Main groups(periodic table)

Question 1

Alkali metals group 1

Answer 1

• Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr
• H is not a metal and is not included in this group.
• Shiny, silvery metals
• Elements are violently reactive – most reactive of all metals; sodium is usually stored in kerosene to prevent it from reacting with water vapour in the air.
• Form compounds (especially with halogens) that are mainly white solids and very soluble in water.

Question 2

Alkali Earth Metals group 2

Answer 2

Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra
* Shiny, silvery metals
* Very reactive but not as reactive as the alkali metals.
* Form compounds that are often insoluble in water.

Question 3

Halogens group 17

Answer 3

• F, Cl, Br, I, At
• The only group that exists in all 3 states under standard contitions (room temp.); gases (F, Cl), liquid (Br), and solids (I, At).
• Most reactive group of non-metals.
• Poisonous; chlorine causes series respiratory problems if inhaled (mustard gas in WWI); bromine causes serious and painful skin burns.
• Form compounds readily with alkali metals.

Eg. iodine=solid
Bromine=liquid
Chlorine=gas

Question 4

Noble gases group 18

Answer 4

He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn
* Thisgroupofelementswasmissingfrom
Mendeleev’s periodic table.
* Referred to as “noble” because they are calm, chemically unreactive (inert gases).
* Excited by electricity to produce a variety of colours in discharge tubes; used in signs.
* Because helium gas is lighter than the usual oxygen/nitrogen blend, it changes the resonant frequency of the human vocal tract, causing a faster vibration and a higher-pitched, cartoon-character sound.

Eg. He,Ne,Ar,Kr,Xe

Question 5

Transition metals group 3-12

Answer 5

All the transition elements are metallic, hard, malleable
* Mercury (Hg) is the only metal that is a liquid.
* Another characteristic of the transition metals is the great variety of oxidation states shown in its compounds; form more than one ion.