Chapter 8 The Periodic Table

114 elements are present in the modern periodic table. Many attempts were made to arrange the elements in accordance to some properties. According to Dobereiners triads, if elements with similar properties were grouped in the form of a triad and placed in an increasing order of their atomic weights therein, then the atomic weight of the element placed in the middle was approximately equal to the average of the atomic masses of the other two elements of the triad. According to Newlands Law of Octaves, if the elements are arranged in the increasing order of their atomic mass, then the properties of the eighth element are similar to those of the first one. Therefore, the properties of fluorine (eighth element starting from hydrogen) are similar to those of hydrogen. Similarly, the properties of sodium are similar to those of lithium; the properties of magnesium are similar to those of beryllium, and so on. Limitations of Newlands Law of Octaves: It was not applicable throughout the arrangement. It was applicable only till calcium. Newlands assumed that only 56 elements would exist in nature and believed that no more elements would be discovered. However, several elements were discovered in the following years. The positions of cobalt and nickel could not be explained according to Newlands Law of Octaves. They were placed in the same column as fluorine and chlorine, which have completely different properties. The properties of iron are similar to those of cobalt and nickel. However, iron was placed in a different group. According to Mendeleevs periodic table, the properties of elements are a periodic function of their atomic masses. Achievements of Mendeleevs periodic table: Mendeleev left some gaps in his periodic table. He had predicted that some elements were yet to be discovered. These elements were discovered later as he predicted. What was even more astonishing was that even the properties of these elements were similar to those that were predicted by Mendeleev. Noble gases were not discovered at the time when Mendeleev gave the periodic table. These were discovered after a long time. The accommodation of these gases in the periodic table did not disturb the positions of other elements. Limitations of Mendeleevs periodic table: Hydrogens position was not justified in Mendeleevs periodic table. The discovery of isotopes revealed another limitation of Mendeleevs periodic table since Mendeleevs periodic table was based on atomic masses of elements.

 Although Mendeleev arranged the elements in the increasing order of their atomic masses, there were instances where he placed an element with a slightly higher atomic mass before an element with a slightly lower atomic mass. The modern periodic table: The modern periodic table is divided into 18 vertical columns called groups and 7 horizontal rows called periods. Elements in the same group have similar chemical properties. Each group is subdivided into 2 parts group elements or normal elements and transition elements. Transition elements start from the fourth period. Inner-transition elements are placed between the representative and the transition elements. Hydrogen Hydrogen is the simplest element. It is the first member of the periodic table. It has one electron in its K-shell. It belongs to IA group of the periodic table. It occurs in free as well as in combined state. It is prepared when water reacts with metals or by electrolysis. In the laboratory, it is prepared by reacting zinc with dilute sulphuric acid. It is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas. It burns with a pale blue flame, but does not support combustion. It reacts with unsaturated hydrocarbons in the presence of appropriate catalyst to form saturated hydrocarbons. It is used in the manufacture of ammonia, vegetable oils, and hydrochloric acid. Carbon Carbon has an atomic number 6 and an atomic mass of 12 u. It occurs in free as well as in combined state. The phenomenon due to which an element exhibits different physical forms is called allotropy. Carbon is considered to have two main kinds of allotropes i.e., crystalline and amorphous. Some amorphous forms of carbon are: 1. Charcoal 2. Lampblack or soot 3. Coal The destructive distillation of dry wood results in the formation of wood charcoal. Sugar charcoal is prepared by destructive distillation of sugar. Bone charcoal is prepared by destructive distillation of bones. Nitrogen Nitrogen has an atomic number 7 and an atomic mass of 14 u.

 It occurs in free as well as in combined state. It is prepared by liquefaction of atmospheric air and by reaction between sodium nitrite and ammonium chloride. It is used in the manufacture of NH3 and industrial chemicals. It is used as a refrigerant to preserve biological materials and food items. It is also used in iron and steel industry where an inert atmosphere is required. Chlorine Chlorine has an atomic number 17 and an atomic mass of 35.5 u. It does not occur in free state as it is highly reactive in nature. Laboratory methods of preparation of chlorine 1. By the oxidation of conc. HCl and manganese dioxide (MnO2 ) 2. By the action of HCl on KMnO4 Physical properties of chlorine: 1. It is a greenish yellow gas. 2. It has a pungent smell. 3. It has a slight sour taste. 4. It is fairly soluble in water. 5. It is 2.5 times heavier than air. 6. It is poisonous in nature. When inhaled, it causes severe headache accompanied by cough and breathlessness. Chemical properties of chlorine: 1. Chlorine gas is non-combustible. 2. Chlorine reacts with water to form hypochlorous acid. 3. It reacts with burning sodium to form sodium chloride. 4. When white phosphorus comes in contact with chlorine, it melts and spontaneously catches fire to form dense white fumes. 5. It has strong affinity for hydrogen. 6. It reacts with slaked lime to give bleaching powder. 7. HOCl releases nascent oxygen, which is responsible for oxidising and bleaching action. 8. Bleaching effect of Cl2 is permanent. It bleaches vegetable or organic matter in the presence of moisture.
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