SECTION 3:
FAMILIES OF THE
PERIODIC TABLE
Chapter 19: Elements and their
Properties
LEARNING GOALS
Identify
and describe the properties
of the alkali metals and the alkaline
earth metals.
Differentiate
among the transition
metals.
Identify
and describe the properties
of the halogens and the noble gases.
ALKALI METALS
Group
1 Metals
 Does not include hydrogen.
 Shiny, malleable, and ductile
 Softer than other metals
 Good conductors of heat
and electricity
 Most reactive of all of the
metals!
 Have 1 valence electron that
they give up easily
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
Group
2 Metals
 Shiny, malleable, and
ductile
 Very reactive, but not
as much as group 1
 Have 2 valence
electrons that are easily
given up
TRANSITION METALS
Groups
3-12 Metals
 Shiny, malleable, and ductile
 Often form colorful compounds
 They often have a variable number of
valence electrons

Iron (Fe) can have 2 or 3!
 Includes the lanthanides and actinides
HALOGENS
Group
17 Nonmetals
 Very reactive
 Have 7 valence electrons
Halogens take an electron
from metals to form an ionic
compound called a salt.

 Distinctive colors
 Fluorine (F) is the most
chemically reactive of all
the elements.
THE NOBLE GASES
Group
18 Nonmetals
 Exist as isolated atoms
(not in compounds!)
 Have 8 valence electrons
so they are very stable
 Produce distinctive
glows when electricity is
passed through these
gases