How to Read a Periodic Table Groups and Periods

Core Concepts:

In this tutorial, you will learn how to read the periodic table. We will take a close await at the groups of the periodic tabular array. In addition, you will larn about the different properties of the periodic table groups, periods, and families. If yous enjoy this article, exist sure to check out our others!

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Vocabulary

Elements: A pure substance equanimous of a single atom.
Groups: The vertical column of the periodic table that signifies the number of valence electrons in an chemical element.
Periods: The horizontal rows in the periodic table that signify the number of electron shells in an chemical element.
Families: Elements that take the same number of valence electrons and therefore similar properties.

The Periodic Table and the Periodic Trends

periodic table atomic radius, groups on the periodic table

The periodic table is organized into groups (vertical columns), periods (horizontal rows), and families (groups of elements that are like). Elements in the same group have the same number of valence electrons. Meanwhile, elements in the same menstruum have the same number of occupied electron shells. In 1869 Russian pharmacist Dmitri Mendeleev noticed in that location existed an innate pattern of arrangement for the chemical elements. From this deduction, he formed the periodic tabular array. It is important to note how the location of elements on this table tells united states of america nearly their backdrop. A quick fashion to understand an element's chemical and physical properties is to know the periodic trends. These trends tell yous where the highest and everyman types of properties are concentrated on the periodic table. For a more in-depth caption of periodic trends, click here.

Group vs Flow

Groups are the columns of the periodic tabular array, and periods are the rows. There are 18 groups, and there are vii periods plus the lanthanides and actinides.

Periods on the Periodic Table

So what is a catamenia on the periodic table? Periods are the horizontal rows of the periodic table. There are seven periods total and each element in a flow has the same number of atomic orbitals. The meridian catamenia, which contains hydrogen and helium, has but 2 orbitals. As you lot go down the rows, the number of orbitals increases. Below is a table to help visuals the periodic number and the respective orbitals.

Period Number	Number of Orbitals	Number of Elements
1	1	2
two	2	eight
3	3	eight
iv	four	18
five	5	18
6	6	32
7	7	32

Groups of the Periodic Table

As previously mentioned, the vertical columns on the periodic table are chosen "groups". There is eighteen groups on the periodic table in total, and each periodic table grouping contains elements with the same number of valence electrons.

The number of valence electrons present dictates the properties of an chemical element. The reason for this is that the valence electrons, which are the electrons in the outermost shell, are the ones taking part in chemical reactions. These electrons are either altruistic, accepting, or sharing. Moreover, the more filled the valence shell is, the more than stable the element.

How many groups are in the periodic table?

In that location are 18 groups in the periodic table, 1 per each column of the periodic tabular array. The kickoff column on the left is group one, and the last column on the correct is grouping 18.

Groups and Valence Electrons

The first group is the to the lowest degree stable equally it only has one valence electron. Meanwhile, group eighteen is the most stable every bit these elements have a full valence trounce (eight valence electrons). Below is a table relating the group numbers to the number of valence electrons.

Group Number	Number of Valence Electrons
ane	1
2	2
3-12	2
thirteen	3
xiv	4
xv	5
16	vi
17	7
xviii	eight

Families of the Periodic Table

On the periodic tabular array, in that location are families which are groups of elements with similar properties. These families are alkali metals, alkaline globe metals, transition metals, mail service-transition metals, metalloids, halogens, noble metals, and noble gases. Many of these families belong to a single group on the periodic table. However, non all of the families overlap with periodic tabular array groups. For case, the transition metals contain all elements from grouping three to group twelve. Below is a periodic table where displaying the location of each family.

The Alkali Metals (Group 1)

The alkali metals consist of all of the elements in grouping one with the exception of hydrogen. These elements are extremely reactive and for this reason, are usually found in compounds. In addition, they are water-sensitive (they react violently with h2o), so they must be stored in oil. The most reactive alkali metal is francium and it decreases as you lot go up the group. This means lithium is the to the lowest degree reactive. Physically, the brine metal family unit is argent, white, and light. They as well have low melting and low boiling points.

The Alkaline Earth Metals (Group 2)

The alkaline world metals are the 2nd almost reactive family on the periodic table (post-obit behind the alkali metals). Moreover, they are strong reducing agents which means they donate electrons in chemical reactions. They are also expert thermal and electrical conductors. Physically, they have low density, depression melting bespeak, and a low boiling point.

Rare Earth Metals: Lanthanides

Lanthanides are a family of rare earth metals that contain one valence electron in the 5d vanquish. They are highly reactive and a potent reducing agent in reactions. Furthermore, they are a silvery-bright metal and are relatively soft. They also accept both high melting points and high boiling points. The rare earths include elements like neodymium and erbium.

Rare Earth Metals: Actinides

Actinides are another family unit of rare earth metals. Similar the lanthanides, these elements are highly reactive. They too have high electropositivity and are radioactive. Additionally, these elements comprise paramagnetic, pyromorphic, and allotropic properties. Physically, they are very similar to lanthanides. They are argent metals that are soft, malleable, and ductile.

The Transition Metals (Groups three-xi)

The transition metals typically form two or more than oxidation states. They have depression ionization energies and high conductivity. In addition, they have high melting points, high boiling points, and loftier conductivity. Physically they are both metallic and malleable.

Mail Transition metal

The post transition metals are located in between the transition metals and the metalloids. At standard temperature, they are in a solid state of thing. They tend to have a loftier density equally well as high conductivity. Physically they are malleable and ductile.

The Metalloids

The metalloids brandish properties of both metals and non-metals. For example, metals are good conductors and not-metals are poor conductors. This means metalloids are semiconductors (only conducts electricity at high temperatures.). Also, they are more brittle than metals only less brittle than non-metals. Physically they can be either shiny or deadening and are typically ductile and malleable.

The Halogens (Group 17)

The name element of group vii ways "salt formers" in greek. This is evident in nature every bit halogens interact with metals to form diverse salts. On another note, the halogens are a unique group of elements. They are the only periodic family that contains elements in the three states of affair at standard temperature. There are half dozen halogens and they are located in group 17. These elements include fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), and astatine (At). They are highly reactive, highly electronegative, and highly toxic non-metals.

Noble Metals

The noble metals consist of ruthenium (Ru), osmium (Os), rhodium (Rh), iridium (Ir), Pd, platinum (Pt), gold (Au), silver (Ag). Like the noble gases, they are inert due to having a complete valence crush. In addition, noble metals take catalytic tendencies. Also, they are very resistant to corrosion, tarnishing, and oxidation. Finally, like many of the other metals, they are soft and ductile.

Noble Gases (Group eighteen)

The noble gases, besides chosen aerogens, are inert gases. Some examples include argon, krypton, and neon. They tin can be constitute in group 18 on the periodic tabular array. Likewise, this means they accept a complete valence shell. For this reason, they are stable and relatively unreactive. Furthermore, the noble gases accept low humid points and low melting points. Physically they are colorless and have no odor.

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Summary Table for Family Properties

Family unit Type	Properties
Alkali Metals	– highly reactive – h2o-sensitive – Soft – low density – low melting point – depression humid point
Alkaline World Metals	– Potent reducing agents – Silverish, shiny metal – Good conductors – Low density – Low melting point – Low humid bespeak
Transition Metals	– 2 or more oxidation states – Usually forms paramagnetic compounds – Low ionization energies – High melting bespeak – Loftier boiling point – High conductivity – Metallic – Malleable
Mail Transition Metals	– Solid at standard temperature – Malleable – Ductile – High conductivity – Loftier density
Metalloids	– Semi-conductors (conducts merely at high temperatures) – More brittle than metals simply less breakable than non-metals – Properties are a mix between metals and non-metals – Shiny or irksome – Ductile and malleable
Lanthanides	– ane valence electron in 5d shell – Highly reactive – Potent reducing agent – Silvery bright metal – Relatively soft – High melting points – Loftier boiling points
Actinides	– Highly reactive – High electropositivity – Paramagnetic – Pyromorphic – Allotropic – Radioactive – Argent metals – Ductile – Malleable – Soft
Halogens	– Highly reactive – Loftier electronegativity – Non-metal – Toxic
Noble Metals	– Relatively unreactive – Complete valence shell (8 valence electrons) – Inert – Catalytic – Resistant to corrosion, tarnishing, and oxidation – Soft and Ductile
Noble Gases	– Relatively unreactive – Complete valence vanquish (8 valence electrons) – Depression electronegativity – Colorless and odorless – gases under standard conditions – Non-metal – Depression boiling signal – Depression melting bespeak – Density increases equally you lot go down