Chpt. 6, The Periodic Table Flashcards
periodic table
a table of all known elements in which the elements are arranged according to trends in their properties
periodic law
the idea that the properties of elements repeat from time to time
main block elements
groups 1, 2, and 13-18
transition metals
groups 3-12
lanthanides
the top portion of the two rows over elements at the bottom of the periodic table
actinides
the bottom portion of the two rows of elements at the bottom of the periodic table
metals
the elements in the middle of the periodic table; these elements are shiny, good conductors, malleable, and ductile
nonmetals
any element that is not a metal; in terms of their properties, nonmetals vary greatly
metalloids
elements between the metals and nonmetals on the right portion of the periodic table; these elements have properties that are partially similar to metals, and partially to nonmetals
valence electrons
the outermost s and p electrons in an atom
periodic trends
the properties that change in a systematic way as one moves either across a row in the periodic table, or down a group
atomic radius
half the distance between two bonded atoms of the same element (because there is not an actual “radius” that physically exists); adding electrons to an atom generally increases the atomic radius
cations
ions with a positive charge
anions
ions with a negative charge
octet rule
atoms tend to gain or lose electrons so that they will have the same number of electrons as the nearest noble gas
things to consider:
- The nearest noble gas may be either before the element (just as neon is before aluminum) or after the element (as argon is after phosphorus)
- If the nearest noble gas is before the element of interest, the element will lose valence electrons until it has the same number of valence electrons as that noble gas. This will give it a positive charge. As a result, aluminum will lose three electrons to become like neon, giving it a +3 charge.
- If the nearest noble gas is after the element of interest, the element will gain valence electrons until it has the same number of valence electrons as that noble gas. This will give it a negative charge. As a result, phosphorus will gain three electrons to become like argon, giving it a -3 charge.
- Ignore the d- and f-blocks when counting forwards and backwards. In this way, gallium (Ga) wants to lose three electrons to become like argon – we just ignore all of the transition elements that are between them.