ICSE

Class X
Chapter 2
Periodic Properties and Their Variations

Periodic Table: It is a table that classifies all the known elements in accordance with their properties in such a way
that elements with similar properties are grouped together in the same vertical column and dissimilar elements are
separated to one another.
The 115 known elements are arranged in the Periodic Table in order of their increasing atomic number.
The vertical columns are called groups.
The horizontal rows are called periods.
Approaches to periodic classification of Elements:
Dobereiners Triads: In 1817, Dobereiner classified elements having similar chemical properties into groups
of three called triads. He noted that the atomic weight of the middle element in a triad is the arithmetic mean of the
other two.
This is called Dobereiner Law of Triads.

7
Li
23
Na
39
K

At. wt. of sodium =
7 + 39
2
= 23

40
Ca
87
Sr
137
Ba

At. wt. of strontium =
137 + 40
2
= 885

355
Cl


79
Br
127
I

At. wt. of bromine =
355 + 127
2
= 8125

Newlands Law of Octaves: In 1864, Newland arranged elements in the increasing order of the atomic weights
and noticed that the eighth element was similar in physical & chemical properties to the first element, just like the
eight nodes in the music.
This relationship is called Law of Octaves.
Lother Meyers Law: In 1869, Lother Meyer classified that atomic volume is the periodic function of atomic
weight.
Mendeleevs Periodic Law: In 1869, Mendeleev stated the law of chemical periodicity.
The physical and chemical properties of the elements are a periodic function of their atomic weights, i.e. when
the elements are arranged in the increasing order of their atomic weights, the elements with similar properties are
repeated after certain regular intervals.
This is called Mendeleevs Periodic Law.
Remembering Points/You will Recall:
Certain anomalies of Mendeleevs table were:
(i) Position of hydrogen (ii) Position of rare earths
(iii) Position of isotopes (iv) Position of Noble gases
(v) Anomalous pairs of elements (vi) Cause of periodicity.
The Modern Periodic Law of Mosley: The physical and chemical properties of elements are a periodic
function of their atomic numbers.
Long Form of the Periodic Table or Bohrs Table: It is based upon modern periodic law i.e. elements are
arranged according to the increasing order of atomic number.
Seven Horizontal Rows called, periods:
(i) First period consists of 2 elements called shortest period.


(ii) The second and third period consists of 8 elements called short periods.
(iii) Fourth and fifth period consists of 18 elements called long periods.
(iv) Sixth period consists of 32 elements including 14 rare earths called long period.
(v) Seventh period consists of 6 naturally occurring and 13 recently discovered by nuclear reactions called
incomplete long period.
Eighteen vertical columns called groupsnumbered I to VIIA and B, VIII (three columns) and zero.
The elements of IA to VIIA are known as the main group elements or representative elements.
The elements of IB to VIIB and VIII are known as the transition elements.
The elements of zero group or 18th group are called noble gases or inert gases.
Periodicity:
The element appears a repetition not only in their chemical properties but also in the physical properties in
periodic table is called periodicity.
Shells/Orbits: Electrons in an atom revolve around the nucleus in certain selected but fixed concentric circular
paths called shells or orbits. These are associated with a definite amount of energy, so are also called energy levels.
Valence Electrons:
(i) The electron present in the outermost shell of an atom are called valence electrons of the atom.
(ii) On moving from left to right in a period the number of valence electrons increases from 1 to 8.
(iii) Certain elements lose electrons in steps and hence show variable valency e.g. Cu, Fe, Ag, Au etc.
(iv) On moving down a group the valence electrons and valency of all the elements in a group remains the
same.
Periodic Properties of Elements:
(i) Atomic size (atomic radii): The radius of an atom may be taken as the distance between the nucleus of the
atom and the outermost shell of the atom.
(ii) Ionization (energy) potential: Ionization energy is the amount of energy absorbed (or required) to remove
one or more electrons from the valency shell of an isolated gaseous atom.
(iii) Electron affinity: Electron affinity is the amount of energy released when one or more electron is added
to outermost shell of an isolated gaseous atom.
X (g) + e

(g) + E
1
(Exo-energic)
E
1
is first electron affinity. Similarly second electron affinity will be the energy released (absorbed) when a
second electron is added.
X

(g) + e

X
2-
(g) + E
2

Generally E
3
> E
2
> E
1

Electron affinity depends on the following factors:
(a) Size of the atom
(b) Nuclear change of the atom
(c) Occupancy of the shells.
(iv) Electro negativity: The tendency of an atom to attract electrons towards itself when combined in a
compound is called electro negativity.
It indicates the nature of chemical bond.
Variation of Periodic Properties in the Periodic Table
Periodic Properties In Group In Period
Atomic size The atomic radii of elements increase in
a group on moving from top to bottom
:
Li Na K Rb
123 157 203 216
The atomic radii of elements decrease
in a period from left to right with an
increase in atomic number :
Na Mg Al Si
157 136 125 117


Ionisation energy The ionisation potential decreases in a
group on going from top to bottom :
Li Na K Rb
54eV 51eV 43eV 42eV
The ionisation potential increases in a
period in going from left to right :
Li Be B C
54eV 93eV 83eV 113eV
Electron affinity On going down a group, electron
affinity decreases.
The electron affinity increases in
going from left to right in a period.
Electronegativity in going Electronegativity gradually decreases
from top to bottom :
Li Na K Rb
10 09 08 08
Electronegativity increases in going
from left to right across the period :
Li Be B C
10 15 20 25
Metallic character The metallic character of elements
increase in a particular group decends
down in that group :
Group V - N P As Sb Bi
Non-metals
metalloid metals
The metallic character of elements
gradually decreases on moving from
left to right.
e.g. 3rd period
Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, Ar
metals Non-metals Inert gas
Non-metallic character Non-metallic character decreases down
the group.
Non-metallic character increases across
a period.
Basic nature of oxides The basic nature of the oxides of the
metals increases down a group.
The basic nature of the oxides decreases
across the period and finally become
acidic.
Chemical Reactivity The chemical reactivity of the metal
increases and of non-metal decreases on
going down the group.
The chemical reactivity of elements just
decreases and then increases from left
to right in a period.
Diagonal relationship: Elements present in second and third periods shows remarkable similarity in properties
because the elements of second period connect their group diagonally with the next group of the Periodic Table.
Hence they are called bridge elements. The relationship between two elements that are diagonally present is called
Diagonal relationship:
IA IIA IIIA IVA
2
nd
Period

3
rd
Period
Li

Na


Be

Mg


B

Al


C

Si

For example: Li shows properties similar to Mg which is placed diagonally to magnesium in Periodic Table.
Atomic number (Z): It is defined as the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom or the number of
electrons revolving around the nucleus.
Mass number (A): It is the total number of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus of the atom.
Relation between atomic number and mass number:
Mass number (A) = No. of protons + No. of neutrons
= Atomic number + No. of neutrons
A = Z + No. of neutrons
No. of Neutrons = A Z
No. of Electrons = Z
No. of Protons = Z
Symbol for the Element :
A
Z
X