PERIODIC CLASSIFICATION OF ELEMENTS

CHAPTER V
Dobereiners triads
1. Elements of a triad show similar chemical properties.
2. The elements of a triad show specific trends in their physical properties.
3. The atomic mass of the middle element was roughly the average of
atomic masses of the other two elements.
Eg: Li, Na, K and Ca, Sr, Ba and Cl, Br, I
Newlands octaves
Elements are arranged in the order of increasing atomic mass. Every eighth
element has properties similar to that of the first.
Eg Li and Na , Be and Mg
Demerits:
1. It was found that this law was applicable only up to the element calcium
(atomic number 20).
2. He assumed that only 56 elements existed in nature and no more new
elements would be discovered in future. The new elements discovered later
did not fit into the law of octaves.
3. In order to give place to the new elements he adjusted two elements in
the same slot but their properties did not agree with each other.
Mendeleevs periodic table
1. The properties of elements are periodic function of their atomic mass.
Total 63 elements were known.
2. It has 8 groups. And six periods.
3. No place is assigned to isotopes of an element
4. There were three gaps left by Mendeleev in his periodic table.( for Ekka
Boron- Sc, Ekka Aluminium-Ga and Ekka silicon- Ge)
5. No fixed position is given to hydrogen in this periodic table.
6. No distinction was made between metals and non-metals.
Modern periodic table
1. The properties of elements are periodic function of their atomic number.
2 it has 18 groups and 7 periods.
3 Isotopes of an element are placed at the same position of the element.
4. There are no gaps in the modern periodic table.

5. Hydrogen is given a special position in modern periodic table.

6. Distinction was made between metals and non-metals.
Modern periodic table or long form of periodic table:
1. There are 18 groups and 7 periods in the modern periodic table.
2. The first group of elements are known as Alkali metals ( eg Li, Na, K, Rb,
Cs) and second group of elements are known as Alkaline Earth metals.( Be,
Mg, Ca,Sr,Ba).
3. The group elements from 3 to 12 are known as d block elements or
transmission elements. The lanthanides and actinides are known as inner
transmission elements or f block elements.
4. The 17th group of elements are known as Halogen family.( F,Cl, Br,I ) and
18th group are known as Zero group elements or noble gas elements.
5. The valency is defined as the combining capacity of an element, and is
decided by the number of valence electrons in the outer most shell.
6. The valency of elements in a group is same, as they all have the same
number of electrons in the outermost shell, which alone take part in the
chemical reaction. they all show similarities in chemical properties.
7. For example the valency of first group elements is + 1 and valency of
seventeenth group elements is -1.The valency increases from 1to 4 and then
decreases to 0 from left to right in a period.
8. The atomic size of an element is the distance between the centre of
nucleus to the outer most shell. It is measured in Pico meters. (1 pm = 10 -12
m)
9. The atomic size increases from top to bottom in a group and decreases
from left to right in a period.
10. There are 2 elements in first period,( K- shell) there are 8 elements in
second and third period,( L-shell) there are 18 elements in forth and fifth
period,( M- shell) and 32 elements in sixth and seventh periods.( 7 th period is
yet to be filled ) ( N-shell). The longest period is the sixth periodic the modern
periodic table.
11. The metal is an element which is capable of losing electrons to attain the
stable electron configuration and forms electropositive ion. ( eg. Na +, Ca 2+)
The non metal is an element which gains electrons to attain the stable
electron configuration and forms electronegative ion.( Cl -, O2-)
12. The metallic property decreases from left to right in the period and
metallic character increases from top to bottom in a group because of
increase in atomic size.
13. The nonmetallic property increases from left to right in a period and
decreases from top to bottom in a group.
14. The electro positivity goes on decreasing from left to right in a period and
electronegativity increases from left to right in a period.
15 The reactivity of metals increases from top to bottom in a group and
reactivity of non-metals goes on decreasing from top to bottom in a group.

16. The ability to lose electron increases from top to bottom in a group, and
the ability to gain electrons decreases from top to bottom in a group.
17. The metals occupy the left side of the periodic table and nonmetals
occupy the right side top corner of the periodic table, the border line elements
which separate the metals and non metals are metalloids which have some
characteristics of metals and some characteristics of non metals.
18. The metals form oxides which are basic in nature, and nonmetals form
oxides which are acidic in nature.
NCERT TEXT BOOK QUESTIONS:
1. How Could the Modern Periodic Table Remove Various Anomalies of
Mendeleevs Periodic Table?
A. Modern periodic table is based on the atomic number of the atoms of
elements. As the properties of the elements depend on valence
electrons present in the outermost shell of its atoms, the distribution of
electrons depends on atomic number. So on this basis of atomic
number hydrogen and the isotopes of an element also are given
position in the modern periodic table.
2. Name two elements you would expect to show chemical reactions
similar to magnesium. What is the basis of your choice?
A. Calcium (Ca) and barium (Ba)
They belong to the same group as magnesium and they have the
same valence electrons as magnesium.
3. Name
a. Three elements that have a single electron in their outermost shells
1. Lithium 2. Sodium , 3. Potassium
b. Two elements that have two electrons in their outermost shells.
1. Magnesium (Mg) 2. Calcium (Ca)
c. Three elements with filled outermost shells.
1. Helium 2. Neon 3. Argon
4. (a) Li, Na, K are all metals that react with water to liberate hydrogen
gas. Is there any similarity in the atoms of these elements?
A. All these elements belong to the same group and have the
same number of electrons in the outermost shell.
5. Helium is an unreactive gas and neon is a gas of extremely low
reactivity. What is anything do their atoms have in common?
A. They both belong to last group and have their outermost shell
completely filled.

6. In the modern periodic table which are the metals among the first ten
elements?
A. Li, Be, B are the metals among the first ten elements.
7. How does the electron configuration of an atom relate to its position?
in the modern periodic table?
A. In the modern periodic table, elements are arranged in order of
their increasing atomic number. The electron configuration is the
distribution of electrons in different orbitals. The electron configuration of
an atom tells about two states. These are the number of valence
electrons and the number of shells in which electrons are distributed.
The number of valence electrons determines the position of an atom of
an element to the group number to which it belongs and the number of
shells determines its position to which particular period it belongs.
8. In the modern periodic table, calcium is surrounded by elements with
atomic numbers 12,19,21,38. Which of these have physical and
chemical properties resembling calcium?
A. The element calcium with atomic number 20 is surrounded by four
elements with atomic number 12, 19, 21, 38. The atomic numbers of three
elements which lie in the same group are 12, 20, and 38. Therefore the
physical and chemical properties of calcium resemble with those of the
elements having atomic number 12 and 38 as they all belong to the same
group.
9. Compare and contrast the arrangement of elements in Mendeleevs
periodic table and modern periodic table.
Mendeleevs periodic table
1. The properties of elements are
periodic function of their atomic
mass.
2. It has 7 groups.
3. no place is assigned to isotopes
of an element
4. There were three gaps left by
Mendeleev in his periodic table.
5. No fixed position is given to
hydrogen in this periodic table.
6. No distinction was made between
metals and non-metals.

Modern periodic table

1. The properties of elements are
periodic function of their atomic
number.
2 it has 18 groups.
3 isotopes of an element are placed
at the same position of the element.
4. There are no gaps in the modern
periodic table.
5. Hydrogen is given a special
position in modern periodic table.
6. Distinction was made between
metals and non-metals.

10. Write the characteristics of Dobereiners triads?

A. 1. Elements of a triad show similar chemical properties.

2. The elements of a triad show specific trends in their physical
properties.
3. The atomic mass of the middle element was roughly the average of
atomic masses of the other two elements.
Eg: Li, Na, K and Ca, Sr, Ba and Cl, Br, I
11. What are the limitations of Dobereiners classification?
A. All elements known at that time could not be arranged as
Dobereineers triads.Eg : N,P,As
12. What were the limitations of Newlands law of octaves?
A. 1.It was found that this law was applicable only up to the element
calcium (atomic number 20).
2. He assumed that only 56 elements existed in nature and no more
new elements would be discovered in future. The new elements
discovered later did not fit into the law of octaves.
3. In order to give place to the new elements he adjusted two elements
in the same slot but their properties did not agree with each other.
13. What are the merits of Mendeleeves periodic table?
A. 1. Lot of gaps was left to accommodate the new elements discovered
later.
For example Eka aluminium for gallium , Eka boron for scandium and
eka silicon for germanium.
2. He gave proper position for noble gases which were discovered later
without disturbing the existing order of elements.
14. What are the demerits of Mendeleevs periodic table?
A 1. He could not give proper explanation for position of hydrogen element.
2. According to his classification based on atomic mass the isotopes of the
same element should be given different positions.
3. He has interchanged the position of certain pair of elements to arrange
them in the group of elements with similar properties.
Eg: Co and Ni , I and Te, V and Cr etc