Trends in the Periodic Table

Trends in Atomic Radii:

The atomic radius (covalent radius) of an atom is defined as half the distance
between the nuclei of two atoms of the same element that are joined together
by a single covalent bond.
• The values of the atomic radii are practically constant across the
transition metals since practically all the transition metals have the same
outer shell electron configuration, e.g. 4s

The values of the atomic radius increase down the groups in the periodic table
for 2 reasons :
1. The additional electrons are going into a new energy level which is
further from the nucleus. Since the outer electrons are becoming further
away from the nucleus , the atomic radius increases.
2. Screening effect of inner electrons : In an atom with many electrons, the
electrons in the inner energy levels help to screen the outer electrons
from the positive charge in the nucleus. Thus some of the attractive
force of the nucleus is lessened by the inner energy levels of electrons,
i.e. atomic radius increases

The values of the atomic radius decreases across a period in the Periodic Table
for 2 reasons :
1. The number of protons in the nucleus increases. Thus , there is a greater
attractive force on the outer electrons. This draws the energy levels
closer to the nucleus. Therefore , the atoms become smaller, i.e. atomic
radius decreases.
2. No increase in screening effect: There is no increase in the screening
effect caused by electrons in inner energy levels. . As there is no
additional energy level of electrons being added to counteract the
increasing attractive force of the nucleus, the size of the atom shrinks ,
i.e. atomic radius decreases
Trends in Ionisation Energy :
The first ionisation energy of an atom is the minimum energy required to
completely remove the most loosely bound electron from a neutral gaseous
atom in its ground state.
Na → Na +e

The values of the first ionisation energy decrease down a group in the Periodic
Table for 2 reasons:
1. There is an increasing atomic radius meaning the outermost electrons
are becoming further away from the attractive force of the nucleus. Thus
it is easier to remove an electron for the outer energy level.
2. Screening effect of inner electrons. The outermost electrons are
somewhat shielded from the attractive force of the positively charged
nucleus and so are easier to remove, i.e. ionisation energy values
decrease.

The values of the first ionisation energy increase across a period in the Periodic
Table for 2 reasons :
1. The effective nuclear charge ( number of protons in nucleus) is
increasing and the attraction between the nucleus and outer electrons is
steadily increasing. More energy is required to remove one of the
electrons from the outermost energy level i.e. ionisation energy values
increase.
2. There is no extra screening of the inner electrons as the same energy
level is being filled.
3. The atomic radius is decreasing meaning an electron in the outermost
level is becoming closer to the nucleus. It is more difficult to remove the
electron due to an increased attraction between it and the nucleus
Further Evidence for the Existence of Energy Levels :
Second ionisation energy is the energy required to remove an electron from an
ion with one positive charge in the gaseous state, .i.e. the energy required to
carry out the following :
X →X +e

Third Ionisation Energy: K →K +e

• Any sublevel that is completely filled or exactly half filled has extra
stability. ( - Ionisation energy values will be higher due to this).
The graph demonstrates that ionisation energies do not increase in a regular
manner when gradually removing each electron from the sodium ion.
Trends in Electronegativity :
The values of electronegativity increase across the periods in the Periodic Table
for 2 reasons:
1. There is a decrease in atomic radius meaning that am electron in the
outermost level is becoming closer to the nucleus. Therefore there is a
greater attraction between the nucleus and these outer electrons.
2. There is an in the effective nuclear charge due to the number of protons
in the nucleus increasing . This means there is greater attraction
between the nucleus and outer electrons and therefore the electrons
involved in bonding are more strongly attracted to the nucleus.

The values of electronegativity decrease down the groups in the Periodic Table
for 2 reasons:
1. There is an increasing atomic radius. This is because the outermost
electrons are becoming further from the attractive force of the nucleus
meaning there is a smaller attraction between the nucleus and the
shared pair of electrons.
2. There is also a screening effect of inner electrons. The increase in
nuclear charge is essentially cancelled out by the screening effect of the
intervening energy levels of electrons. Since it is these outermost
electrons involved in the bonding, the attraction of the nucleus
decreases for these elements down the groups
Trends within Groups :
Trends in Chemical Reactivity of Alkali Metals :
• All alkali metals (Group I) are very reactive elements due to lower first
ionisation energy values
• Due to their reactivity, none of them occur freely in nature .
• They have a tendency to lose an electron.
• They readily form compounds by losing their single outer electron.
• The reactivity of the alkali metals increases down the group because the
increasing atomic radius and the screening effect of inner electrons
.............
• All the alkali metals react with oxygen to form oxide, e.g.
2K + ½ 0 → K O

• All the alkali metals react with water to form the hydroxide of the metal
and hydrogen gas given off, e.g.
NA +H O → NAOH + ½ H

Trends in Chemical Reactivity of Halogens :

• The halogens ( group VII or 17) are the most electronegative elements.
• They are quite reactive since they have a great attraction for electrons.
• They do not exist free in nature, e.g. chlorine gas has to be extracted
from one of its compounds.
• Fluorine is the most reactive of all the halogens because of its high
electronegativity.
• The trend in reactivity of the halogens is in the opposite direction to that
of the alkali metals
• Due to their high electronegativity’s, they tend to remove electrons
easily from other substances