Learning
The Periodic Table of Elements
What is the Periodic Table of
Elements?
Elements are substances that cannot be
broken down any further by chemical means.
There are over 100!
The Periodic Table is the arrangement of
these elements by increasing atomic number
and similar properties.
Elements
Each element on the Periodic Table has an atomic
number, symbol, name and average atomic mass.
Atomic number – the number of protons found in the
nucleus of an atom.
Average atomic mass – the mass of an atom including
the protons, neutrons and electrons.
How is it Arranged?
The elements are put into rows by
increasing ATOMIC NUMBER.
The horizontal rows are called periods
and are labeled 1 to 7.
The vertical rows are called groups and
are labeled 1 to 18
The red lines show the different periods and the green lines show the groups.
Grouped Elements Have
Similarities
Elements in the same group have similar properties.
Remember, groups are columns.
Chemical Property - a property used to characterize
materials in reactions that change their identity. Ex:
burning something.
Physical Property - a characteristic of a substance that
can be observed without changing the substance into
something else. Ex: measuring something’s length,
color, mass or volume.
Metals, Nonmetals and Metalloids
The major categories of elements are the metals,
non-metals, and metalloids.
Metals are lustrous, malleable, and are good
conductors of heat and electricity.
Non-metals are elements that do not share the
properties of metals.
Metalloids are elements that share some, but not
all the properties of metals.
Metals - Lustrous, Malleable, and
Good Conductors?
These are physical properties of metals
Lustrous means shiny or reflective of light.
Coins and jewelry are shiny and reflective .
Malleable means capable of being shaped.
Aluminum foil is shaped or molded around food items to keep them
fresh.
Being a Good Conductor means being able to allow
electricity and heat to flow through.
When you think about the wires we use for
electrical devices, they are mostly made of
copper and other metals.
Alkali Metals
Elements in Group 1 (not including
Hydrogen).
Very reactive metals. Always combine
with something else in nature.
Salt – an Alkali Metal,
Sodium, and another
element, Chlorine,
combined.
Alkaline Earth Metals
Elements in Group 2.
Reactive Metals that are
always combined with non-
metals in nature.
Several of these elements
are important mineral
nutrients, like Calcium.
Transition Metals
Elements in Groups 3-12.
Less reactive, harder metals.
Includes metals used in jewelry, money and
construction.
Boron Family
Elements in Group 13.
Boron has properties of both metals
and non-metals.
The rest of the elements in this
group are metals.
Carbon Family
Elements in Group 14.
Contains elements important to life and
computers.
Carbon is the basic element in all
organic compounds.
Silicon and
Germanium are
important
semiconductors.
Nitrogen Family
Elements in Group 15.
Nitrogen makes up more than ¾ of
our atmosphere.
The red tip of matches is made of
phosphorous.
Oxygen Family or Chalcogens
Elements in Group 16.
Oxygen is necessary for respiration.
Many things that have a bad odor
contain sulfur.
Halogens
Elements in Group 17.
Very reactive, diatomic non-metals.
Always found combined with other
elements in nature.
Chlorine is used to keep bacteria out of
swimming pools.
Noble Gases
Elements in Group 18.
VERY reactive gases.
Used in lighted neon signs.
Helium is used to make party balloons float.
Elements Used Everyday
Can you think of any elements you use every day?
Thank you for your
attention!
