Periodic table

Question 1

What is the similarity between electron configuration and the respective reactivity of an element?

Answer 1

The closer an atom is to completing a full outer shell the more reactive the element/ atom is. For example an atom whose electron configuration lists 2,8,7 is extremely reactive however an atom with the electron configuration of 2,8,3 or 2,8 is either already full or needs more electrons creating a relatively unreactive element.

Question 1

How are elements ordered in the periodic table?

Answer 1

Ordered from increasing atomic numbers. Elements in the same columns will have similar reactivity.

Question 2

What are the characteristics of metals?

Answer 2

-good conductors of heat and electricity
-ductile (can be drawn into wires) and malleable (can be hammered)
-metals are solid at room temperature (except Mercury, it is a liquid state)
-high tensile strength.
-usually lustrous/shiny.

Question 3

What are the characteristics of non-metals?

Answer 3

They aren’t shiny (lustrous) and they don’t conduct heat or electricity well. Usually their melting points are lower than for metals, although there are exceptions. The solids usually break easily, and can’t bend like metals.

Question 4

What are the characteristics of metalloids?

Answer 4

Metalloids usually look like metals but behave largely like nonmetals. Physically, they are shiny, brittle solids with intermediate to relatively good electrical conductivity and the electronic band structure of a semimetal or semiconductor.