Chapter 5 PERIODIC CLASSIFICATION OF ELEMENTS

Need for the classification of elements:

At present 114 elements are known to us. They all have different properties. As new elements were
discovered, scientist gathered more and more information about the properties of these elements. They
found it difficult to organize all that was known about the elements. So they looked for a pattern on the
basis of which they could study such a large number of elements very easily. Hence the earliest attempt
was to group elements into metals and non metals.
Classification of elements:
The arrangement of element in such manner that element with similar properties are grouped together
while elements with dissimilar properties are separated.
DOBEREINERS TRIADS :( 1817- Johann Wolfgang Dobereiner - A German chemist)
He arranged the elements with similar properties in a group of three known as triad with the increasing
order of atomic masses in such a manner that the atomic mass of the middle element was approximately
the average of the other two elements.
Examples:
The alkali metal group:
S.No
Elements of the triad
symbols
Atmic masses
1
Lithium
Li
7
2
Sodium
Na
23
3
Potassium
K
39
The Alkaline earth metal group:
S.No
Elements of the triad
symbols
Atmic masses
1
Calcium
Ca
40
2
Strontium
Sr
88
3
Barium
Ba
137
Halogen group:
S.No
Elements of the triad
symbols
Atmic masses
1
Chlorine
Cl
35.5
2
Bromine
Br
80
3
Iodine
I
127
LIMITATIONS:
Only three triads were identified from the element known at that time. Hence this classification was not
useful.
NEWLANDS LAW OF OCTAVES: (1866 John Newlands An English Scientist)
He arranged the element in the order of increasing atomic masses starting with hydrogen (least
Atomic mass) and ended with thorium the 56th element.
According to him, when elements are arranged in the order of increasing atomic masses, the properties of
every eighth element are similar to the first element. It was compared to music notation Sa, re, ga, ma, pa,
da, ni, sa and thus the name Newlands law of octaves (notes of music) or Law of Octaves.
Newlands divided the elements into horizontal rows of seven elements. Noble gases or inert
gases were not known at that time.
sa(do)
re(re)
ga(mi)
ma(fa)
pa(so)
da(la)
ni(ti)
H
Li
Be
B
C
N
O
F
Na
Mg
Al
Si
P
S
Cl
K
Ca
Cr
Ti
Mn
Fe
Co and Ni
Cu
Zn
Y
In
As
Se
Br
Rb
Sr
Ce and La
Zr
-

LIMITATIONS:
1. It was applicable only for lighter element having atomic mass up to 40 amu, i.e. up to calcium.
2. He believed that only 56 elements existed in nature but later on more elements were discovered whose
properties did not fit into Newland law of octaves.
3. In order to fit elements into his table, Newlands adjusted two elements in the same slot.
4. Some elements having different properties were grouped together like cobalt and nickel have been
placed with halogens. Iron which resembles cobalt and nickel in properties has been placed far away from
these elements.
Due to above limitations, Newland law of octave was rejected.
MANDELEEVS PERIODIC TABLE: (1834 Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev Russian chemist)
He started his work with 63 elements.
He examined the relationship between the atomic masses of the elements and their physical and
chemical properties.
Among chemical properties he was concerned on the compounds formed by elements with oxygen
and hydrogen.
He selected hydrogen and oxygen because they were very reactive and formed compounds with
most elements.
The formula of the hydrides and oxides formed by an element were treated as one of the basic
properties of an element for its classification.
He arranged the elements in order of increasing atomic masses, similarity in physical and chemical
properties of element.
Properties of hydrides and oxides of different element were studied and elements with similar
properties were grouped together.
He classified the elements in table consisted of vertical columns called groups and horizontal rows
called periods.
There were 8 groups in table and group is subdivided into subgroups A and B except group 8 which
has three sets of elements in 4th, 5th, 6th period.
The first seven groups consist of normal elements and the eighth group consist of transition
elements.
There were 6 periods in his periodic table.
Noble gases were not known at that time.
Mendeleevs periodic law: The properties of elements are the periodic function of their atomic masses.
Mendeleev was guided by two factors:
1. Increasing atomic masses
2. Groping together of elements having similar properties.
1. In order to make sure that the elements having similar properties fell in the same vertical column or
group, Mendeleev left some gap in his periodic table.
These gaps were left for the elements that were not known that time. He could even predict the properties
of these unknown elements by studying the properties of the neighboring elements. These elements were
discovered later and their properties were found to be very close to those predicted by Mendeleev. He
named these unknown elements as eka -boron, eka -aluminium and eka -silicon. eka means first
(Sanskrit). So, eka boron means, first comes boron and then the unknown element. When these
elements were discovered later on, then eka boron was named as Scandium (Sc), eka aluminum wsa
named as Gallium (Ga), and eka silicon was named as Germanium (Ge).
2. In order to make sure that the elements having similar properties fell in the same vertical column or
group, Mendeleev placed a few elements in wrong order of their atomic masses by keeping the elements
with higher atomic mass first and the elements with lower atomic mass later. For example cobalt
(atomic mass 58.9) appeared before nickel (atomic mass 58.7).

Achievements/ merits of Mendeleevs periodic table:

1. Mendeleev periodic law predicted the existence of some elements that had not been discovered at that
time. Example: Gallium, Scandium and Germanium.
2. It could predict the properties of several elements on the basis of their position in the periodic table.
Properties of Gallium, Scandium and Germanium were predicted.
3. Mendeleevs periodic table could accommodate noble gases when they were discovered.
Anomalies or limitations of Mendeleevs periodic table:
1. Position of hydrogen was not assigned correctly. Hydrogen resembles alkali metals and halogens in
some of its properties.
(a) Resemblance with Alkali metals:
i. Electronic configuration of hydrogen resembles that of alkali metals.
ii. Like alkali metals, hydrogen combines with halogen, oxygen and sulphur to form compounds having
similar formulae.
Elements with which it forms
Compounds of
Compounds os alkali metal
compounds
hydrogen
sodium
Halogen chlorine
HCl
NaCl
Oxygen
H2O
Na2O
Sulphur
H2S
Na2S
(b) Resemblance with halogen:
(i) Both hydrogen and halogen exist as diatomic molecules. (H2, F2, Cl2, Br2, I2)
(ii) Both combine with metals and non metals. Just like halogens hydrogen combine with certain metals to
form ionic compounds. (NaCl, CaCl2 - NaH, CaH2). It also reacts with non metals to form covalent
compounds. (CCl4 CH4)
2. No separate position has been given to isotopes of an element. Isotopes are the atoms of the same
elements having similar chemical properties but different atomic masses. According to Mendeleev
elements were arranged in increasing order of atomic mass, then isotopes should be given a separate
position.
3. Some element having higher atomic mass are placed before the elements with lower atomic mass. For
example cobalt (atomic mass 58.9) appeared before nickel (atomic mass 58.7). He was not able to explain
this abnormal situation of wrong order of atomic masses.
MODERN PERIODIC TABLE: (1913 Henry Moseley)
Henry Moseley modified the Mendeleevs periodic table by taking atomic number as the fundamental
property instead of atomic mass.
Modern periodic law: Properties of elements are a periodic functions of their atomic number.
Explanation of the anomalies of Mendeleevs classification of elements:
1. Explanation for the position of isotopes: Since all the isotopes of an element have the same atomic
number, they can be put at one place in the same group of the periodic table.
2. Explanation for the position of cobalt and Nickel: Atomic number of Cobalt is 27 and that of Nickel is
28. So, Cobalt with lower atomic number should come first and Nickel with higher atomic number should
come later even if their atomic masses are in the wrong order.
Modern periodic table consists of 18 vertical columns known as group, and 7 horizontal rows
known as periods.
GROUPS:
The vertical columns in a periodic table are called groups.
All elements in a group do not have consecutive atomic number.
All the elements in a group have similar outer shell electronic configurations and show identical
chemical properties.
3

 All the elements in a group have same number of Valance electron and valency.
The number of shells increases as we go down the group.
Elements in group 1 are called alkali metals.
Elements in group 2 are called alkaline earth metals.
Elements in group 17 are called halogens.
Group 18 elements are called inert gasses or noble gases.
PERIODS:
The horizontal rows of elements in a periodic table are called periods.
The number of elements in a period is fixed by the maximum number of electrons which can be
accommodated in the various shells of an atom. For example 1 st period has 2 elements because the
first shell (K shell) of an atom can take a maximum of 2 electrons only.
The number of shell present in the element indicates the period to which it belongs.
All the elements of a given period have different number of valence electrons in their atoms, so
they have different electronic configurations.
Because of different electronic configurations of elements in a period they show different
properties.
1ST PERIOD 2 elements and is called very short period.
2nd PERIOD- 8 elements and are called short period.
3rd PERIOD 8 elements and are called short period.
4th PERIOD 18 elements and are called long period.
5th PERIOD 18 elements and are called long period.
6th PERIOD 32 elements and are called very long period.
7th PERIOD contain the rest of the elements. It is incomplete period.
Trends in the Modern periodic table:
1. Valence electrons (outermost electrons):
(a) Along a period: On moving from left to right in a period, the number of valence electrons in elements
increases from 1 to 8
Elements of
Na (11)
Mg (12)
Al (13)
Si (14)
P (15)
S (16)
Cl (17)
Ar (18)
third period
Electronic
2,8,1
2,8,2
2,8,3
2,8,4
2,8,5
2,8,6
2,8,7
2,8,8
configuration
Number of
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
valence
electrons
(b) Within a group: All the elements of a group of the periodic table have the same number of valence
electrons.
Group -1
Elements
Electronic configuration Number of valence electrons
Li(3)
2,1
1
Na(11)
2,8,1
1
K(19)
2,8,8,1
1

The group number of elements having up to two valence electrons is equal to the number of
valence electrons.
The group number of elements having more than two valence electrons is equal the number of
valence electrons plus 10

The numbers of electrons in various groups are as follows:

Group number Number of
valence electrons
1
1
2
2
13
3
14
4
15
5
16
6
17
7
18
8
2. Valency: It is defined as the combing capacity of an atom of an element to acquire noble gas
configuration. It is equal to the number of electron lost, gained or shared during the formation of chemical
compound.
(a) Along a period: On moving from left to right in each short period, the valency of elements increases
from 1 to 4 and then decrease to zero.
Elements of
Na (11)
Mg (12)
Al (13)
Si (14)
P (15)
S (16)
Cl (17)
Ar (18)
third period
Electronic
2,8,1
2,8,2
2,8,3
2,8,4
2,8,5
2,8,6
2,8,7
2,8,8
configuration
Number of
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
valence
electrons
Valency
1
2
3
4
8-5 = 3
8-6 = 2
8-7 = 1
8-8 = 2
(b) Within a group: All the elements of a group of the periodic table have the same number of valence
electrons, all the elements in a group have the same valency.
Group number Number of
Valency
valence electrons
1
2
13
14
15
16
17
18

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

1
2
3
4
3
2
1
0

3. Atomic size/ Atomic Radii:

It is defined as the distance from the centre of the nucleus to the outer most shell of atom. It is generally
expressed in pico meter (pm).
(a) Along a period: On moving from left to right in a period the size of atoms decrease.
Reason: As we move from left to right the atomic umber increase by one unit. This means that the number
of protons and electrons in the atom increase. Each time the new electron is added in the same shell. Thus
due to greater effective nuclear charge, the electrons are pulled in more close to the nucleus and the size
of atom decreases.
(b) Within a group: On moving down the group the atomic radii increases.

Reason: Because on moving down the group a new energy shell is added which increases the distance
between the outermost electron and the nucleus. All though the nucleus charge also increases, but it is
compensated by the additional shell being added thus, increasing the size of the atom. (or) The effective
nuclear charge experience by the valence electrons decreases because the outermost electron is far away
from the nucleus.
4. Metallic character:
(a) Along a period: On moving from left to right in a period the metallic character (electropositive
character) of elements decreases. On the left side in a period we have metals and on the right side we
have non metals. The elements between metals and non metals are called metalloids or semi metals.
Elements
Na (11)
Mg (12)
Al (13)
Si (14)
P (15)
S (16)
Cl (17)
Ar (18)
of third
period
--------------- Metals-------------------------------------- Metalloid ------------------- Non - Metals --------------------- Metals react by losing electrons and form positive ions, so metals are known as electropositive
elements.
(b) Within a group: On moving down the group the metallic character (electropositive character) of
elements increases.
Group -1
Elements
Symbols
Lithium
Li
Sodium
Na
Potassium K
Rubidium
Rb
Cesium
Cs
Francium
Fr
5. Non - Metallic character:
(a) Along a period: On moving from left to right in a period the non-metallic character (electronegative
character) of elements increases. On the left side in a period we have metals and on the right side we have
non metals. The elements between metals and non metals are called metalloids or semi metals.
Elements
Na (11)
Mg (12)
Al (13)
Si (14)
P (15)
S (16)
Cl (17)
Ar (18)
of third
period
--------------- Metals-------------------------------------- Metalloid ------------------- Non - Metals --------------------- Non - Metals react by gaining electrons and form negative ions, so non metals are known as
electronegative elements.
(b) Within a group: On moving down the group the non - metallic character (electronegative character) of
elements decreases.
Group -17
Elements
Symbols
Fluorine
F
Chlorine
Cl
Bromine
Br
Iodine
I
6. Chemical Reactivity:
(a) Along a period: On moving from left to right in a period, the chemical reactivity of elements first
decreases and then increases.
In the first element of third period, sodium there is 1 valence electron which it can lose to react with other
elements, so it is very reactive. In Magnesium there are 2 valence electron, which is not so easy to lose.
Hence Mg is less reactive than Na. Al and Si have 3 and 4 valence electrons respectively. Hence they are
6

least reactive. The reactivity then increases as the number of valence electrons in P, S, Cl to attain stable
configuration decreases. Phosphorous needs 3 more electrons, sulphur needs 2 more electrons and
Chlorine needs 1 more electron to complete the 8 electron structure.
Elements
Na (11)
Mg (12)
Al (13)
Si (14)
P (15)
S (16)
Cl (17)
of third
period
Chemical
very
least
very
Reactivity reactive
reactive
reactive
Chemical reactivity
Chemical reactivity
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Decreases
increases
(b) Within a group: All the elements of a group have the similar electronic configuration. Hence they show
similar chemical properties. However there is a regular change in the chemical reactivity of elements in a
group.
(i) Down the group reactivity of metal increases as the tendency to lose electron increases due to the
increased atomic size .
(ii) Reactivity of non metals decreases down the group because of the increased atomic size and the
tendency to gain electron decreases.
On moving across the period the reactivity first increases due to the decreased in the metallic
character and increase in nonmetallic character.
7. Nature of Oxides:
Metals: Metal reacts with oxygen to form basic oxides.
Non metals: Non - metals reacts with oxygen to form Acidic oxides.
(a) Along a period: On moving from left to right in a period, the basic nature of oxides decreases and the
acidic nature of oxides increase.
Elements
Na (11)
Mg (12)
Al (13)
Si (14)
P (15)
S (16)
Cl (17)
of third
period
Nature of
Highly
Amphoteric
Highly acidic
Oxides
Basic
Basic Nature of oxides decreases
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acidic Nature of oxides increases
(b) Within a group: on going down in a group o the periodic table, there is no change in the nature of
oxides of elements. Group 1 elements form basic oxides. Group 17 elements form acidic oxides.
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