Periodic Table Flashcards
Why is the Periodic Table Important?
- It’s the most important tool to a chemist
- It organizes information about the known elements
Who is the father of the Periodic Table?
Dmitri Mendeleev
What are the horizontal rows called and what does it tell you?
They are called rows and they represent the number of energy levels.
What are the vertical columns called and what does it tell you?
They are called groups & families and they represent the number of valence electrons.
Describe Families
Have 1 or several columns and they have names instead of numbers.
Describe the Hydrogen Family.
Hydrogen belongs to a family of its own and is a diatomic (2 atoms per molecule), reactive gas.
Fact: Promising as an alternative fuel source for automobiles.
Describe Alkali Metals Group 1.
It is the first column, has very reactive metals, and it is always combined with something else in nature, it has 1 valence electron, increases in reactivity as you move down the group, and it has the greatest ability to GIVE AWAY electrons.
Describe Alkaline Earth Metals
2nd column, a little less reactive than Alkali Metals, increases in reactivity as you move down the group, reactive metals combined with nonmetals in nature.
Describe Transition Metals
Elements in groups 3-12, semi-reactive-harder metals; includes metals used in jewelry and construction, metals used as “metals”
Describe Halogen
Elements in group 17; very reactive, volatile, diatomic, nonmetals; Reactivity increases as you move UP the group; 7 valence electrons-this means they have the greatest ability to ATTRACT electrons.
Describe Noble Gases
Elements in group 18; VERY UN-REACTIVE, stable gases; Least reactive group on the periodic table; Have a full valence shell
Fact: Used in lighted neon signs, used in a blimp to fix the Hinderberg problem.
Describe Lanthanides
Shiny, Reactive Metals, Some are used for steel
Describe Actinides
Radioactive or Unstable, Atoms of a radioactive element can change into atoms of another element, Elements after 94 don’t occur in nature.
Most Reactive Metal
Francium
Most Reactive Nonmetal
Flourine
