When looking at the periodic table, we can see some clear patterns about the elements.
Groups: Elements that are in the same group usually have similar traits. This is because they have the same number of outer electrons, called valence electrons. For example, the alkali metals in Group 1 are known to react very strongly with water.
Periods: As you go from left to right across a period, the size of the atoms gets smaller. At the same time, the ability of an atom to attract electrons, called electronegativity, and the energy needed to remove an electron, known as ionization energy, usually go up. This change happens because the positive charge in the nucleus increases.
Understanding these patterns can help us guess how different elements will act!
When looking at the periodic table, we can see some clear patterns about the elements.
Groups: Elements that are in the same group usually have similar traits. This is because they have the same number of outer electrons, called valence electrons. For example, the alkali metals in Group 1 are known to react very strongly with water.
Periods: As you go from left to right across a period, the size of the atoms gets smaller. At the same time, the ability of an atom to attract electrons, called electronegativity, and the energy needed to remove an electron, known as ionization energy, usually go up. This change happens because the positive charge in the nucleus increases.
Understanding these patterns can help us guess how different elements will act!