1 The periodic table

Question 1

What are the vertical columns in the periodic table called?

Answer 1

Groups.

Question 2

How are the groups numbered.

Answer 2

1 - 7 and the final group is called group 0.

Question 3

What is group 1?

Answer 3

The alkali metals.

Question 4

What is group 7?

Answer 4

The halogens.

Question 5

What is group 0?

Answer 5

The noble gases.

Question 6

What are the horizontal rows in the periodic table called?

Answer 6

Periods

Question 7

What can you use the periodic table to work out?

Answer 7

The number of protons, neutrons and electrons there are in atoms.

Question 8

How do you find the number of protons?

Answer 8

It is equal to the atomic number.

Question 9

How do you find the number of electrons?

Answer 9

It is equal to the number of protons.

Question 10

How do you find the number of neutrons?

Answer 10

Mass number - atomic number.

Question 11

How are the electrons arranged in the outer shells of atoms?

Answer 11

2,8,8,2.

Question 12

What does electronic configuration mean?

Answer 12

It is the arrangement of electrons in an atom.

Question 13

Which value do you use when drawing electronic configurations?

Answer 13

The atomic number.

Question 14

Why do we use the atomic number?

Answer 14

As it tells you the number of protons, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons. And electrons are the ones that encircle the atom.

Question 15

What do characteristics do elements in the same group share?

Answer 15

Elements in the same group in the periodic table have the same number of electrons in their outer shell.

Question 16

What is the same about the number of electrons in their outer shells from groups 1 - 7?

Answer 16

The number of electrons in the outer shell is the same as the group number for groups 1 to 7.

Question 17

What does the period number give us?

Answer 17

The number of occupied shells or the highest occupied shell.

Question 18

What happens to the atomic number as you progress through the periodic table?

Answer 18

It increases.

Question 19

What is so special about elements in the same group?

Answer 19

Groups in the periodic table contain elements with similar chemical properties - they react in the same way.

Question 20

Why do elements in the same group in the periodic table have similar chemical properties?

Answer 20

The reactions of atoms depend on how many electrons there are in their outer shell. These are the electrons which normally get involved when elements bond to other elements. Elements in the same group have the same number of electrons in their outer shell, therefore they react in similar ways.

Question 21

What is an example of how all group 1 elements react?

Answer 21

They react vigorously with water to form hydrogen and hydroxides with similar formulae: LiOH, NaOH, KOH.

Question 22

What is an example of how all group 7 elements react?

Answer 22

They all react with hydrogen to form compounds with similar formulae: HF, HCI, HBr.

Question 23

What is an example of how all group 2 elements react?

Answer 23

They form chlorides with similar formulae: MgCl2, CaCl2.

Question 24

What is group 0 known as?

Answer 24

The noble gases.

Question 25

Why are they known as the noble gases?

Answer 25

Because they are completely un reactive. In fact, the two at the top of the group, helium and neon, don’t react with anything. The elements in group 0 have 8 electrons in their outer shell, apart from helium, which has 2.

Question 26

Why are the noble gases un reactive?

Answer 26

The lack of reactivity of the elements in group 0 is associated with their electronic configurations. The noble gases are un reactive because their outer shell is full, and so there is no tendency to lose, gain or share electrons in a chemical reaction.

Question 27

How are metals and non-metals ordered in the periodic table?

Answer 27

The metals are on the left-hand side of the periodic table and the non-metals are on the right-hand side.

Question 28

Where is the line that divides metals and non-metals on the periodic table?

Answer 28

Question 29

What are some examples of the properties of metals?

Answer 29

• Conduct electricity.
• Form basic oxides.

Question 30

Why can metals conduct electricity?

Answer 30

Due to the presence of delocalised electrons that are free to move.

Question 31

What is a basic oxide?

Answer 31

A basic oxide is one which reacts with acids to form salts.

Question 32

What are some examples of the properties of non-metals?

Answer 32

• Do not conduct electricity.
• Form acidic oxides.

Question 33

Why do non-metals not conduct electricity?

Answer 33

Because there are no electrons that are free to move or mobile ions. With the exception of graphite and silicon.

Question 34

What are acidic oxides?

Answer 34

Acidic oxides react with bases/alkalis to form salts.

Question 35

What are some other properties of metals?

Answer 35

• Tend to be solids with high melting and boiling points, and with relatively high densities.
• Αre shiny when they are polished or freshly cut.
• Are malleable.
• Are ductile.
• Are good conductors of electricity and heat.
• Form ionic compounds.
• Form positive ions in their compounds.

Question 36

What are some other properties of non-metals?

Answer 36

• Tend to have low melting and boiling points.
• Tend to be brittle when they are solids.
• Don’t have the same type of shine as metals.
• Don’t usually conduct electricity.
• Are poor conductors of heat.
• Form both ionic and covalent compounds.
• Tend to form negative ions in ionic compounds.