4.8
Introduction to the Periodic Table of the Elements
The periodic table shows the elements organized by their chemical properties. The three types
of elements in the table are metals, non-metals, and metalloids. Metals tend to be shiny, malleable,
ductile, and are good conductors of electricity. Non-metals tend to be brittle and are poor conductors.
Metalloids are intermediate in properties between metals and nonmetals and they tend to be semiconductors
of electricity.
Vertical columns on the periodic table represent families of elements with similar chemical properties called
groups. What are known as the main group or representative elements are designated by the numbers 1A
through 8A (Group A elements). The elements known as transition metals (Group B elements) span the
distance between groups 2A and 3A. (An alternate method simply numbers the columns as 1 through 18
across the periodic table.)
Some of the representative groups have specific names since all the elements in that column share similar
chemical properties. Group 1A, a group of highly reactive metals, is called the alkali metals. Group 2A,
also containing very reactive metals, is called the alkaline earth metals. Group 7A is another highly
reactive group of elements known as the halogens. Group 8A, by contrast, contains very unreactive
elements known as the noble gases. The other vertical groups do not have specific names. Below the main
periodic table notice the two groups of inner transition metals: the lanthanides (rare earths) which include
elements 58 to 71 and the actinides which include elements 90 to 103. Note how much wider the transition
metals would be if these were included in the main block of metals.
The numbered rows of elements are called periods, of which there are 7, starting with period 1 containing
just H and He. The periodic table is so named because as atomic numbers increase elements tend to line up
under previous elements with similar properties. Thus, the vertical groups indicated above contain elements
with very similar chemical properties.
Complete the following tasks using the blank periodic table provided. Use you textbook (Ch 4.8) as a
guide.
1. Label the group numbers (1A through 8A) and the periods.
2. Using a dark black pencil, draw a line separating the metals from the non-metals. (Note: hydrogen is a
non-metal.)
3. Using a colored pencil, lightly shade in all areas of the table containing metals.
4. Using another color shade in the metalloids; with a third color shade in the nonmetals.
5. Using a dark black pencil outline the vertical groups containing the alkali metals, alkaline
earth metals, halogens, and noble gases. Put in the group names.
6. Outline the block of transition metals and label it. Label the lanthanides and actinides.
7. Provide a color key in the space below the chart.
8. Now that your chart is finished, note that there are nine major groupings of elements:
metals, nonmetals, metalloids, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, halogens, noble gases,
transition metals, and inner transition metals.
Answer the following questions.
1. List the elements found in group 1A.
2. List the elements that make up the noble gases.
3. List the elements that make up the halogens.
4. List the elements that make up the alkaline earth metals.
5. List the elements that make up the metalloids.
6. Which group includes elements such as copper, silver, gold, and iron?
7. What would you call elements such as C, H, N, O, P, S collectively?
8. a. Having read your text, describe the characteristic properties of metals.
b. Describe the characteristic properties of non-metals.
c. Describe the characteristic properties of metalloids.
9. What sets noble gases apart from other groups in the periodic table?
10. What does the term “periodic table” refer to? Give an example.
11. What is the significance of elements being located within a particular group?