Basic Properties: 1.alkali Metals

Basic Properties
1.Alkali Metals
The elements in the first group, lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium
(K), rubidium (Rb), caesium (Cs), and francium (Fr) are called alkali
metals.
They were given the name because they all react with water to form
alkalis.
The alkali metals are all shiny, soft, highly reactive solids at standard
temperature and pressure and readily lose their outermost electron to
form cations with charge +1.
Number of valence electrons = 1
2.Alkali Earth Metals
The elements in the second group, beryllium(Be), magnesium (Mg),

calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), and radium (Ra) are called
alkaline earth metals.
They were given the name because their oxides are alkaline in nature.
They are all shiny, silvery-white, somewhat reactive hard solids at
standard temperature and pressure. They lose two electrons from their
outermost shell to form cations with charge +2.
3.Halogens
The elements in the seventeenth group (F, Cl, Br, I and As) are called
halogens and exist as diatomic molecules. The symbol ‘X’ is often used
generically to refer to any halogen.
They were given the name halogen, from the Greek words, Hal (“salt”)
and gen (“to produce”), because they all produce a wide range of salts
on reacting with metals.
The halogens exist at room temperature in all three states of matter:
Solid – Iodine, Astatine. Liquid – Bromine. Gas – Fluorine, Chlorine.
4.Noble Gases
The elements in the eighteenth group, helium (He), neon (Ne), argon
(Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and the radioactive radon (Rn) are called
noble gases.
They are all odourless, colourless and monatomic gases with very low
chemical reactivity.
Since their valence shell is considered to be “full”, they have little
tendency to participate in chemical reactions.
When discovered and identified, scientists thought they are exceedingly
rare, as well as chemically inert, and therefore these gases were also
given the names ‘rare’ or ‘inert’ gases.
Classification of Modern Periodic Table
The modern periodic table is also classified into metals, non-metals and
metalloids.
1.Metals
Metals are electropositive as they form bonds by losing electrons.

In general cases, oxides of metals are basic in nature.
2.Non-metals
Nonmetals are electronegative as they form bonds by gaining electrons.

In general cases, oxides of non-metals are acidic in nature.
3.Metalloids
The elements which show the properties of both metals and nonmetals
are called metalloids or semimetals.
For example – Boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, tellurium
and polonium.
To know more about Modern Periodic Table and Its Significance, visit
here.
Trends in the Modern Periodic Table
1.Trends in Modern Periodic Table
In a group – Elements have the same number of valence electrons.

Down the group – number of shells increases.
In a period – Elements have the same number of shells.
Along the period – valence shell electrons increase by one unit.
2.Variation of Valency
Valency of an element can be calculated from the electronic

configuration in two ways –
Valency = number of valence electrons (if they are 1, 2, 3 or 4).
Valency = 8 number of valence electrons (if they are 5, 6, 7 or 8).
All the elements of a group have the same number of valence electrons.
Therefore, they all have the same valency.
3.Variation of Atomic Size
Atomic size or radii: It is defined as the distance from the centre of the
nucleus to the valence shell of the atom.
Along the period – Atomic radius decreases because effective nuclear

charge increases by one unit and it pulls valence electrons or the electron
cloud closer to the nucleus.
Down the group – Atomic radius increases because new shells are
added, hence, the distance between the nucleus and valence electrons or
the electron cloud increases.
4.Variation of Metallic Properties
Along the period – Metallic character decreases because the tendency to

lose valence electrons decreases due to increasing nuclear charge.
Down the group – As the distance between the nucleus and outermost
electron increases, nuclear pull decreases. This increases the tendency of
an atom to lose valence electron/s, hence metallic character increases.
5.Variation of Nonmetallic Properties
Along the period – Non-metallic character increases as the tendency to

gain electrons in the valence shell increases due to increasing nuclear
charge.
Down the group – As the distance between the nucleus and valence shell
increases, nuclear pull decreases. This decreases the tendency of an atom
to gain an electron its valence shell, hence non-metallic character
decreases.
6.Variation of Electronegativity
Along the period – Electronegativity increases as the tendency to gain

electrons in the valence shell increases due to increasing nuclear charge.
Down the group – As the distance between the nucleus and valence shell
increases, nuclear pull decreases. This decreases the tendency of an atom
to gain an electron, hence electronegativity decreases.

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Basic Properties

2.Alkali Earth Metals

The elements in the second group, beryllium(Be), magnesium (Mg),

Metals are electropositive as they form bonds by losing electrons.

Nonmetals are electronegative as they form bonds by gaining electrons.

1.Trends in Modern Periodic Table

In a group – Elements have the same number of valence electrons.

Valency of an element can be calculated from the electronic

3.Variation of Atomic Size

Along the period – Atomic radius decreases because effective nuclear

Along the period – Metallic character decreases because the tendency to

5.Variation of Nonmetallic Properties

Along the period – Non-metallic character increases as the tendency to

Along the period – Electronegativity increases as the tendency to gain

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