The Periodic Table

Hydrogen

• Hydrogen belongs to a family of its own

• Odorless, colorless gas• Highly combustible!• Is a diatomic gas, H2

• Hydrogen was involved in the Hindenberg diaster

German passenger airship, May 6, 1937

Alkali Metals: Group 1*Doesn’t include Hydrogen

• Very reactive metals, esp. with H2O

• Never found in nature in pure form

• Silver in color or shiny• Extremely low density• Soft enough to cut with a

knifeUsually combined with something else to make a compound, like a salt

Alkaline Earth Metals: Group 2

• Slightly less reactive metals then group 1

• More dense then group 1• Several of these

elements are important mineral nutrients (Mg and Ca)

• Can be silver or white in color

Transition Metals: Groups 3-12• Moderate range of

reactivity• Generally shiny (Ag)• Good conductors of heat

and electricity• Higher densities and

melting points then groups 1 & 2

Lanthanides & Actinides• Lanthanides are shiny

and reactive• Actinides are all

radioactive and therefore unstable

• Both are part of the transition metals

Boron Family: Group 13

• Are reactive• One metalloid & four

metals• Aluminum (Al) metal is in

the group and was once rare & expensive

Carbon Family: Group 14• Contains 2 metalloids, 1

non-metal, & 2 metals• Varied reactivity• Silicon is profoundly

important to the electronics industries

• Carbon is the basis for an entire branch of chemistry

Nitrogen Family: Group 15• Contains 2 non-metals, 2

metalloids, & 1 metal• Varied reactivity• Can share electrons to

make compounds• Nitrogen makes up over

¾ of the atmosphere• The red stuff on the tip of

matches is phosphorus.

Oxygen Family: Group 16

• Contains 3 non-metals, 1 metalloid, & 1 metal

• A reactive group• Oxygen is necessary to

breath!• Many things that stink,

contain sulfur (rotten eggs, garlic, skunks,etc.)

Halogens: Group 17• All non-metals• Very reactive• Poor conductors of heat

& electricity• Always found combined

with other element in nature

• Tend to form salts with metals (table salt)

• Used to strengthen teeth (flouride)

The Noble Gases: Group 18

• VERY unreactive gases• Colorless & odorless

gases• All found in Earth’s

atmosphere in small amounts

• Used in lighted “neon” signs

• Have a full valence shell