Activity 4.

Patterns in the atomic volumes of the elements

Information and advice

This is an activity in which students process and interpret second-hand data, which not only provides training in many important skills but also enables them to understand and appreciate some of the rigorous thinking behind the development of the Periodic Table.

Suggested solutions to pre-lab activity: Focus questions

1 a b The rapid movement of the electrons of the atom, and their maximum distance from the nucleus define the radius of the atom and hence its volume. They should have the same size since they have the same number of protons in their nucleus attracting the electrons towards the nucleus and the same electron configuration of the uncharged atom. 7.9 g cm3 52 cm3 Factors include the masses of the atoms, the volume of the particles present (atoms or molecules) and how closely they pack together in the solid. When making a particular-sized object, it affects the weight of the object and hence how much fuel is needed to transport it and how much energy is required to lift it in place.

a b c d

a b c d e f

V =

4 3

r 3

4 5

0.03 cm3 2.1
1022 cm3 2.70
1020 cm3 130 times greater The uncharged sodium atom has two more occupied shells of electrons than the uncharged hydrogen atom. This law stated that if the elements were listed in order of increasing atomic weight, about every 8th element would have similar properties. It was proposed by John Newlands. Student responses.

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Student Activity Manual solutions and information, Chapter 4

Suggested solutions to calculations from second-hand data

1 Table 4.1 Properties of the elements Element Symbol Atomic weight (relative atomic mass)
1.0 6.9 9.0 10.8 12.0 14.0 16.0 19.0 23.0 24.3 27.0 28.1 31.0 32.1 35.5 39.1 40.1 45.0 47.9 50.9 52.0 54.9 55.8 58.7 58.9 63.5 65.4 69.7 72.6 74.9 79.0 79.9 85.5 87.6 88.9 91.2

Density (g cm3)
0.07 (l) 0.53 1.85 2.34 2.26 (graphite) 0.81 (l) 1.15 (O2, l) 1.51 (l) 0.97 1.74 2.70 2.33 1.82 (white) 2.07 (rhombic) 1.56 (l) 0.86 1.55 3.0 4.50 6.1 7.19 7.43 7.86 8.90 8.90 8.96 7.14 5.91 5.32 5.72 (grey) 4.80 (grey) 3.12 1.53 2.6 4.47 6.49

Relative atomic volume (cm3)*

1 13 4.9 4.62 5.31 17 13.9 12.6 24 14.0 10.0 12.1 17.0 15.5 22.8 45 25.9 15 10.6 8.3 7.23 7.39 7.10 6.60 6.62 7.09 9.16 11.8 13.6 13.1 16.5 25.6 55.9 34 19.9 14.1

Hydrogen Lithium Beryllium Boron Carbon Nitrogen Oxygen Fluorine Sodium Magnesium Aluminium Silicon Phosphorus Sulfur Chlorine Potassium Calcium Scandium Titanium Vanadium Chromium Manganese Iron Nickel Cobalt Copper Zinc Gallium Germanium Arsenic Selenium Bromine Rubidium Strontium Yttrium Zirconium

H Li Be B C N O F Na Mg Al Si P S Cl K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Ni Co Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Rb Sr Y Zr

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Student Activity Manual solutions and information, Chapter 4

Element

Symbol

Atomic weight (relative atomic mass)

Density (g cm3)
8.57 10.2 12.4 12.4 12.0 10.5 8.65 7.31 7.30 (white) 6.68 4.94 6.24 1.87 3.50

Relative atomic volume (cm3)*

10.8 9.40 8.15 8.30 8.87 10.3 13.0 15.7 16.3 18.2 25.7 20.4 71.1 39.2

Niobium Molybdenum Ruthenium Rhodium Palladium Silver Cadmium Indium Tin Antimony Iodine Tellurium Caesium Barium
*

Nb Mo Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb I Te Cs Ba

92.9 95.9 101.1 102.9 106.4 107.9 112.4 114.8 118.7 121.8 126.9 127.6 132.9 137.3

Note: According to conventional practice, the number of significant figures in the answer has been determined by the number of significant figures in the experimental data (in this case, density).

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Student Activity Manual solutions and information, Chapter 4

Figure 4.1

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Student Activity Manual solutions and information, Chapter 4

Figure 4.2

Suggested solutions to discussion questions

1 Student response. (If you examine the peaks of the graphs of atomic volume against atomic weight, Na is the 8th element counting from Li, and K is the 8th element counting from Na, but the other peaks do not occur at the 8th element. If you examine the troughs on this graph, Al is the 8th element after B, but these are the only ones that appear to obey the rule. Hence we can conclude that for the lighter elements only, there is some evidence to support the law.) Student response. A possible answer is shown next, based on positions of peaks in graph of atomic volume against atomic weight and troughs of graph of density against atomic weight.

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Student Activity Manual solutions and information, Chapter 4

Table 4.2 Sorting the elements

H Li Be B C N O F Na Mg Al Si P S Cl K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Ni Co Cu Zn Ga As Se Br Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb I Te Cs Ba

Student response. A possible answer is shown next, based on fact that B and Al show similar patterns, Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs show similar patterns but not the same as H, and removing N from pattern since it is not a solid and therefore its density and hence calculated atomic volume are not compared fairly against those of most of the other elements. We place elements that display peaks or troughs or very similar values in same vertical columns. Table 4.2 Sorting the elements
H Li Na K Be Mg Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo Ba B Al Ni, Co, Cu Ru, Rh, Pd C Si Ga N P As O S Se F Cl Br

Rb Cs

Ag

Cd

In, Sn

Sb, I, Te

a b c

24 times bigger This is much smaller than the theoretical answer of 130. The assumption is that the atoms occupy the entire volume of the sample, i.e. there is no empty space between the atoms, which would decrease the density of the sample. Since atoms are spherical, which means there must be some unoccupied space at least when they pack together, and given the fact many elements do not exist as separate atoms, this assumption leads to quite significant error. The data have been obtained from the work of someone else or a group of other people and not directly by the person now using the data.

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Student Activity Manual solutions and information, Chapter 4

Activity 4.2 Patterns in the valencies of the elements

Information and advice
This is another activity in which students process and interpret second-hand data, which not only provides training in many important skills but also enables them to understand and appreciate some of the rigorous thinking behind the development of the Periodic Table.

Suggested solutions to pre-lab activity: Focus questions

1 An element is one of the possible ingredients from which all substances are made and cannot be further broken down chemically. Its atoms have a unique atomic number. A compound is a substance composed of two or more elements that are chemically combined together in definite proportions and can be broken down into its elements by heating it or passing an electric current through it. a In this compound, there are 3 atoms of hydrogen for each atom of nitrogen. b In this compound, for each 2 atoms of boron there are 3 atoms of oxygen. 4 a 1 b Cl2O c 2 d ZnCl2 Al2O3

2 3 4

Suggested solutions to calculations from second-hand data

1 Table 4.4 Element Symbol Atomic weight (relative atomic mass)
Hydrogen Lithium Beryllium Boron Carbon Nitrogen H Li Be B C N 1.0 6.9 9.0 10.8 12.0 14.0 Not applicable LiH Simplest is B2H6 * Simplest is CH4 * NH3

Formula of hydride

Formula of principal oxide(s)

H2O Li2O BeO B2O3 CO, CO2 N2O, NO, NO2, N2O3, N2O4, N2O5 not applicable F2O Na2O, Na2O2

Valency (valencies) of element *

1 1 2 3 2, 4 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Oxygen Fluorine Sodium

O F Na

16.0 19.0 23.0

H2O HF NaH

2 1 1, 2

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Student Activity Manual solutions and information, Chapter 4

Element

Symbol

Atomic weight (relative atomic mass)

Formula of hydride

Formula of principal oxide(s)

MgO Al2O3 SiO2 PO2, P4O6, P2O5 SO2, SO3 Cl2O, ClO2, Cl2O7 K2O, K2O2, KO2 CaO Sc2O3 TiO2 VO, V2O3, VO2, V2O5 Cr2O3, CrO2, CrO3 MnO, Mn2O3, MnO2, Mn2O7 FeO, Fe2O3 NiO CoO, Co2O3 Cu2O, CuO ZnO Ga2O, Ga2O3 GeO, GeO2 As2O3, As2O5 SeO2, SeO3 BrO2 Rb2O, Rb2O2, RbO2 SrO Y2O3 ZrO2 MoO2, MoO3

Valency (valencies) of element *

2 3 4 2, 3, 4, 5 2, 4, 6 1, 4, 7 1, 2, 4 2 3 4 2, 3, 4, 5 3, 4, 6 2, 3, 4, 7 2, 3 2 2, 3 1, 2 2 1, 3 2, 4 3, 5 2, 4, 6 1, 4 1, 2, 4 2 3 4 4, 6

Magnesium Aluminium Silicon Phosphorus Sulfur Chlorine Potassium Calcium Scandium Titanium Vanadium Chromium Manganese Iron Nickel Cobalt Copper Zinc Gallium Germanium Arsenic Selenium Bromine Rubidium Strontium Yttrium Zirconium Niobium Molybdenum Ruthenium Rhodium Palladium

Mg Al Si P S Cl K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Ni Co Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Ru Rh Pd

24.3 27.0 28.1 31.0 32.1 35.5 39.1 40.1 45.0 47.9 50.9 52.0 54.9 55.8 58.7 58.9 63.5 65.4 69.7 72.6 74.9 79.0 79.9 85.5 87.6 88.9 91.2 92.9 95.9 101.1 102.9 106.4

MgH2 AlH3 Simplest is SiH4 * PH3 H2S HCl KH CaH2 GaH, Ga2H6 GeH4, Ge2H6 AsH3 H2Se HBr RbH SrH2

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Student Activity Manual solutions and information, Chapter 4

Element

Symbol

Atomic weight (relative atomic mass)

Formula of hydride

Formula of principal oxide(s)

Ag2O CdO In2O3 SnO, SnO2 Sb2O3, Sb2O4, Sb2O5 I2O4, I2O5 TeO2, TeO3 Cs2O, CsO2 BaO, BaO2

Valency (valencies) of element *

1 2 1, 3 2, 4 3, 4, 5 1, 4, 5 4, 6 1, 4 2, 4

Silver Cadmium Indium Tin Antimony Iodine Tellurium Caesium Barium

Ag Cd In Sn Sb I Te Cs Ba

107.9 112.4 114.8 118.7 121.8 126.9 127.6 132.9 137.3

InH SnH4 SbH3 HI CsH BaH2

*Note that these have been based on the assumption from the data in the exercise that oxygen only exhibits a valency of 2. The bolded number is the valency of the element in its hydrogen compound. Where a hydrogen compound does not exist, the lowest valency of the element in its oxygen compound is bolded instead.

Figure 4.3

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Student Activity Manual solutions and information, Chapter 4

Suggested solutions to discussion questions

1 Student response. One possible answer is shown below, based primarily on the formulas of hydrides and then on formulas of oxides. The order of I and Te has been switched so that they fall into columns that better suit the formulas of their compounds. The italicised elements in row 5 may be placed in a separate column of their own.
H Li Na K Rb Cs Be Mg Ca Sr Ba (Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn) (Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Cd, Ag) B Al Ga In C Si Ge Sn N P As Sb O S Se Te F Cl Br I

Student response. (Students should put H in a different group to the other elements in the above column (Li etc), given that its density and atomic volume do not fall into the same patterns as those of Li etc.) Possible answers may include: The data for density jumps about and is difficult to compare for substances that are not solid at room temperature. There are no clear-cut rules, as there is still variation within each column. The data may be inaccurate, which may affect the patterns observed. The data on formulas of compounds did not show a clear pattern unless the graph focused on one of the values of valency for each elementwhere possible, deduced from its hydride. More data than this are needed to confirm positions, particularly for elements where no hydride or oxide was known. A spiral table would better show the continual increase in atomic weight and the corresponding trends in properties. a The early periodic table was based on experimental data only, including atomic weights of elements that were deduced from relative weights of substances reacting. The elements were listed in order of increasing atomic weight and placed into the same vertical column as those with similar properties. In the modern Periodic Table the elements are listed in order of increasing atomic number (which was deduced from experimental data), and they are still primarily placed into columns that are based on properties, although electron configurations also are taken into account. b The basis of organisation has changed because it was found that there were elements that needed to be placed out of order of atomic weight, if they were to be placed in the same column as elements with similar properties. Listing in order of increasing atomic number overcomes this problem. The repeating patterns in properties of the elements are due to repeating patterns in their electron configurations, since their properties are primarily determined by their electron configurations.

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Student Activity Manual solutions and information, Chapter 4