Periodic Classification of Elements

Introduction

In the universe 115 elements have been discovered till today. Each of these
elements possesses different properties. It is difficult to understand and use the
properties of each element. So attempts were made by scientist to understand
and learn the properties of elements in systematic order.

Classification

It means identifying similar species and grouping them together.

Dobereiner’s Triads

In 1817, John Dobereiner, a German chemist, arranged certain elements with

similar properties (both physical and chemical) into groups.A group contain three
elements. He called these groups ‘triads’.

Chracteristics:

1. In a particular triad, elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic

masses.
2. The Atomic mass of second element of a triad is almost equal to mean of
atomic masses of first and third elements.
3. Elements in triad have similar properties
4. Triad 1-

Elements Atomic masses

Lithium(Li) 7
Sodium(Na) 23(7+39/2 = 23)
Potassium(K) 39
Triad 2-

Elements Atomic masses

Calcium(Ca) 40.1
Strontium(Sr) 87.6
Barium(Ba) 137.3

Triad 3-

Elements Atomic masses

Chlorine(Cl) 35.5
Bromine(Br) 80
Iodine(I) 126.9

Limitations:

1. He could not arrange all elements known at that time into triads.
2. He could arrange only 9 elements in triad form. So, Dobereneir’s triads did
not receive wide acceptance. But his discovery led to development of
Periodic Table of elements.

Newland’s law of Octaves:

In 1866,John Newlands, an English scientist arranged the 56 known elements at

that time .He found that every eight element had properties similar to that of the
first element. He compared this to the octaves found in Music
(Sa,Re,Ga,Ma,Pa,Da,Ni,Sa…). So the arrangement is known as ‘Newlands law of
Octaves’.

Chracteristics of Law of Octaves :

1. The elements are arranged in the order of increasing atomic masses.

2. The first element having lowest atomic mass is hydrogen and last element
was the thorium(56th element).
3. Every eight element have properties similar to the first element.
 *Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Da Ni
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 - -
(*Notes of Music)

Limitations of Newland’s law of Octaves:

1. This classification was successful only upto element Calcium.

2. At many places ,2 elements were placed in a single slot.
Eg: Co and Ni
3. Newland thought only 56 elements existed in nature. But this belief proved
wrong as now 115 elements have been discovered which did not follow law
of Octaves.
4. Iron is placed far away from Cobalt and Nickel, which have similar
properties as Iron(Fe).

Mandeleev’s Periodic table:

Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev, a Russian Chemist was the first to makebsignificant

contribution in the formation of periodic table. When he started his work, 63
elements were known. He examined the relationship between the atomic masses
of the elements and their physical and chemical properties. Among chemical
properties, he concentrated mainly on behavior on behavior of hydrides(
compounds with hydrogen) and oxides ( compounds with oxygen) of the
elements. He noted that when elements are arranged in order of increasing
atomic masses,similar properties of the elements repeated after a definite gaps of
atomic masses. On this basis, Mandeleev formulated a periodic law. It was given
in year 1869. This law states that “the properties of elements are periodic
function of their atomic masses.
Chracteristics of mendeleev’s Periodic Table:

1. In the Periodic table, the elements are arranged in vertical coloumns called
groups and horizontal rows known as periods.
2. There are eight groups indicated by Roman Numerals as I,II,III,IV,V,VII,VIII.
3. The elements present from groups I to VI are subdivided into A and B
subgroups n the basis of similarities in properties.
Groups VIII consists of nine elements which are arranged in three triads.
4. There are six periods(numbered from 1 to 6) or horizontal rows in
Mendeleev’s periodic table. Properties of elements in a particular period
show regular increase or decrease from left to right.
Eg: Properties like atomic mass, valency, metallic and non-metallic.

Formation of Oxides:

Oxygen is member of group VI A in Periodic Table