Element+Families+Summaries

Element Families or Groups

The alkali metals, found in group 1 of the periodic table (formerly known as group IA), are very reactive metals that do not occur freely in nature. These metals have only one electron in their outer shell. Therefore, they are ready to lose that one electron in ionic bonding with other elements. As with all metals, the alkali metals are malleable, ductile, and are good conductors of heat and electricity. The alkali metals are softer than most other metals. Cesium and francium are the most reactive elements in this group. Alkali metals can explode if they are exposed to water.

The 38 elements in groups 3 through 12 of the periodic table are called "transition metals". As with all metals, the transition elements are both ductile and malleable, and conduct electricity and heat. The interesting thing about transition metals is that their valence electrons, or the electrons they use to combine with other elements, are present in more than one shell. This is the reason why they often exhibit several common oxidation states. There are three noteworthy elements in the transition metals family. These elements are iron, cobalt, and nickel, and they are the only elements known to produce a magnetic field.

The 7 elements classified as "other metals" are located in groups 13, 14, and 15. While these elements are ductile and malleable, they are not the same as the transition elements. These elements, unlike the transition elements, do not exhibit variable oxidation states, and their valence electrons are only present in their outer shell. All of these elements are solid, have a relatively high density, and are opaque. They have oxidation numbers of +3, ±4, and -3.

Semi-Metals or Metalloids are the elements found along the stair-step line that distinguishes metals from non-metals. This line is drawn from between Boron and Aluminum to the border between Polonium and Astatine. The only exception to this is Aluminum, which is classified under "[|Other Metals]". Metalloids have properties of both metals and non-metals. Some of the metalloids, such as silicon and germanium, are semi-conductors. This means that they can carry an electrical charge under special conditions. This property makes metalloids useful in computers and calculators

Non-metals are the elements in groups 14-16 of the periodic table. Non-metals are not able to conduct electricity or heat very well. As opposed to metals, non-metallic elements are very brittle, and cannot be rolled into wires or pounded into sheets. The non-metals exist in two of the three states of matter at room temperature: gases (such as oxygen) and solids (such as carbon). The non-metals have no metallic luster, and do not reflect light. They have oxidation numbers of ±4, -3, and -2.

The halogens are five non-metallic elements found in group 17 of the periodic table. The term "halogen" means "salt-former" and compounds containing halogens are called "salts". All halogens have 7 electrons in their outer shells, giving them an oxidation number of -1. The halogens exist, at room temperature, in all three states of matter:

The six noble gases are found in group 18 of the periodic table. These elements were considered to be inert gases until the 1960's, because their oxidation number of 0 prevents the noble gases from forming compounds readily. All noble gases have the maximum number of electrons possible in their outer shell (2 for Helium, 8 for all others), making them stable.

The thirty rare earth elements are composed of the lanthanide and actinide series. One element of the lanthanide series and most of the elements in the actinide series are called trans-uranium, which means synthetic or man-made. All of the rare earth metals are found in group 3 of the periodic table, and the 6th and 7th periods. The Rare Earth Elements are made up of two series of elements, the Lanthanide and Actinide Series.

12. Click on Alkali Metals (left bar) and answer the following questions. a. What is the group number? __________ b. Are these metals reactive? __________ c. Do these metals occur freely in nature? __________ d. How many electrons are in their outer shell? ___________ e. What are the three characteristics of ALL metals? ___________________ f. Are these metals soft or hard? ________________________ g. Name the two most reactive elements in this group? _____________ and __________ h. What happens when they are exposed to water? ____________________ 13. Click on Alkaline Earth Metals (left bar) and answer these questions. a. What is the group number? __________ b. Are these metals reactive? __________ c. Do these metals occur freely in nature? ____________ d. How many electrons are in their outer shell? _________ (Hint: It’s the same as their oxidation number or group number.) 14. Click on Transition Metals (left bar) and answer these questions. a. How many elements are in this group? ____________ b. What are the group numbers? __________ through _______ c. What are valence electrons? ________________ d. Because the valence electrons are present in more than one _____________ transition metals often exhibit several common __________________. e. Name the three elements in this family that produce a magnetic field. _________, __________, and __________. 15. Click on Other Metals (left bar) and answer these questions. a. How many elements are in this group? ______________ b. What are the group numbers? _________ through __________ c. How are these other metals similar to the transition metals? ______________ d. How are these metals different than the transition metals? ________________ _______________________________________________________________ e. List three physical properties of these other metals. _________________________ f. What are the oxidation numbers for this group? ______________________ 16. Click on Metalloids to answer these questions. a. On your periodic table, draw the black stair-step line that distinguishes metals from nonmetals. b. Metalloids have properties of both ________ and _____________. c. Define semiconductor ___________________________________. d. Name two metalloids that are semi-conductors. ____________and __________. e. This property makes metalloids useful in ____________and ______________. 17. Click in Nonmetals to answer these questions. a. What are the group numbers? ___________ through ____________ b. List four characteristics of ALL nonmetals. ______________________________ c. What two states of matter do nonmetals exist in at room temperature? _________________________ d. The nonmetals have no _______________and do not ____________________. e. What are the oxidation numbers of the nonmetals? _______________________ 18. Click on the Halogens (left bar) to answer these questions. a. What is the halogen group number? ___________________ b. Are halogens metals or nonmetals? ______________________ c. The term “halogen” means ____________________ and compounds containing halogens are called ____________________. d. How many electrons are in their outer shell? __________________ e. What is their oxidation number? ______________________ f. What states of matter do halogens exist in at room temperature? __________________________________ 19. Click on Noble Gases (left bar) and answer these questions. a. What is the group number? _________________ b. Why were these gases considered to be inert or stable? ________________________ c. What is their oxidation number? ____________________ 20. Click on Rare Earth Elements ( Inner Transition) (left bar) and answer these questions. a. On you periodic table, label the Lanthanide and Actinide series with your pencil. b. How many Rare Earth elements are there? ___________________________ c. Define trans-uranium. ___________________________________ d. The Rare Earth metals are found in group _______________and periods ______________and