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The Periodic Table: chemical periodicity

• Periodicity refers to the recurring trends or patterns in the properties of elements in the periodic table.

• These trends allow us to predict the chemical and physical properties of elements based on their position in the periodic table.


Atomic radius

  • Decreases as we move from left to right across a period.

  • Increases as we move down a group.

  • This is due to the increasing effective nuclear charge and the addition of electron shells, which leads to a decrease in the size of the atoms.

Ionic radius

  • The ionic radius of an element is the radius of the ions it forms.

  • Decreases as we move from left to right across a period.

  • Increases as we move down a group.

  • This is due to the increasing effective nuclear charge and the addition of electron shells, which leads to a decrease in the size of the atoms.

From Na⁺ to Al³⁺

  • Number of energy shells are identical.

  • Number of electrons are identical.

  • From Na⁺ to Al³⁺ the number of protons increases.

  • Effective nuclear charge increases.

  • Ionic radius decreases.

From P³⁻ to Cl⁻

  • The anions are larger than their original atoms.

  • P³⁻ has three more electrons than protons.

  • P³⁻ ion has weakest nuclear attraction.

  • So, P³⁻ has largest ionic radius.

  • From P³⁻ to Cl⁻ ionic radius decreases.

Reactions with Oxygen

  • Sodium (Na) reacts with oxygen with yellow/orange flame to form sodium oxide (Na₂O).

2Na + O₂ → 2Na₂O.

  • Magnesium (Mg) reacts with oxygen with bright white flame to form magnesium oxide (MgO).

2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO.

  • Aluminum (Al) reacts with oxygen with bright white flame to form aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃).

4Al + 3O₂ → 2Al₂O₃.

  • Phosphorus (P) reacts with oxygen to form phosphorus trioxide (P₂O₃) and phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅). The reactions can be represented by the following equations:

P + O₂ → P₂O₃ (It is a white crystal)

P₂O₃ + O₂ → P₂O₅. (It is a white solid)

  • Sulfur (S) reacts with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide (SO₂).

2S + O₂ → 2SO₂.

Reactions with Chlorine

  • Sodium (Na) reacts with chlorine to form sodium chloride (NaCl).

2Na + Cl₂ → 2NaCl.

  • Magnesium (Mg) reacts with chlorine to form magnesium chloride (MgCl₂).

Mg + Cl₂ → MgCl₂.

  • Aluminum (Al) reacts with chlorine to form aluminum chloride (AlCl₃).

2Al + 3Cl₂ → 2AlCl₃

  • Silicon (Si) reacts with chlorine to form silicon tetrachloride (SiCl₄).

Si + 2Cl₂ → SiCl₄ (a colorless fuming liquid)

  • Phosphorus (P) reacts with chlorine to form phosphorus pentachloride (PCl₅).

P + 5Cl₂ → PCl₅

Reactions with Water:

  • Sodium (Na) reacts with water to form sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrogen gas (H₂).

Na + H₂O → NaOH + H₂

  • Magnesium (Mg) reacts with water to form magnesium hydroxide (Mg (OH)₂) and hydrogen gas (H₂).

Mg + 2H₂O → Mg (OH)₂ + H₂


Reactions of Chloride with water:

  • Sodium chloride (NaCl) dissolves in water to form sodium ions (Na⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻).

NaCl (s) → Na⁺ (aq) + Cl⁻ (aq) [ pH at 7]

  • Magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) dissolves in water to form magnesium ions (Mg²⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻).

MgCl₂ (s) → Mg²⁺ (aq) + 2Cl⁻ (aq) [pH at 7]

  • Aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) reacts with water to form aluminum hydroxide (Al (OH)₃) and hydrochloric acid (HCl).

AlCl₃ + 3H₂O → Al (OH)₃ + 3HCl [pH less than7]

  • Silicon tetrachloride (SiCl₄) reacts with water to form silicon dioxide (SiO₂), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and hydrogen chloride gas (HCl).

SiCl₄ + 2H₂O → SiO₂ + 4HCl [pH less than 7]

  • Phosphorus pentachloride (PCl₅) reacts with water to form phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) and hydrochloric acid (HCl).

PCl₅ + 6H₂O → H₃PO₄ + 5HCl [pH less than 7]

  • Phosphorus trichloride (PCl₃) reacts with water to form phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) and hydrochloric acid (HCl).

PCl₃ + 3H₂O → H₃PO₄ + 3HCl [pH less than 7]

  • Sulfur dichloride (SCl₂) reacts with water.

SCl₂ + 2H₂O → S + SO₂ + 2HCl [pH less than 7]


Reactions of oxides with water:

  • Sodium oxide (Na₂O) reacts with water to form sodium hydroxide (NaOH).

Na₂O + H₂O → 2NaOH

  • Magnesium oxide (MgO) reacts with water to form magnesium hydroxide (Mg (OH)₂). MgO + H₂O → Mg (OH)₂

  • Aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) does not react with water under normal conditions.

  • Phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) reacts with water to form phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄).

P₂O₅ + 3H₂O → 2H₃PO₄

  • Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) dissolves in water to form sulfurous acid (H₂SO₃).

SO₂ + H₂O → H₂SO₃

  • Phosphorus trioxide (P₂O₃) reacts with water to form phosphorous acid (H₃PO₃).

P₂O₃ + 3H₂O → 2H₃PO₃

  • Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) does not react with water under normal conditions.


Bonds and melting points.


Chlorides

• In the chlorides (NaCl, MgCl₂, AlCl₃, SiCl₄, and PCl₅), the bonding is primarily ionic.

• This is because the elements in the third period are metals (Na, Mg, Al) or non-metals (Si, P) that form positive and negative ions when they bond.

• The presence of ionic bonds is evidenced by the high melting and boiling points of these compounds, as well as their solubility in water.


Oxides:


Acidic or basic nature:

  • The oxides of metals (Na, Mg, Al, Si) are generally basic in nature and react with acids to form salts and water.

  • The oxides of nonmetals (P, S, Cl) are generally acidic in nature and react with bases to form salts and water.

  • The oxide of the element in the middle of the period, Aluminum (Al), Zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb), are amphoteric and can act as both an acid and a base.

  • Oxides such as Carbon Monoxide (CO) or Nitrogen Monoxide (NO) are neutral oxides and do not react.

Melting points:

  • The melting points of the oxides of metals (Na₂O, MgO, Al₂O₃) are generally high due to the strong ionic bonding between the metal and oxygen atoms.

  • The melting points of the oxides of nonmetals (P₄O₁₀, SO₂, Cl₂O₇) are generally lower than those of metal oxides due to the weaker covalent bonding between the nonmetal and oxygen atoms.

Electrical conductivity in liquid state:

  • The oxides of metals (Na₂O, MgO, Al₂O₃) are generally not conductive in the solid state since the ions are held in fixed positions and cannot move freely.

  • The oxides of metals (Na₂O, MgO, Al₂O₃) are generally conductive in the molten state since the ions can move freely.

  • The oxides of nonmetals (P₄O₁₀, SO₂, Cl₂O₇) can conduct electricity in the dissolved state due to the presence of mobile ions.

Chemical bonding and structure:

  • The oxides of metals (Na₂O, MgO, Al₂O₃) are ionic in nature and have a lattice structure. The strong electrostatic attraction between the ions gives rise to the ionic bonding in these oxides.

  • The oxides of nonmetals (P₄O₁₀, SO₂, Cl₂O₇) are covalent in nature and have a simple molecular structure. The nonmetal atoms share electrons to form covalent bonds with oxygen atoms.

Some important reactions:

  • Reaction of Aluminum Chloride with Sodium hydroxide

  • Example: AlCl₃ + 3 NaOH → 3 NaCl + Al (OH)₃

  • Reaction of HCl and HClO with NaOH Example:

  • 2NaOH + HClO + HCl → NaCl + NaClO + 2H₂O

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