The Periodic Table

Metals, Non-Metals, and

Semiconductors
The Properties of Metals:
Reflect light when polished.
Are opaque.
Are good conductors of electricity or
heat.
Generally, but not always, flexible when
in thin sheets.
Generally malleable (can be hammered
into thin sheets, and ductile (can be
stretched into wires).
Usually solid at room temperatures (Hg
is an exception).

The Properties of NonMetals:

Are gasses, liquids, or brittle solids at room

temperature.

Are poor heat and electricity conductors.

If solids, are dull to lustrous in appearance and

opaque to clear.

Some elements share

properties from both metals
and non-metals.
Therefore, we have two subgroups:
1. Non-metals with very low electrical
conductivities.
2. Non-metals with fair to moderate electrical
conductivity.
Semiconductor:
A non-metal having an electrical conductivity
which increases with temperature.
A couple of important notes:
Semiconductors were formally called
Metalloids.
The important difference between metals and
semiconductors is that conductivity decreases
with an increase in temperature for metals.

Periodic Trends

When considering trends in the

periodic table, two factors are
critical;
Charge on the Nucleus
Energy Level of the
electrons

Atomic radius is very important in determining

trends in the periodic table. It is the distance
between the nucleus and the outermost
(valence) electrons.
The valence electrons are the ones involved in
reactions, and give unique properties to each
element.

The Effective Nuclear Charge is the

attraction felt by the valence electrons for the
nucleus. It can be estimated by subtracting the
number of core electrons from the number of
protons in the nucleus.

As the effective nuclear charge increases, the

nucleus draws the valence electrons inward.
This decreases the atomic radius.

Going across a period from left to right, the effective

nuclear charge increases dramatically. Thats because all
the elements have the same core electrons, but the number
of protons in the nucleus increases with each element.

Atomic radius increases

from
right to left within a period

Going down a family from top to bottom, the effective

nuclear charge increases a bit. Thats because the more
energy levels (shells) in the core, the more spread out the
electrons are, so there is less shielding effect by the larger
cores.

Atomic radius increases

downward within families

Atomic Radius Increases

Downward and to the Left

Figure 8.17:
Representati
on of atomic
radii
(covalent
radii) of the
main-group
elements.

12

Ionic Size

Cations form by losing electrons.

Cations are smaller than the atom they come

from.

Cations of representative elements have noble

gas configuration.

Ionic size

Anions form by gaining electrons.

Anions are bigger than the atom they come

from.

Anions of representative elements have noble

gas configuration.

Metallic Character

Metallic Character is based on the

valence cloud, which tends to hold
the atoms of the metal together and
provides a fairly flat surface. Think of
it as tennis balls in a long sock.

The more easily an element

conducts electricity, the stronger the
sock (valence cloud). This allows
metals to bend, stretch, and reflect
light (metallic luster).

Metallic character
increases downward and
to the left

Ionization Energy

Ionization Energy is the amount of

energy required to remove an electron
from an atom. First, second, third, etc.
ionization energies are for each
successive electron removed.

The smaller an atom is, the tighter it

holds its valence electrons because they
are closer to the nucleus. First ionization
energies peak for Noble Gases because
it is very difficult to remove an electron
from a Noble Gas.

Ionization Energy
increases upward and to
the right

Electronegativity

Electronegativity is the attraction

of a neutral atom for an additional
electron.

Noble gases have little or no

attraction for additional electrons.
Other elements want a Noble gas
configuration.

The smaller an atom is, the closer an

electron can come to the nucleus, so
the more it is attracted.

Electronegativity increases upwards

and to the right, but does not
include the Noble Gases

Figure 8.9: Periodic Table

21

Periodic Divisions

There are several groups,

rows, and blocks of
elements:
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