Characteristics of Elements on the Periodic Table

Question 1

Sc and Family

Answer 1

Common O.S.: 0, +3
some similar chemistry to Mg
no d-electrons in ions
colorless, diamagnetic

Question 2

Ti and Family

Answer 2

Common OS: 0, +4
some similar chemistry to C and Si
structurally strong, very light weight material
great for bicycle frames and airplanes
titanium dioxide is very white and used as brightener in paint and paper

Question 3

V

Answer 3

OS: 0, +5
used in alloys to strengthen materials like steel
toxic
can prevent corrosion

Question 4

Nb, Ta

Answer 4

named after Greek mythology father and daughter
Nb is good for semiconductors

Question 5

Cr

Answer 5

Common OS: 0, +3, +4, +6
first family with multiple oxidation states found in nature
toxic
derived from Greek “chroma” meaning color

Question 6

Mo, W

Answer 6

biologically important for enzymes, pigments
W has a very high melting point and used for lightbulb filaments and heat lamps

Question 7

Mn

Answer 7

not found in nature as a pure metal, always in ore
the most oxidation states of first row transition metals
used as a catalyst in alkaline batteries, strengthening component in steel, cofactors of many enzymes
permanganates are strong oxidizing agents

Question 8

Tc

Answer 8

lightest radioactive element
only man made
discovered in 1937

Question 9

Fe and Family

Answer 9

OS: +2 to +6 (possible), +2 and +3 (common)
most important element for modern civilization
major component of steel
most common element on earth by mass
important for oxygen transport and redox enzymes

Question 10

Co

Answer 10

common OS: +2, +3
beautiful blue color for glass, dyes
very rare to find pure, more common in ores (with toxic and smelly biproducts)

Question 11

Rh

Answer 11

hard, corrosion resistant, chemically inert
very rare
excellent metal for plating jewelry

Question 12

Ir

Answer 12

rare, much of it comes from outer space
tracer to develop and support theories about when asteroids hit Earth

Question 13

Ni Family

Answer 13

Ni, Pd, Pt
stable, less reactive metals
good catalysts

Question 14

Ni

Answer 14

coins, batteries, corrosion preventer

Question 15

Pt

Answer 15

rare, unreactive, corrosion resistant
inert electrodes, jewelry, anti-cancer drugs

Question 16

Copper Family

Answer 16

Cu, Ag, Au exist in nature in metals

Question 17

Cu

Answer 17

excellent conductor of electricity, durable
alloy with bronze and brass

Question 18

Ag

Answer 18

highest thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, reflectivity
more abundant than Au (more naturally occurring as ores and oxides than Au)
tarnishes from contact with S

Question 19

Au

Answer 19

very unreactive, even to most acids
most malleable metal
used for jewelry, currency, etc

Question 20

Zn family

Answer 20

some similar chemistry to Mg

Question 21

Zn

Answer 21

corrosion resistant, toxic

Question 22

Cd

Answer 22

toxic, +2, used in batteries

Question 23

Hg

Answer 23

liquid at room temperature, toxic, application in dental fillings

Question 24

alkali metals

Answer 24

+1
highly reactive, reacts vigorously with water to make H2 gas
Li: important for battery technology

Question 25

H

Answer 25

lightest element, escapes from earth’s gravity small, low IMF, liquefies at 20 K non-metal, rocket gas location is detectable better fit in group 14 or 17 (half-full shell or close to being full)

Question 26

alkaline earth metals

Answer 26

+2 low densities, low melting and boiling points, low solubility, forms basic oxides

Question 27

Be

Answer 27

smaller, harder, higher melting point, higher ionization energy, more covalent bonding, less reactive than the rest, amphoteric oxide

Question 28

Mg, Ca

Answer 28

biologically important, lower solubility = hard water

Question 29

Ba

Answer 29

toxic, absorbs X-rays, not very soluble at low concentration, useful tool for gastromedicine

Question 30

Ra

Answer 30

radioactive

Question 31

Group 13 (B, Al, Ga, In, Tl)

Answer 31

+1, +3 soft metals, relatively reactive

Question 32

aluminium oxide (Al2O3)

Answer 32

basis for various precious gems, small amount of transition metals determine color

Question 33

B

Answer 33

not a metal, supports 6 electrons in valence, can form dimers, similar to Si chemistry

Question 34

Ga

Answer 34

higher density liquid, lower melting point

Question 35

Group 14 (C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb)

Answer 35

+2, +4 can form 4 covalent bonds to non-metals

Question 36

C

Answer 36

can form pi bonds, basis for life allotropes: diamond, graphite, fullerenes

Question 37

Si

Answer 37

Si-O bonds stronger than Si-Si bonds basis for geological world

Question 38

Ge

Answer 38

rare, semiconductors

Question 39

Sn

Answer 39

soft metal, silvery color allotropes: white tin, grey tin, brittle tin

Question 40

Pb

Answer 40

soft, toxic, low melting point

Question 41

N

Answer 41

stable or highly reactive can form pi bonds: important for DNA, N2 fixation, atmospheric reactions

Question 42

P

Answer 42

larger, d-orbitals available for electrons, bonding present in ATP, ADP important in fertilizer

Question 43

As

Answer 43

toxic, semi-metal

Question 44

Bi

Answer 44

heavy, not very toxic good sub for lead

Question 45

Group 16

Answer 45

can form oxides, peroxides, and superoxides

Question 46

O

Answer 46

found in O2 and O3 O3 is toxic: used for water treatment and upper atmosphere

Question 47

S

Answer 47

unpleasant smell, chemical weapons, many allotropes

Question 48

Po

Answer 48

radioactive, lethal, present in tobacco

Question 49

Halogens

Answer 49

-1, atomic form not found in nature, high electronegativity, forms polar covalent bonds, forms oxyacids with oxygen

Question 50

F

Answer 50

small, highest electronegativity important for dental care

Question 51

At

Answer 51

radioactive, longest-lived isotope lasted 8.3 hrs

Question 52

noble gases

Answer 52

0 low reactivity, colorless, odorless, neutral low melting and boiling point

Question 53

He

Answer 53

forms no compounds, escapes atmosphere, important for experiments, possible shortage

Question 54

Ne

Answer 54

no compounds, luminescent with current

Question 55

Ar

Answer 55

major component of air, forms some compounds

Question 56

Kr, Xe, Rn

Answer 56

many stable compounds possible with expanded octets

Question 57

Rn

Answer 57

radioactive