The Periodic Table

The Periodic Table

The periodic table shows all the elements and their physical properties; it is arranged based on
atomic numbers and electron configurations.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Identify the common periodic trends that can be deduced from the periodic table of elements

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Key Points

The periodic table lists all the elements, with information about their atomic weights, chemical
symbols, and atomic numbers.
The arrangement of the periodic table leads us to visualize certain trends among the atoms.
The vertical columns (groups) of the periodic table are arranged such that all its elements have the
same number of valence electrons. All elements within a certain group thus share similar
properties.
Key Terms

atomic number: The number, equal to the number of protons in an atom, that determines its
chemical properties. Symbol: Z
group: A vertical column in the periodic table, which signifies the number of valence shell
electrons in an element’s atom.
period: A horizontal row in the periodic table, which signifies the total number of electron shells in
an element’s atom.
Element Symbols

The periodic table is structured as an 18 X 7 grid, positioned above a smaller double row of
elements. The periodic table only lists chemical elements, and includes each isotope of each
element within one cell. In the typical periodic table, each element is listed by its element symbol
and atomic number. For example, “H” denotes hydrogen, “Li” denotes lithium, and so on.
Most elements are represented by the first letter or first two letters of their English name, but there
are some exceptions. Two notable exceptions include silver and mercury. The symbol for silver is
“Ag” from Latin argentum, which means “gray” or “shining.” The symbol for mercury is
“Hg” from the Latinized Greek hydrargyrum, which means “water-silver.” Many periodic
tables include the full name of element as well and color-code the elements based on their phase at
room temperature (solid, liquid, or gas).

The periodic table: The periodic table is a tabular display of all the chemical elements. The atoms
are grouped in order of increasing atomic number.
Determining Chemical Properties using the Periodic Table

Chemical properties of each element are determined by the element’s electronic configuration,
and particularly by its outermost valence electrons. An element’s location in the periodic table is
largely dependent on its electrons; the number of valence shell electrons determines its group, and
the type of orbital in which the valence electrons lie in determines the element’s block. In
addition, the total number of electron shells an atom determines which period it belongs to.
Because of its structure, the periodic table has become an extremely useful tool for assessing and
predicting elemental and chemical trends.

Molecules

Molecules are electrically neutral compounds made of multiple atoms bound together by chemical
bonds.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Recognize the general properties of molecules

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Key Points

Molecules are neutral and do not carry any charge.

A molecule may consist of nonmetallic atoms of a single chemical element, as with oxygen (O2),
or of different elements, as with water (H2O).
The geometry and composition of a molecule will determine its chemical and physical properties.
Isomers are molecules with the same atoms in different geometric arrangements.
Key Terms

covalent: when 2 or more nonmetallic atoms are bound together by sharing electrons.
isomer: Molecules with the same number of atoms in different geometric arrangements.
compound: when two or more different atoms are held together by a covalent bond. All
compounds are molecules but not all molecules are compounds.
molecule: Two or more atoms that are held together by a chemical covalent bond.
Atoms and Molecules

An atom is defined as a basic unit of matter that contains a centralized dense nucleus surrounded
by an electron cloud. When two or more atoms are held together by a chemical covalent bond, this
new entity is known as a molecule. The word “molecule” is a loose term, and it colloquially
carries different meanings across different fields of study. For example, the term “molecules” is
used in the kinetic theory of gases, referring to any gaseous particle regardless of its composition.
Most often, the term “molecules” refers to multiple atoms; a molecule may be composed of a
single chemical element, as with oxygen (O2), or of multiple elements, such as water (H2O).
Molecules are neutral and carry no charge; this property distinguishes them from polyatomic ions,
such as nitrate (NO3–).

Ions

An ion is an atom or molecule that has a net electrical charge because its total number of electrons
is not equal to its number of protons.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Compare the different classes of ions

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Key Points

Ions are formed when the number of protons in an atom does not equal the number of electrons. If
more protons are present, the ion is positive and is known as a cation; if more electrons are
present, the ion is negative and referred to as an anion.
Ions are highly reactive species. They are generally found in a gaseous state and do not occur in
abundance on Earth. They are repelled by like electric charges and are attracted to opposite
charges.
The electron cloud of an atom determines the size of the atom; added electrons (anions) increase
the electron repulsion, increasing the ion’s size, while cations (with less electrons) are smaller
than the atom because there are fewer electrons in the cloud to repel each other.
Key Terms

ion: An atom or group of atoms bearing an electrical charge, such as the sodium and chlorine
atoms in a salt solution.
anion: Ions that are negatively charged because they have more electrons than protons.
cation: Ions that are positively charged because they have more protons than electrons.
An atom is a basic unit of matter that consists of a dense nucleus composed of positively charged
protons and neutral neutrons, which is surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. If an
atom has the same number of protons and electrons, it is electronically neutral. However, if the
total number of electrons does not equal the number of protons, the atom has a net electrical
charge.

Any atom or molecule with a net charge, either positive or negative, is known as an ion. An ion
consisting of a single atom is a monoatomic ion; an ion consisting of two or more atoms is
referred to as a polyatomic ion. The positive electric charge of a proton is equal in magnitude to
the negative charge of an electron; therefore, the net electric charge of an ion is equal to its
number of protons minus its number of electrons.
Ions are highly reactive species. They are generally found in a gaseous state and do not occur in
abundance on Earth. Ions in the liquid or solid state are produced when salts interact with their
solvents. They are repelled by like electric charges and are attracted to opposite charges.

Types of Ions

There are specialized types of ions. Anions have more electrons than protons and so have a net
negative charge. Cations have more protons than electrons and so have a net positive charge.
Zwitterions are neutral and have both positive and negative charges at different locations
throughout the molecule. Anions are generally larger than the parent molecule or atom, because
the excess electrons repel each other and add to the physical size of the electron cloud. Cations are
generally smaller than their parent atom or molecule due to the smaller size of their electron
clouds.