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