Periodic Table of Elements

Question 1

noble gases (inert gases)

Answer 1

helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon

Question 2

halogens

Answer 2

fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine

they form part of group VIIA of the periodic table and exist in the free state normally as diatomic molecules

Question 3

hydrogen

Answer 3

the lightest element in the periodic table with an atomic weight of 1.0079; the only nonmetal in the IA group

Question 4

“other” nonmetals

Answer 4

(nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur) Oxygen and nitrogen both occur naturally as gases and make up most of the atmosphere (nitrogen = 78%, oxygen = 21%). Sulfur occurs naturally as brittle solid, is a constituent of proteins, and is used extensively in the chemical and paper industries.

Question 5

alkali metals

Answer 5

lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, francium

group of univalent, mostly basic metals of group IA of the periodic table

Question 6

alkaline earth metals

Answer 6

magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, radium

group of bivalent, strongly basic metals of group IIA of the periodic table

Question 7

transition metals

Answer 7

A large group of 29 metallic elements (e.g. chromium, iron, nickel, copper, silver, gold). They have valence electrons in two shells instead of one. Of the transition metals, only mercury (Hg) exists naturally as a liquid.

Question 8

metalloids

Answer 8

boron, carbon, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, polonium, astatine
(elements intermediate in properties between the typical metals and nonmetals)

Question 9

“other” metals

Answer 9

(aluminum, gallium, indium, tin, thallium, lead, bismuth) While these elements are ductile and malleable, they are not the same as the transition metals, because they do not exhibit variable oxidation states and their valence electrons are only present in their outer shell.

Question 10

rare earth metals

Answer 10

Thirty elements [e.g. uranium (U) which occurs naturally, einsteinium (ES) which does not occur naturally).