{"id":175,"date":"2018-03-19T15:52:23","date_gmt":"2018-03-19T15:52:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-orgbiochemistry\/chapter\/the-periodic-table\/"},"modified":"2018-09-19T17:54:41","modified_gmt":"2018-09-19T17:54:41","slug":"the-periodic-table","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroecc-orgbiochemistry\/chapter\/the-periodic-table\/","title":{"raw":"2.7 The Periodic Table","rendered":"2.7 The Periodic Table"},"content":{"raw":"
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Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n
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  1. Explain how elements are organized into the periodic table.<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Describe how some characteristics of elements relate to their positions on the periodic table.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    In the 19th century, many previously unknown elements were discovered, and scientists noted that certain sets of elements had similar chemical properties. For example, chlorine, bromine, and iodine react with other elements (such as sodium) to make similar compounds. Likewise, lithium, sodium, and potassium react with other elements (such as oxygen) to make similar compounds. Why is this so?<\/p>\r\n

    In 1864, Julius Lothar Meyer, a German chemist, organized the elements by atomic mass and grouped them according to their chemical properties. Later that decade, Dmitri Mendeleev, a Russian chemist, organized all the known elements according to similar properties. He left gaps in his table for what he thought were undiscovered elements, and he made some bold predictions regarding the properties of those undiscovered elements. When elements were later discovered whose properties closely matched Mendeleev\u2019s predictions, his version of the table gained favor in the scientific community. Because certain properties of the elements repeat on a regular basis throughout the table (that is, they are periodic), it became known as the periodic table<\/span><\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

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    Note<\/h3>\r\n

    Mendeleev had to list some elements out of the order of their atomic masses to group them with other elements that had similar properties.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    The periodic table is one of the cornerstones of chemistry because it organizes all the known elements on the basis of their chemical properties. A modern version is shown in Figure 2.7 \"A Modern Periodic Table\"<\/a>. Most periodic tables provide additional data (such as atomic mass) in a box that contains each element\u2019s symbol. The elements are listed in order of atomic number.\u00a0A modern periodic table lists elements left to right by atomic number.<\/p>\r\n\"\"\r\n

    \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1792\"]\"image\" Figure 2.7 A Modern Periodic Table<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    Features of the Periodic Table<\/h2>\r\n

    Elements that have similar chemical properties are grouped in columns called groups (or families)<\/span><\/span><\/strong>. In the IUPAC system, the groups are simply numbered 1-18.\u00a0 Several countries, including the US and Great Britain, have their own labeling systems with both letters and numbers, but we will use 1-18. \u00a0 Some familes have names\u2014for example, alkali metals<\/em> (the first column of elements), alkaline earth metals<\/em> (the second column of elements), halogens<\/em> (the next-to-last column of elements), and noble gases<\/em> (the last column of elements).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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    Note<\/h3>\r\n

    The word halogen<\/em> comes from the Greek for \u201csalt maker\u201d because these elements combine with other elements to form a group of compounds called salts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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    To Your Health: Radon<\/h3>\r\n

    Radon is an invisible, odorless noble gas that is slowly released from the ground, particularly from rocks and soils whose uranium content is high. Because it is a noble gas, radon is not chemically reactive. Unfortunately, it is radioactive, changing into other radioactive elements through series of nuclear decay events.<\/p>\r\n

    Because radon comes from the ground, we cannot avoid it entirely. Moreover, because it is denser than air, radon tends to accumulate in basements, which if improperly ventilated can be hazardous to a building\u2019s inhabitants. Fortunately, specialized ventilation minimizes the amount of radon that might collect. Special fan-and-vent systems are available that draw air from below the basement floor, before it can enter the living space, and vent it above the roof of a house.<\/p>\r\n

    After smoking, radon is thought to be the second-biggest preventable<\/em> cause of lung cancer in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 10% of all lung cancers are related to radon exposure. It is uncertain what levels of exposure cause cancer, and what the exact causal agent might be, radon gas or one of its solid breakdown products. The US Environmental Protection Agency recommends testing every floor below the third floor for radon levels to guard against long-term health effects.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    Each row of elements on the periodic table is called a period<\/span><\/span><\/strong>. Periods have different lengths; the first period has only 2 elements (hydrogen and helium), while the second and third periods have 8 elements each. The fourth and fifth periods have 18 elements each, and later periods are so long that a segment from each is removed and placed beneath the main body of the table.<\/p>\r\n

    Certain elemental properties become apparent in a survey of the periodic table as a whole. Every element can be classified as either a metal, a nonmetal, or a semimetal, as shown in Figure 2.8 \"Types of Elements\"<\/a>. A metal<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is a substance that is shiny, typically (but not always) silvery in color, and an excellent conductor of electricity and heat. Metals are also malleable (they can be beaten into thin sheets) and ductile (they can be drawn into thin wires). A nonmetal<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0is typically dull and a poor conductor of electricity and heat. Solid nonmetals are also very brittle. As shown in Figure 2.8 \"Types of Elements\"<\/a>, metals occupy the left three-fourths of the periodic table, while nonmetals (except for hydrogen) are clustered in the upper right-hand corner of the periodic table. The elements with properties intermediate between those of metals and nonmetals are called semimetals (or metalloids)<\/span><\/span><\/strong>. Elements adjacent to the bold line in the right-hand portion of the periodic table have semimetal properties, with the exception of aluminum, which is a metal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1794\"]\"image\" Figure 2.8 Types of Elements. <\/em>Elements are either metals, nonmetals, or semimetals. Each group is located in a different part of the periodic table.[\/caption]\r\n

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    Another way to categorize the elements of the periodic table is shown in Figure 2.9 \"Special Names for Sections of the Periodic Table\"<\/a>. The first two columns on the left and the last six columns on the right are called the main group elements<\/span><\/span>.<\/strong> The ten-column block between these columns contains the transition metals<\/span><\/span>.<\/strong> The two rows beneath the main body of the periodic table contain the inner transition metals<\/span><\/span>.<\/strong> The elements in these two rows are also referred to as, respectively, the lanthanide metals<\/strong> and the actinide metals<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1797\"]\"image\" Figure 2.9 Special Names for Sections of the Periodic Table. <\/em>Some sections of the periodic table have special names. The elements lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium are collectively known as alkali metals.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    To Your Health: Transition Metals in the Body<\/h3>\r\n

    According to Table 2.2 \"Elemental Composition of a Human Body\"<\/a>, most of the elemental composition of the human body consists of main group elements. The first element appearing on the list that is not a main group element is iron, at 0.006 percentage by mass. Because iron has relatively massive atoms, it would appear even lower on a list organized in terms of percent by atoms<\/em> rather than percent by mass.<\/p>\r\n

    Iron is a transition metal. Transition metals have interesting chemical properties, partially because some of their electrons are in d<\/em> subshells. (For more information about electron shells, see Section 2.6 \"Arrangements of Electrons\"<\/a>.) The chemistry of iron makes it a key component in the proper functioning of red blood cells.<\/p>\r\n

    Red blood cells transport oxygen from the lungs to cells of the body. Without red blood cells, animal respiration as we know it would not exist. The critical part of the red blood cell is a protein called hemoglobin<\/em>. Hemoglobin combines with oxygen, it from one location to another in the body. Red blood cells and hemoglobin also transport some of the carbon dioxide produced by cells, but carbon dioxide, being somewhat water-soluble, is also transported by blood plasma.\u00a0 Hemoglobin is a relatively large molecule, with a mass of about 65,000 u.<\/p>\r\n

    The crucial atom in the hemoglobin protein is iron. Each hemoglobin molecule has four iron atoms, which act as binding sites for oxygen. It is the presence of this particular transition metal in your red blood cells that allows you to use the oxygen you inhale.<\/p>\r\n

    Other transition metals have important functions in the body, despite being present in low amounts. Zinc is needed for the body\u2019s immune system to function properly, as well as for protein synthesis and tissue and cell growth. Copper is also needed for several proteins to function properly in the body. Manganese is needed for the body to metabolize oxygen properly. Cobalt is a necessary component of vitamin B-12, a vital nutrient. (For more information about proteins and vitamins, see Chapter 18 \"Amino Acids, Proteins, and Enzymes\"<\/a>.) These last three metals are not listed explicitly in Table 2.2 \"Elemental Composition of a Human Body\"<\/a>, so they are present in the body in very small quantities. However, even these small quantities are required for the body to function properly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    The periodic table is organized on the basis of similarities in elemental properties, but what explains these similarities? It turns out that the shape of the periodic table reflects the filling of subshells with electrons, as shown in Figure 2.10 \"The Shape of the Periodic Table\"<\/a>. Starting with the first period and going from left to right, the table reproduces the order of filling of the electron subshells in atoms. Furthermore, elements in the same column share the same valence shell electron configuration. For example, all elements in the first column have a single s<\/em> electron in their valence shells, so their electron configurations can be described as ns<\/em>1<\/sup> (where n<\/em> represents the shell number). This last observation is crucial. Chemistry is largely the result of interactions between the valence electrons of different atoms. Thus, atoms that have the same valence shell electron configuration will have similar chemistry.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1792\"]\"image\" Figure 2.10 The Shape of the Periodic Table.\u00a0<\/em>The shape of the periodic table reflects the order in which electron shells and subshells fill with electrons.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    Example 9<\/h3>\r\n

    Using the variable n<\/em> to represent the number of the valence electron shell, write the valence shell electron configuration for each group.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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    1. the alkaline earth metals<\/li>\r\n \t
    2. the column of elements headed by carbon<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

      [reveal-answer q=\"114438\"]Show Answer[\/reveal-answer]\r\n[hidden-answer a=\"114438\"]<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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      1. The alkaline earth metals are in the second column of the periodic table. This column corresponds to the s subshell being filled with 2 electrons. Therefore, the valence shell electron configuration is ns2.<\/li>\r\n \t
      2. The electron configuration of carbon is 1s2<\/sup>2s2<\/sup>2p2<\/sup>. Its valence shell electron configuration is 2s2<\/sup>2p2<\/sup>. Every element in the same column should have a similar valence shell electron configuration, which we can represent as ns2<\/sup>np2<\/sup>.[\/hidden-answer]<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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        Skill-Building Exercise<\/h3>\r\n
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        Using the variable n<\/em> to represent the number of the valence electron shell, write the valence shell electron configuration for each group.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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        1. the halogens<\/li>\r\n \t
        2. the column of elements headed by oxygen<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

          Atomic Radius<\/h3>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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          The periodic table is useful for understanding atomic properties that show periodic trends. One such property is the atomic radius<\/span><\/span>\u00a0(Figure 2.11 \"Trends on the Periodic Table\"<\/a>). As mentioned earlier, the higher the shell number, the farther from the nucleus the electrons in that shell are likely to be. In other words, the size of an atom is generally determined by the number of the valence electron shell. Therefore, as we go down a column on the periodic table, the atomic radius increases. As we go across<\/em> a period on the periodic table, however, electrons are being added to the same<\/em> valence shell; meanwhile, more protons are being added to the nucleus, so the positive charge of the nucleus is increasing. The increasing positive charge attracts the electrons more strongly, pulling them closer to the nucleus. Consequently, as we go across a period, the atomic radius decreases. These trends are seen clearly in Figure 2.11 \"Trends on the Periodic Table\"<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

          \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1430\"]\"image\" Figure 2.11 Trends on the Periodic Table.\u00a0<\/em>The relative sizes of the atoms show several trends with regard to the structure of the periodic table. Atoms become larger going down a column and smaller going across a period.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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          Example 10<\/h3>\r\n

          Using the periodic table (rather than Figure 2.11 \"Trends on the Periodic Table\"<\/a>), which atom is larger? Explain<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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          1. N or Bi<\/li>\r\n \t
          2. Mg or Cl<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

            [reveal-answer q=\"966899\"]Show Answer[\/reveal-answer]\r\n[hidden-answer a=\"966899\"]<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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            1. Because Bi is below N on the periodic table and has electrons in higher-numbered shells, we expect that Bi atoms are larger than N atoms.<\/li>\r\n \t
            2. Both Mg and Cl are in period 3 of the periodic table, but Cl lies farther to the right.\u00a0 Atoms in the same period but further to the right have more protons in the nucleus and more electrons in the same outer shell.\u00a0 This results in a greater attractive force between the nucleus and the shell, pulling the shell closer to the nucleus.\u00a0 Therefore we expect Mg atoms to be larger than Cl atoms.[\/hidden-answer]<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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              Skill-Building Exercise<\/h3>\r\n
              \r\n\r\nUsing the periodic table (rather than Figure 2.11 \"Trends on the Periodic Table\"<\/a>), which atom is larger?\u00a0 Why?\r\n
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              1. Li or F<\/li>\r\n \t
              2. Na or K<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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                Career Focus: Clinical Chemist<\/h3>\r\n

                Clinical chemistry is the area of chemistry concerned with the analysis of body fluids to determine the health status of the human body. Clinical chemists measure a variety of substances, ranging from simple elements such as sodium and potassium to complex molecules such as proteins and enzymes, in blood, urine, and other body fluids. The absence or presence, or abnormally low or high amounts, of a substance can be a sign of some disease or an indication of health. Many clinical chemists use sophisticated equipment and complex chemical reactions in their work, so they not only need to understand basic chemistry, but also be familiar with special instrumentation and how to interpret test results.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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                Concept Review Exercises<\/h3>\r\n
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                  How are the elements organized into the periodic table?<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/li>\r\n \t

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                  Looking at the periodic table, where do the following elements appear?<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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                  1. the metals<\/li>\r\n \t
                  2. the nonmetals<\/li>\r\n \t
                  3. the halogens<\/li>\r\n \t
                  4. the transition metals<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div><\/li>\r\n \t
                  5. \r\n
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                    Describe the trends in atomic radii as related to an element\u2019s position on the periodic table.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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                    [reveal-answer q=\"377069\"]Show Answer[\/reveal-answer]\r\n[hidden-answer a=\"377069\"]<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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                    1. Elements are organized by atomic number.<\/li>\r\n \t
                    2. a. the left three-quarters of the periodic table b. the right quarter of the periodic table c. the next-to-last column of the periodic table d. the middle section of the periodic table<\/li>\r\n \t
                    3. As you go across the periodic table, atomic radii decrease; as you go down the periodic table, atomic radii increase.[\/hidden-answer]<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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                      Key Takeaways<\/h3>\r\n