Atoms and

the
Periodic Table of
Elements

Atoms
Atoms are the smallest whole part of an element that
keeps its properties. Atoms are mostly empty space
with the nucleus comprising the mass of the atom.

The idea that the atom is mostly empty space was put forth
by what person?

Period
The period refers to the number of electron shells or electron clouds
that each atom has. These shells are further sub-divided (we will not
go into that aspect).
It is important to remember that electrons that are farther from the
nucleus of the atom have more energy than those closest to the
nucleus.

Electron Shells
Each electron shell can hold a set amount of electrons. To determine the
number of electrons that a shell that can hold, use the formula 2n2.
So, to calculate the number of electrons that the first contain, put
the principal quantum number, 1 into the formula. 2(1)2 = 2
electrons. The second shell can hold 2(2)2 = 8 electrons.

Notice that the first electron

shell for each atom contains
2 electrons. The second
electron shell can hold
no more than 8 electrons total.
The last shell, or valence shell,
holds one electron. This is why
these atoms are in the
first column.
This means the atom
has one valence electron.

Electron Configuration
This refers to the placement of the
actual electrons in the various
electron shells. The first shell, or K
shell, can hold a maximum of 2
electrons. The L and M shells can hold
a maximum of 8 electrons each. It is
important to remember that before
electrons can be added to a shell, the
lowest shells must be completely
filled.

To determine the number

of electrons that
a shell that can hold,
use the formula 2n2.
So, to calculate the
number of electrons
that the first contain,
put the principal
quantum number,
1 into the formula.
2(1)2 = 2 electrons.

The
second
shell
can
hold
2
2(2)

=8

electrons.

Here you can

See that oxygen
Is in period 2, so it
Has 2 e- shells.
It has 6 valence e-

Sodium is found in
the third period in
Column I. This means
that it has 3 electron
shells and one valence
electron. Na will
choose to give its one
electron away, forming
Na+1 rather than
to try and get 7 eand forming a
Na-7 ion.

Group I Atoms

Group I atoms refer to the alkali metals, those atoms

that are found in the first column. These atoms
all have one valence electron in their outer shell.
Since they all contain one electron, they will all
give the electron away to form a 1+ ion and will
have similar chemical reactions. In the case of metals,
in general, as you move down the column the reactivity
of the atoms increases. Fr is more reactive than Cs,
Which is more reactive than K.

Families/Groups
Families are found in the vertical columns
of the PTE. Each atom in the same family
has similar chemical properties. This is
because the atoms in the family have the
same VALENCE NUMBER. This means
that the atoms have the same number of
electrons in their outer shell. Having the
same valence number means that the
atoms of the same family will form the
same ion. Forming the same ion means
that the chemical reactions will be
similar.

Atoms in the first column

(group 1)
are the ultimate
metals and are known as
the Alkali Metals. The
second family of
metals are the
Alkali Earth metals
(group 2).

Properties
Atoms are also grouped on the periodic table according to properties.
These can be illustrated in the following groups:
Metals
Halogens

Nonmetals
Metalloids

Transition elements

Poor Metals

Metals

Metals are separated from the nonmetals with a stepped

line on the periodic table. Atoms to the left of the
line are metals, atoms to the right are nonmetals.
Some of the atoms have properties of both and are
called metalloids.

Metals-Characteristics
Form positive ions by giving away electrons.
Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity.
A. Electricity is defined as the flow of electrons.
They are usually:
dense
ductile-meaning they can be drawn into a wire
Malleable-they can be shaped (think mallet, or hammer)
and can be polished.
Metals react with acid to produce hydrogen gas.

Alkali Metals-Column 1
(Active Metals)
These are the atoms that are
found in column I of the PTE.
They are the ultimate metals.
Whatever metals do, they do it
the best. They are the best
conductors of heat and
electricity, the densest, most
malleable, greatest luster,
ductile, etc.

Alkali Earth-Group 2
(Active Metals)
The atoms in the second family are known as the alkali
earth elements. They will form a +2 ion and the
atoms of these elements will have two valence
electrons.

Transition Elements
These are the elements found between group II
and group III of the PTE. In an effort to
simplify the PTE, we are going to say that
all the ions formed are +2.

These elements are referred to as transition

(change) elements because as you travel
across the PTE, the properties become less
metallic and more like those of the nonmetals
(they change).

Poor Metals (sometimes called other metals)

These elements are similar to the true

metals in groups I and II but do not have
all of the characteristics of the true
metals.
A poor metal is a metal that are softer,
weaker, and has a lower boiling point
than other metals. They include
aluminum, gallium, indium, thallium, tin,
lead, bismuth
See the next slide for a picture.

Note here that the poor metals are

gray. They are sometimes referred to
as other metals.

Metalloids

Metalloids are those with properties of

both

Nonmetals
Everything that metals are, nonmetals are not.
Nonmetals form negative ions by receiving ions.
Nonmetals are not good conductors of heat and electricity.
They are usually not dense, malleable, ductile, and are not easily
polished.
(See next slide for the nonmetals)

Nonmetals
VII

The atoms in group VII

of the PTE are known as
the halogens. As the atoms
in Group I are the Ultimate
Metals, these atoms are
known as the Ultimate
Nonmetals and called
the halogens.

H
A
L
O
G
E
N
S

Noble or Inert Gases

Noble or Inert Gases are found in column VIII of the PTE.
They are unreactive since they already have what all
the other atoms want, a full outer shell. This is the
reason He is placed in column VIII (with 2 e-, its outer
shell is full). Since they have a full shell, no transfer of
e- takes place, and no ions form.

Chemical Reactivity
In general, with metals, as you go from the top of the
column to the bottom, they become more reactive.
Non metals are just the opposite.
As you move across the PTE from left to right, the
reactivity decreases. The most reactive metal is Fr,
the most reactive nonmetal is F.

Review

You should be able to identify the various regions of the

PTE if they are pointed out to you along with the
properties of the atoms in that region. These regions
include:

Metals, Alkali metals, Alkali Earth, Nonmetals,

Halogens, Transition, Inner Transition, Noble/Inert
Gases, Poor Metals, Metalloids.

H
9
7

Ge

Se

Sb

Answers
1.

Alkali metals

2. Alkali earth

3.

Poor metals

4. Nonmetals

5.

Inner transition

6. Transition

7.

Metalloids

8. Noble/Inert

9.

Halogens

Metals to the left of the line/Nonmetals to the right of the

line (not numbered).