Periodic Table Introduction

Periodic Table Introduction

by Emilie Tekely

3 Main Categories of the Periodic Table

• Metals – Everything to the left of the stair step line

• Non-Metals – Everything to the right of the stair step line

• Metalloids – The atoms along the stair steps

The periodic table is FULL of patterns.

• If you know the patterns, you can use it to find information quickly about the elements

• The two patterns we are going to review are the periods and the group numbers

Let's start with the periods

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• Periods are the horizontal rows that go across the table.

• Each new period is a new electron shell. All of the elements in a period have the same number of electron shells.

• Moving from left to right, each element has more electrons, & the elements need more space for those electrons

Multiple Choice

A horizontal row of elements in the periodic table.

• column

• group

• period

Now let's talk groups!

• Groups (also called families) are the vertical (up and down) columns on the periodic table

• There are 18 groups on the periodic table BUT only groups 1 and 2 and 13-18 follow any sort of pattern.

• The group number can help you quickly figure out the number of valence electrons.

The Group Pattern

• Group 1 has 1 valence electron

• ​Group 2 has 2 valence electrons

• Group 13 has 3 valence electrons      

• Group 14 has 4 valence electrons      

• Group 15 has 5 valence electrons      

• Group 16 has 6 valence electrons      

• Group 17 has 7 valence electrons      

• Group 18 has 8, except for Helium, which has 2 (but all have a full outer shell)

Multiple Choice

What are the vertical columns on the Periodic Table called?

• groups

• periods

• nonmetals

• metals

• metalloids

Multiple Choice

Which group of elements is the most snooty and doesn't want to play with any of the other groups?

• Halogens

• Lanthanides

• Alkali Earth Metals

• Noble Gases

• Alkali Metals

Multiple Choice

Elements that are arranged in _______ have the most similar physical and chemical properties to each other.

• Groups

• Periods

Multiple Choice

As you move left to right on a row or period what happens?

• Atomic number increases by 1

• Electrons decrease

• Number of shells decrease

• Nothing

Multiple Choice

Elements in the same group have __________

• Similar Properties

• Same number of shells

• Similar Mass