The Periodic Table of Elements

Elements

• Science has come a long way since Aristotle’s first idea of earth, wind, fire, and air.

• Scientists have identified 90 natural elements and the rest have been created

Elements

• Elements, alone or in combinations, make up our bodies, our world, our sun, our universe!

• The position of an element on the Periodic table reveals a great deal of information about the element

• Understanding the organization of the Periodic Table will help you obtain information of the 118 known elements

The elements of the Periodic Table can be organized into three main categories (Metals, Non-Metals, and Metalloids).

The elements are also categorized into periods or horizontal rows. These periods do NOT show

trends.

• Elements in the Periodic Table are also grouped in families/groups

• Elements in families have similar properties

Families• Families in the Periodic Table share Chemical

Properties because they have the same number of Electrons in the valence shell.

• This means the elements in a family bond with other elements in a similar way to other elements in the same family.

Metals

Properties of Metals• Most are solid at room temperature• Have a luster (means they are shiny)• Are ductile (means they can be drawn into a

wire)• Are malleable (means they can be hammered

into sheets)

Properties of Metals• Have HIGH melting points• Are dense• Good conductors of heat and electricity• A chemical property of metal is its reaction to

air and water. This results in corrosion and rust.

Properties of Metals

• Most metals have 3 or less valence electrons and are more likely to lose these electrons in chemical bonds

• Metals are attracted to magnets

Non-Metals

Non-Metals

Properties of Non-Metals• Many are gases at room temperature• Non-metals are NOT shiny, they are dull• Are brittle and break easily (not ductile or

malleable)• Have a low density

Properties of Non-Metals

• Low melting point• Poor conductors of heat and electricity

Properties of Non-Metals

• Non-Metals have 5 or more valence electrons and therefore usually gain electrons in chemical bonds

Uses of Non-Metals

• Oxygen – Used for respiration for living things, burning of fuels, etc.

• Sulphur – Used for making sulphuric acid, salts of metals, etc.

• Nitrogen – Used for making ammonia which is used for making fertilizers

• Hydrogen – Used as fuel in rockets, welding, etc.• Chlorine – Used to kill germs in water

Metalloids

Metalloids• Metalloids can be found clustered together

around the dark zig-zag line that separates the metals from the non-metals

Properties of Metalloids

• Metalloids have properties of both metals and non-metals

Properties of metalloids

• Metalloids can be shinny or dull

Properties of Non-Metals

• They conduct heat and electricity better than non-metals but not as well as metals

Properties of Metalloids

• Metalloids are malleable and ductile