Three Important Periodic Trends
Definition of The tendency of a certain characteristic of an element to increase or decrease as they progresses along a period or group
Periodic Trend: on the periodic table of elements
Definition of Term Atomic Radius - One half the
distance between the nuclei of
identical atoms that are bonded
together. Picometers (pm)
Trend Across the PT The atomic radii decreases as you
move across each period, as you add
more protons to help pull the
electrons closer to the nucleus.
Examples of Values Period 3: Na - 186; Mg - 160; Al -
Across the PT Using 143; Si - 118; P - 110; S - 103; Cl -
a Period from 2-7 100; Ar - 98.
Trend Down the PT The atomic radii increases as you
move down each family, as you add
more energy levels which shield the
nucleus and increase its size
Examples of Values Group V A: N - 75; P - 110; As -
Down the PT Using a 120; Sb - 140; Bi - 150
Main Element Group
Significance Atomic Radii are significant as they
give us the approximate size (not
via mass) of each atom which may
factor into chemical bonding?
Ionization Energy - The energy
required to remove 1 electron from a
neutral atom of an element.
kiloJoules per Mole (kJ/mol)
The first ionization energy tends to
increase because the electrons are
under a stronger nuclear force as you
move across the table.
Period 2: Li - 520; Be - 900; B - 801;
C - 1086; N - 1402; O - 1314; F -
1681; Ne - 2081.
The first ionization energy tends to
decrease as you move down each
family electrons are under a weaker
nuclear force.
Group VI A: O - 1314; S - 1000; Se -
941; Te - 869; Po - 812
Ionization energy is important as it
will tell us which elements are more
likely to lose or share an electron (or
two) in ionic and covalent bonding.
Electronegativity - The measure of the
ability of an atom in a chemical
compound to attract the electrons of
another atom in the compound.
Electronegativity tends to increase
because as you move across the table
there is a stronger nuclear force to
attract other electrons to the atom.
Period 4: K - 0.8; Ca - 1.0; Sc - 1.3; Ti -
1.5; V & Cr- 1.6; Mn - 1.5; Fe, Co, & Ni
- 1.8; Cu - 1.9; Zn & Ga - 1.6; Ge - 1.8;
As - 2.0; Se - 2.4 Br - 2.8; Kr - 3.0
Electronegativity tends to decrease
because as you move down each family
there is a weaker nuclear force that
doesn't attract other electrons to the
atom.
Group II A: Be - 1.5; Mg - 1.2; Ca & Sr
- 1.0; Ba & Ra - 0.9
Electronegativity is important as it will
tell us which elements are more apt to
gain (or share) an electron with another
atom in ionic and covalent bonding