic Table. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Periodic Table. Show all posts

Understanding the Modern Periodic Table: Periods, Groups, and Properties

Study Material, Lecturing Notes, Assignment, Reference, Wiki description explanation, brief detail for 10th Science : Chapter 8 : Periodic Classification of Elements.

Modern Periodic Table

MODERN PERIODIC TABLE

With reference to the modern periodic law, the elements were arranged in the increasing order of their atomic numbers to form the modern periodic table. The modern periodic table is a tabular arrangement of elements in rows and columns, highlighting the regular repetition of properties of the elements. Figure 8.1 shows the modern periodic table of 118 elements discovered so far.

As you have studied the features of the modern periodic table in standard IX, here let us confine to the study of the features of periods and groups.

1. Features of Periods

The horizontal rows are called periods. There are seven periods in the periodic table.

  • First period (Atomic number 1 and 2): This is the shortest period. It contains only two elements (Hydrogen and Helium).
  • Second period (Atomic number 3 to 10): This is a short period. It contains eight elements (Lithium to Neon).
  • Third period (Atomic number 11 to 18): This is also a short period. It contains eight elements (Sodium to Argon).
  • Fourth period (Atomic number 19 to 36): This is a long period. It contains eighteen elements (Potassium to Krypton). This includes 8 normal elements and 10 transition elements.
  • Fifth period (Atomic number 37 to 54): This is also a long period. It contains 18 elements (Rubidium to Xenon). This includes 8 normal elements and 10 transition elements.
  • Sixth period (Atomic number 55 to 86): This is the longest period. It contains 32 elements (Caesium to Radon). This includes 8 normal elements, 10 transition elements and 14 inner transition elements (Lanthanides).
  • Seventh period (Atomic number 87 to 118): Like the sixth period, this period also accommodates 32 elements. Recently 4 elements have been included by IUPAC.
Modern Periodic Table of Elements

2. Features of Groups

The vertical columns in the periodic table starting from top to bottom are called groups. There are 18 groups in the periodic table.

Based on the common characteristics of elements in each group, they can be grouped as various families.

Table showing families of element groups in the periodic table

The Lanthanides and Actinides, which form part of Group 3 are called inner transition elements.

Except 'group 0', all the elements present in each group have the same number of electrons in their valence shell and thus have the same valency. For example, all the elements of group 1 have one electron in their valence shells (1s1). So, the valency of all the alkali metals is ‘1’.

As the elements present in a group have identical valence shell electronic configurations, they possess similar chemical properties.

The physical properties of the elements in a group such as melting point, boiling point and density vary gradually.

The atoms of the 'group 0' elements have stable electronic configuration in their valence shells and hence they are unreactive.

Periodic Classification of Elements: An Introduction for Class 10 Science

Periodic Classification of Elements - Introduction

The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries witnessed a rapid development in chemistry in all spheres of scientific activities. By 1860, scientists had already discovered 60 elements and determined their atomic masses. They noticed that some elements had similar properties and hence arranged them into groups. During this period, several new elements were discovered. These elements were found to have different properties. It was realized that instead of studying the properties of all these elements individually, it would be more convenient to divide them into groups and periods in such a way that each group contained a certain number of elements (like an array of fruits and vegetables showing orderliness) with similar properties and periods showing a regular gradation. So, scientists made several attempts to arrange elements in a logical way. You have studied about all these early attempts of arrangement of elements in standard IX. In continuation of the knowledge gained in the topic periodic classification of elements in standard IX with earlier concepts and their subsequent deliberations, you get set to go ahead with the higher order of thinking to enhance your knowledge on the properties of elements.

Illustration of the Periodic Table of Elements with atomic structures

Tags & Related Concepts

  • Tags: Introduction, 10th Science : Chapter 8 : Periodic Classification of Elements
  • Content Type: Study Material, Lecturing Notes, Assignment, Reference, Wiki description explanation, brief detail
  • Full Topic: 10th Science : Chapter 8 : Periodic Classification of Elements : Periodic Classification of Elements | Introduction