3.5: The Periodic Table

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Learning objectives

Identify the groups of the periodic table
Identify elements as metals, nonmetals, metalloids
Infer likely properties of elements based on their position on the periodic table.

Classification of the Periodic Table

If you tried to click on any of the above elements, the details of each element may seem overwhelming and it may seem incredibly difficult to find patterns. However, the beauty of the periodic table is found in it's periodicity, repeating patterns that help us predict physical and chemical properties of various elements. Thus the periodic table can also be split into seven rows, known as periods (Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\)). At first glance, it may seem like the two lone rows at the bottom of the period table, known as the actinide and lanthanide series should be periods 8 and 9. However, if you look carefully, these two row should actually be wedged in the 6th and 7th period, respectfully, in order to follow the order of increasing atomic number. Those rows are kept at the bottom to decrease the width of the periodic table and are also known as the inner transition metals.

The Periodic Table of Elements is shown. The 18 columns are labeled “Group” and the 7 rows are labeled “Period.” Below the table to the right is a box labeled “Color Code” with different colors for metals, metalloids, and nonmetals, as well as solids, liquids, and gases. To the left of this box is an enlarged picture of the upper-left most box on the table. The number 1 is in its upper-left hand corner and is labeled “Atomic number.” The letter “H” is in the middle in red indicating that it is a gas. It is labeled “Symbol.” Below that is the number 1.008 which is labeled “Atomic Mass.” Below that is the word hydrogen which is labeled “name.” The color of the box indicates that it is a nonmetal. Each element will be described in this order: atomic number; name; symbol; whether it is a metal, metalloid, or nonmetal; whether it is a solid, liquid, or gas; and atomic mass. Beginning at the top left of the table, or period 1, group 1, is a box containing “1; hydrogen; H; nonmetal; gas; and 1.008.” There is only one other element box in period 1, group 18, which contains “2; helium; H e; nonmetal; gas; and 4.003.” Period 2, group 1 contains “3; lithium; L i; metal; solid; and 6.94” Group 2 contains “4; beryllium; B e; metal; solid; and 9.012.” Groups 3 through 12 are skipped and group 13 contains “5; boron; B; metalloid; solid; 10.81.” Group 14 contains “6; carbon; C; nonmetal; solid; and 12.01.” Group 15 contains “7; nitrogen; N; nonmetal; gas; and 14.01.” Group 16 contains “8; oxygen; O; nonmetal; gas; and 16.00.” Group 17 contains “9; fluorine; F; nonmetal; gas; and 19.00.” Group 18 contains “10; neon; N e; nonmetal; gas; and 20.18.” Period 3, group 1 contains “11; sodium; N a; metal; solid; and 22.99.” Group 2 contains “12; magnesium; M g; metal; solid; and 24.31.” Groups 3 through 12 are skipped again in period 3 and group 13 contains “13; aluminum; A l; metal; solid; and 26.98.” Group 14 contains “14; silicon; S i; metalloid; solid; and 28.09.” Group 15 contains “15; phosphorous; P; nonmetal; solid; and 30.97.” Group 16 contains “16; sulfur; S; nonmetal; solid; and 32.06.” Group 17 contains “17; chlorine; C l; nonmetal; gas; and 35.45.” Group 18 contains “18; argon; A r; nonmetal; gas; and 39.95.” Period 4, group 1 contains “19; potassium; K; metal; solid; and 39.10.” Group 2 contains “20; calcium; C a; metal; solid; and 40.08.” Group 3 contains “21; scandium; S c; metal; solid; and 44.96.” Group 4 contains “22; titanium; T i; metal; solid; and 47.87.” Group 5 contains “23; vanadium; V; metal; solid; and 50.94.” Group 6 contains “24; chromium; C r; metal; solid; and 52.00.” Group 7 contains “25; manganese; M n; metal; solid; and 54.94.” Group 8 contains “26; iron; F e; metal; solid; and 55.85.” Group 9 contains “27; cobalt; C o; metal; solid; and 58.93.” Group 10 contains “28; nickel; N i; metal; solid; and 58.69.” Group 11 contains “29; copper; C u; metal; solid; and 63.55.” Group 12 contains “30; zinc; Z n; metal; solid; and 65.38.” Group 13 contains “31; gallium; G a; metal; solid; and 69.72.” Group 14 contains “32; germanium; G e; metalloid; solid; and 72.63.” Group 15 contains “33; arsenic; A s; metalloid; solid; and 74.92.” Group 16 contains “34; selenium; S e; nonmetal; solid; and 78.97.” Group 17 contains “35; bromine; B r; nonmetal; liquid; and 79.90.” Group 18 contains “36; krypton; K r; nonmetal; gas; and 83.80.” Period 5, group 1 contains “37; rubidium; R b; metal; solid; and 85.47.” Group 2 contains “38; strontium; S r; metal; solid; and 87.62.” Group 3 contains “39; yttrium; Y; metal; solid; and 88.91.” Group 4 contains “40; zirconium; Z r; metal; solid; and 91.22.” Group 5 contains “41; niobium; N b; metal; solid; and 92.91.” Group 6 contains “42; molybdenum; M o; metal; solid; and 95.95.” Group 7 contains “43; technetium; T c; metal; solid; and 97.” Group 8 contains “44; ruthenium; R u; metal; solid; and 101.1.” Group 9 contains “45; rhodium; R h; metal; solid; and 102.9.” Group 10 contains “46; palladium; P d; metal; solid; and 106.4.” Group 11 contains “47; silver; A g; metal; solid; and 107.9.” Group 12 contains “48; cadmium; C d; metal; solid; and 112.4.” Group 13 contains “49; indium; I n; metal; solid; and 114.8.” Group 14 contains “50; tin; S n; metal; solid; and 118.7.” Group 15 contains “51; antimony; S b; metalloid; solid; and 121.8.” Group 16 contains “52; tellurium; T e; metalloid; solid; and 127.6.” Group 17 contains “53; iodine; I; nonmetal; solid; and 126.9.” Group 18 contains “54; xenon; X e; nonmetal; gas; and 131.3.” Period 6, group 1 contains “55; cesium; C s; metal; solid; and 132.9.” Group 2 contains “56; barium; B a; metal; solid; and 137.3.” Group 3 breaks the pattern. The box has a large arrow pointing to a row of elements below the table with atomic numbers ranging from 57-71. In sequential order by atomic number, the first box in this row contains “57; lanthanum; L a; metal; solid; and 138.9.” To its right, the next is “58; cerium; C e; metal; solid; and 140.1.” Next is “59; praseodymium; P r; metal; solid; and 140.9.” Next is “60; neodymium; N d; metal; solid; and 144.2.” Next is “61; promethium; P m; metal; solid; and 145.” Next is “62; samarium; S m; metal; solid; and 150.4.” Next is “63; europium; E u; metal; solid; and 152.0.” Next is “64; gadolinium; G d; metal; solid; and 157.3.” Next is “65; terbium; T b; metal; solid; and 158.9.” Next is “66; dysprosium; D y; metal; solid; and 162.5.” Next is “67; holmium; H o; metal; solid; and 164.9.” Next is “68; erbium; E r; metal; solid; and 167.3.” Next is “69; thulium; T m; metal; solid; and 168.9.” Next is “70; ytterbium; Y b; metal; solid; and 173.1.” The last in this special row is “71; lutetium; L u; metal; solid; and 175.0.” Continuing in period 6, group 4 contains “72; hafnium; H f; metal; solid; and 178.5.” Group 5 contains “73; tantalum; T a; metal; solid; and 180.9.” Group 6 contains “74; tungsten; W; metal; solid; and 183.8.” Group 7 contains “75; rhenium; R e; metal; solid; and 186.2.” Group 8 contains “76; osmium; O s; metal; solid; and 190.2.” Group 9 contains “77; iridium; I r; metal; solid; and 192.2.” Group 10 contains “78; platinum; P t; metal; solid; and 195.1.” Group 11 contains “79; gold; A u; metal; solid; and 197.0.” Group 12 contains “80; mercury; H g; metal; liquid; and 200.6.” Group 13 contains “81; thallium; T l; metal; solid; and 204.4.” Group 14 contains “82; lead; P b; metal; solid; and 207.2.” Group 15 contains “83; bismuth; B i; metal; solid; and 209.0.” Group 16 contains “84; polonium; P o; metal; solid; and 209.” Group 17 contains “85; astatine; A t; metalloid; solid; and 210.” Group 18 contains “86; radon; R n; nonmetal; gas; and 222.” Period 7, group 1 contains “87; francium; F r; metal; solid; and 223.” Group 2 contains “88; radium; R a; metal; solid; and 226.” Group 3 breaks the pattern much like what occurs in period 6. A large arrow points from the box in period 7, group 3 to a special row containing the elements with atomic numbers ranging from 89-103, just below the row which contains atomic numbers 57-71. In sequential order by atomic number, the first box in this row contains “89; actinium; A c; metal; solid; and 227.” To its right, the next is “90; thorium; T h; metal; solid; and 232.0.” Next is “91; protactinium; P a; metal; solid; and 231.0.” Next is “92; uranium; U; metal; solid; and 238.0.” Next is “93; neptunium; N p; metal; solid; and N p.” Next is “94; plutonium; P u; metal; solid; and 244.” Next is “95; americium; A m; metal; solid; and 243.” Next is “96; curium; C m; metal; solid; and 247.” Next is “97; berkelium; B k; metal; solid; and 247.” Next is “98; californium; C f; metal; solid; and 251.” Next is “99; einsteinium; E s; metal; solid; and 252.” Next is “100; fermium; F m; metal; solid; and 257.” Next is “101; mendelevium; M d; metal; solid; and 258.” Next is “102; nobelium; N o; metal; solid; and 259.” The last in this special row is “103; lawrencium; L r; metal; solid; and 262.” Continuing in period 7, group 4 contains “104; rutherfordium; R f; metal; solid; and 267.” Group 5 contains “105; dubnium; D b; metal; solid; and 270.” Group 6 contains “106; seaborgium; S g; metal; solid; and 271.” Group 7 contains “107; bohrium; B h; metal; solid; and 270.” Group 8 contains “108; hassium; H s; metal; solid; and 277.” Group 9 contains “109; meitnerium; M t; not indicated; solid; and 276.” Group 10 contains “110; darmstadtium; D s; not indicated; solid; and 281.” Group 11 contains “111; roentgenium; R g; not indicated; solid; and 282.” Group 12 contains “112; copernicium; C n; metal; liquid; and 285.” Group 13 contains “113; ununtrium; U u t; not indicated; solid; and 285.” Group 14 contains “114; flerovium; F l; not indicated; solid; and 289.” Group 15 contains “115; ununpentium; U u p; not indicated; solid; and 288.” Group 16 contains “116; livermorium; L v; not indicated; solid; and 293.” Group 17 contains “117; ununseptium; U u s; not indicated; solid; and 294.” Group 18 contains “118; ununoctium; U u o; not indicated; solid; and 294.” — Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): The periodic table is split into seven periods(rows) with the **inner transition metals** shown separately on the bottom to decrease the width of the periodic table. It can also be broadly divided into metals, nonmetals, and metalloids(semimetals). The states of the elements is also indicated at room temperature of 25^oC.

Groups can be numbered as 1-18 (Figures \(\PageIndex{1}\) or \(\PageIndex{2}\)) or they can be numbered 1-8 followed by "A" or "B" (Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\)). The "A" designation represents the main group elements (Columns 1-2, and Columns 13-18) The "B" designation represents transition elements (Columns 3-12). Either group numbering system is acceptable, but we will see later that there is a benefit for knowing the group numbers with the "A" and "B" designation. In addition, some of the individual groups have a particular group name. For example, Group 17 or 7A elements are also known as the halogens. Group 2 or 2A elements are known as the alkaline group metals. Group names are commonly used by chemists and are worth knowing. But, most importantly, elements in the same groups tend to have similar chemical and physical properties. We will also discuss the reason behind such patterns later in this text. Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\) provides the common names of the groups.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Which of the following elements will most likely have similar chemical properties to fluorine?

A) neon

B) nitrogen

C) iodine

D) sulfur

Answer: C) iodine. Elements in the same group have similar chemical properties, not the same periods.

The Families of the Periodic table

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Families or groups of the Periodic Table

Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

What alkali metal is found in period 4?

A) carbon

B) potassium

C) calcium

D) Titanium

Answer: B) Potassium is in Group (Column) 1A and is in the 4th period (row).

Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): Modern Family or group numbering system for the Periodic Table along with the names of the families.

clipboard_e2781758ae89b4a1db2cd30559a062835 — Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): The older method of numbering the families or groups. Note the color coding of this table indicates metals, metaloids (semi-metals) and non-metals. These will be discussed below.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{3}\)

What is the group number for oxygen?

A) 16

B) 6

C) 16A

D) Both A and B

Answer

If you start at boron and draw "stairs" down to astatine, the seven elements that are "on" are the metalloids or semi-metals (Figures \(\PageIndex{3}\)). Everything to the left of the "stairs" with the exception of hydrogen is a metal. Everything to the right of the "stairs", in addition to hydrogen, is a nonmetal. This is essential for describing common physical properties for each of the three categories and will be used in nomenclature of chemical compounds.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{4}\)

What is true regarding the classification of the following silicon? (select all that apply)

A) group 4A

B) metalloid

C) main group element

D) period 14

E) nonmetal

Answer: A, B, and C are all correct. D is incorrect. The period (row) is 3. The group is 13. E is incorrect because silicon sits on the stairs and is one of the metalloids.

Physical Properties of Metals:

Note, these can be related to the fact that electrons in metallic bonds are loosely bonded between multiple core atoms and freely flow from one atom to another.

Conduction (heat and electricity)
Malleability (can be hammered into thin sheets)
Ductility (can be pulled into wires)
Lustrous (Shiny appearance)

Physical Properties of Non-Metals:

Note, nonmetals are held together by directional covalent bonds of shared electrons, and this relates to their properties.

Poor Conductors
Nonlusterous
Nonmalleable
Brittle
Brightly colored

They have both properties of metals and non-metals. One of the most important physical properties of metalloids is their semi-conductive properties.

Natural States of Atoms

If you go to the Pubchem periodic table and click "standard state, you will see 2 elements are liquid, 11 are gasses, and one (Og) is "expected" to be a gas. If you click on Og and go to it's PubChem elemental page you see the most stable isotope has a half life of 0.89 millliseconds, and only a few atoms have ever been produced. You are required to know these, and note, several elements like Ga, Cs and Fr melt at very low temperatures and so may actually be liquids at room temperature

Liquids: Hg, Br₂, ( Ga, mp=85.58^oF; Cs, mp=83.3^oF; Fr, mp=80.6^oF and Rb, mp=103.1 ^oF)

Gasses: Noble Gasses and Lighter diatomics, H₂, N₂, O₂, F₂, & Cl₂

Solids: All other elements

Vocabulary

Test Yourself

Homework: Section 3.5

Query \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Contributors and Attributions

Robert E. Belford (University of Arkansas Little Rock; Department of Chemistry). The breadth, depth and veracity of this work is the responsibility of Robert E. Belford, rebelford@ualr.edu. You should contact him if you have any concerns. This material has both original contributions, and content built upon prior contributions of the LibreTexts Community and other resources, including but not limited to:

Anonymous
Modifications by Ronia Kattoum
Elena Lisitsyna (H5P interactive modules)