NAVODAYA VIDYALAYA SAMITI, NOIDA

E-CONTENT FOR CLASS X SCIENCE

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CHAPTER-5

PERIODIC CLASSIFICATION OF ELEMENTS

PERIODIC CLASSIFICATION OF ELEMENTS

1) Classification of elements :-

The arranging of elements into different groups on the

basis of the similarities in their properties is called

classification of elements.

The classification of similar elements into groups makes

the study of elements easier.

There are about 114 different elements known so far.

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2) Early attempts at classification of elements :-

a) The earliest attempt to classify elements was grouping

the then known elements (about 30 elements) into two

groups called metals and non metals.

The defect in this classification was that it had no place

for metalloids (elements which have properties of both

metals and non metals) which were discovered later.

b) Dobereiner’s Triads :-

Dobereiner classified elements in the increasing order of their atomic masses into groups of three elements called triads. In each triad the atomic mass of the middle element was approximately equal to the average atomic mass of the other two elements.

The defect in this classification was that all the then known elements could not be correctly arranged into triads.

c) Newland’s octaves :-

Newland classified the elements in the increasing order of their atomic masses into groups of eight elements called octaves like the notes of music. He found that when the elements were arranged in the increasing order of their atomic masses into octaves then there was similarity of properties in every eighth element.

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The defect in this classification was:-

i) All the known elements and elements discovered later could not be correctly arranged into octaves.

ii) Some elements having different properties were placed in the same rows like cobalt and nickel having different properties are placed along with Fluorine, Chlorine and Bromine. Iron having properties similar to Cobalt and Nickel are placed in different rows.

3a) Mendeleev’s periodic law :-

Mendeleev’s periodic law states that, ‘ The properties of elements are periodic functions of their atomic masses’.

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A B

A B

A B

A B

A B

A B

A B

Transition series

b) Mendeleev’s periodic table :-

Mendeleev classified elements in the increasing order of their atomic masses and similarities in their properties.

The formulae of the oxides and hydrides formed by the elements was also the basis for the classification of the elements.

Mendeleev’s periodic table has 6 horizontal rows called periods and 8 vertical rows called groups. The groups 1 to 7 had two sub groups called A sub group and B sub group. Group 8 had 3 rows of elements. Elements having similar properties were placed in the same groups. There are some spaces left vacant in the table to accommodate the elements to be discovered in future.

Merits of Mendeleev’s periodic table :-

i) Elements were classified on a more fundamental basis of their atomic masses and properties.

ii) Spaces were left vacant to accommodate the elements to be discovered in future.

iii) It could predict the properties of the elements which helped in the discovery of new elements.

iv) The inert gas elements discovered later could be placed in a separate group without disturbing the table.

Defects of Mendeleev’s periodic table :-

i) Some elements are not arranged in the increasing order of their atomic masses. Co is placed before Ni, Te is placed before I etc.

ii) Position of hydrogen is not clear because it shows properties similar to metals as well as non metals.

iii) The position of isotopes of elements is not clear.

4a) Modern periodic law :-

Modern periodic law states that, ‘ The properties of elements are periodic functions of their atomic numbers’.

b) Modern periodic table :-

In the modern periodic table elements are arranged in the increasing

order of their atomic numbers in the form of a table having 7 horizontal

rows of elements called periods and 18 vertical rows of elements called

groups.

i) Periods :-

There are 7 periods of elements as follows :-

First period has 2 elements H and He called very short period.

Second period has 8 elements Li to Ne called short period.

Third period has 8 elements Na to Ar called short period.

Fourth period has 18 elements K to Kr called long period.

Fifth period has 18 elements Rb to Xe called long period.

Sixth period has 32 elements Cs to Rn called very long period.

Seventh period has 28 elements from Fr to atomic number 114

called incomplete period.

14 elements each of he sixth and seventh periods are placed

separately at the bottom of the table.

The 14 elements of the sixth period from La to Lu are called

Lanthanides. and the 14 elements of the seventh period from Ac to Lr

are called Actinides.

ii) Groups :-

There are 18 groups of elements divided into 9 main groups. They are

I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and 0 groups. The groups I to VII has two sub

groups each called A – sub group and B – sub group. Group VIII has 3

rows of elements and 0 group has one row of elements.

The A sub group elements are called normal elements.

The B sub group elements are called transition elements.

Lanthanides and Actinides are called inner transition elements.

Group 1 (I A ) elements are called alkali metals

Group 2 (II A) elements are called alkaline earth metals.

Group 17 (VII A) elements are called halogens.

Group 18 (0 group) are called noble gases.

In a group all the elements have the same number of valence

electrons. Group I elements have 1 valence electron, Group II elements

have 2 valence electron, Group III elements have 3 valence electrons

etc.

In a period all the elements contain the same number of shells.

5. Properties of elements in periods and groups :-

i) Valence electrons :-

In a period the number of valence electrons increases from 1 to 8 from the left to the right and the number of shells is the same.

Eg :- 2^nd Period

Elements - Li, Be, B, C, N, O, F, Ne

AN - 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EC - 2,1 2,2 2,3 2,4 2,5 2,6 2,7 2,8

Valence electrons - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Shells - 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

In a group the number of valence electrons is the same for all the elements but the number of shells increases from top to bottom.

Eg :- Group – I A

Elements AN EC VE Shells

H 1 1 1 1

Li 3 2,1 1 2

Na 11 2,8,1 1 3

K 19 2,8,8,1 1 4

ii) Valency :-

In a period the valency of the elements increases from 1 to 4 and then decreases from 4 to 0 from the left to the right.

Eg :- 2^nd Period

Elements - Li, Be, B, C, N, O, F, Ne

AN - 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EC - 2,1 2,2 2,3 2,4 2,5 2,6 2,7 2,8

Valence electrons - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Valency - 1 2 3 4 3 2 1 0

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In a group the valency is the same for all elements of the group.

Eg :- Group – I A

Elements AN EC VE Valency

H 1 1 1 1

Li 3 2,1 1 1

Na 11 2,8,1 1 1

K 19 2,8,8,1 1 1

iii) Atomic size ( Radius of the atom) :-

In a period the atomic size of the elements decreases from the left to the right because the nuclear charge (number of protons) increases and so the electrons are pulled closer to the nucleus.

Eg :- 2^nd Period

Elements - Li, Be, B, C, N, O, F, Ne

AN - 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EC - 2,1 2,2 2,3 2,4 2,5 2,6 2,7 2,8

No. of protons - 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Atomic size decreases

In a group the atomic size of the elements increases from top to bottom because the number of shells increases and the distance between the nucleus and shells also increases.

Eg :- Group – I A

Elements AN EC VE Shells

H 1 1 1 1 Atomic

Li 3 2,1 1 2 size

Na 11 2,8,1 1 3 increases

K 19 2,8,8,1 1 4

iv) Metallic property (Electropositive nature) :-

In a period the metallic property of the elements decreases from the left to the right.

Eg :- 3^rd Period

Elements - Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, Ar

Metals Metalloid Non metals

Metallic property decreases

In a group the metallic property of the elements increases from the top to the bottom.

Eg :- Group VI A

Elements

Carbon C - Non metal Metallic

Silicon Si - Metalloid property

Germanium Ge - Metalloid increases

Tin Sn - Metal

Lead Pb - Metal

v) Non metallic property (Electronegative nature) :-

In a period the non metallic property of the elements increases from

the left to the right.

Eg :- 3^rd Period

Elements - Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, Ar

Metals Metalloid Non metals

Non metallic property increases

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In a group the non metallic property of the elements decreases from

the top to the bottom.

Eg :- Group VI A

Elements

Carbon C - Non metal Non metallic

Silicon Si - Metalloid property

Germanium Ge - Metalloid decreases

Tin Sn - Metal

Lead Pb - Metal

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