The Periodic Table
1. What is the Periodic Table?
The Periodic Table is a chart that organizes all known elements based
on their atomic number and properties.
It was developed by Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869 and has been refined
over time.
2. Structure of the Periodic Table
a. Groups
Definition: Vertical columns in the Periodic Table.
There are 18 groups.
Elements in the same group have similar chemical properties
because they have the same number of valence electrons.
Example:
Group 1 (Alkali Metals) all have 1 electron in their outer shell.
b. Periods
Definition: Horizontal rows in the Periodic Table.
There are 7 periods.
Elements in the same period have the same number of electron
shells.
Example:
Elements in Period 2 have 2 electron shells.
3. Classification of Elements
Elements are classified into three main types:
Type Properties Example
Metals Shiny, good conductors of heat and Sodium (Na),
electricity, malleable, ductile Copper (Cu)
Non- Dull, poor conductors, brittle Oxygen (O),
metals Carbon (C)
Metalloi Have properties of both metals and non- Silicon (Si), Boron
ds metals (B)
4. Key Groups in the Periodic Table
Group 1: Alkali Metals
Examples: Lithium (Li), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K)
Properties:
o Very reactive (stored in oil to prevent reactions).
o Soft metals, low melting points.
o React with water to form alkaline solutions.
Group 2: Alkaline Earth Metals
Examples: Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca)
Properties:
o Less reactive than Group 1.
o Found in minerals in the Earth’s crust.
Group 7: Halogens
Examples: Fluorine (F), Chlorine (Cl), Bromine (Br)
Properties:
o Non-metals that are very reactive.
o React with metals to form salts.
Group 0: Noble Gases (Group 18)
Examples: Helium (He), Neon (Ne), Argon (Ar)
Properties:
o Unreactive (inert gases) because they have a full outer shell of
electrons.
o Used in lighting (e.g., neon lights) and balloons.
5. Periodic Trends
a. Atomic Number
The Periodic Table is arranged in order of increasing atomic number
(number of protons).
b. Reactivity
Group 1 (Metals): Reactivity increases as you go down the group.
Group 7 (Non-Metals): Reactivity decreases as you go down the
group.
c. Metallic and Non-Metallic Properties
Metallic properties increase as you go down a group.
Non-metallic properties increase as you go across a period (left to
right).
6. Transition Metals
Found in the middle block of the Periodic Table (Groups 3–12).
Properties:
o Good conductors of heat and electricity.
o Form colored compounds.
o Can have multiple oxidation states (charges).
o Examples: Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn).
7. Importance of the Periodic Table
Organizes elements in a clear, logical way.
Predicts the properties and behaviors of elements.
Helps scientists identify trends and relationships between elements.
Key Scientists to Remember
Dmitri Mendeleev: Created the first Periodic Table.
Henry Moseley: Arranged the elements by atomic number.
Summary
Example
Group Elements Key Features
Group 1 Li, Na, K Very reactive metals, soft
Group 2 Mg, Ca Less reactive, found in Earth's
crust
Group 7 F, Cl, Br Reactive non-metals, form
salts
Group 0 He, Ne, Ar Unreactive gases, full electron
shells
Transition Fe, Cu, Zn Conductors, colored
Metals compounds
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Who created the first version of the Periodic Table?
A) Henry Moseley
B) Dmitri Mendeleev
C) Ernest Rutherford
D) Niels Bohr
2. What is a group in the Periodic Table?
A) Horizontal row
B) Vertical column
C) Central block
D) Number of electrons
3. How many groups are there in the Periodic Table?
A) 7
B) 18
C) 10
D) 12
4. Elements in the same group have the same number of:
A) Neutrons
B) Protons
C) Electron shells
D) Valence electrons
5. Which group is known as the Noble Gases?
A) Group 1
B) Group 2
C) Group 7
D) Group 0
6. Which of the following is a property of metals?
A) Poor conductor of heat
B) Shiny appearance
C) Brittle
D) Low melting point
7. Group 1 elements are also called:
A) Halogens
B) Noble gases
C) Alkali metals
D) Transition metals
8. What happens to reactivity in Group 1 as you go down the group?
A) Increases
B) Decreases
C) Stays the same
D) Varies randomly
9. Which element is a Halogen?
A) Sodium (Na)
B) Neon (Ne)
C) Chlorine (Cl)
D) Magnesium (Mg)
10. What is the main characteristic of Noble Gases?
A) Very reactive
B) Form colored compounds
C) Have full outer electron shells
D) Conduct electricity
11. Transition metals are found in which part of the Periodic Table?
A) Left side
B) Right side
C) Middle block
D) Bottom row
12. Which element is a metal?
A) Carbon (C)
B) Calcium (Ca)
C) Oxygen (O)
D) Helium (He)
13. What is common to all elements in Period 3?
A) Same number of protons
B) Same number of electron shells
C) Same chemical properties
D) Same mass number
14. Which property increases as you go across a period (left to
right)?
A) Metallic properties
B) Non-metallic properties
C) Reactivity of metals
D) Number of shells
15. Which group reacts with metals to form salts?
A) Group 1
B) Group 2
C) Group 7
D) Group 0
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
1. The Periodic Table organizes elements in order of increasing
.
2. The vertical columns in the Periodic Table are called .
3. Dmitri Mendeleev arranged the elements based on their .
4. Elements in the same period have the same number of
.
5. Group 1 elements are called .
6. Group 7 elements are known as .
7. The group of unreactive gases is called .
8. Metals are good conductors of and .
9. Non-metals are usually and (properties).
10. The central block of the Periodic Table contains the
metals.
Noble gases Properties Electron shells Heat Electricity Alkali
metals Transition Halogens Brittle Dull Groups Atomic
number
Answers
MCQ Answers
1. B) Dmitri Mendeleev
2. B) Vertical column
3. B) 18
4. D) Valence electrons
5. D) Group 0
6. B) Shiny appearance
7. C) Alkali metals
8. A) Increases
9. C) Chlorine (Cl)
10. C) Have full outer electron shells
11. C) Middle block
12. B) Calcium (Ca)
13. B) Same number of electron shells
14. B) Non-metallic properties
15. C) Group 7
Fill-in-the-Blank Answers
1. Atomic number
2. Groups
3. Properties
4. Electron shells
5. Alkali metals
6. Halogens
7. Noble gases
8. Heat, electricity
9. Brittle, dull
10. Transition
