Families and Groups on a Periodic Table

Families or groups can be identified by the numbers at top or colors in a periodic table. If you're identifying the numbers on top, you would find that all elements in the same vertical line have the same amount of valence electrons. If 

identifying the colors on

a periodic table, you'll 

find that the elements 

with the same color are

the same elements, for

example, alkali metals, 

alkaline earth metals, etc.

Periods on a Periodic Table

Periods are the numbers horizontal to the elements. Periods identify the amount of shells that certain elements will contain. For example, if elements were horizontal to period 3, they would have 3 electron shells. If you also look at period rows from left to right, you notice that the number of valence electrons are increasing moving right. The same thing happens to the atomic 

numbers in a period 

row, except they 

go up by one after 

every element. 

The Role of Protons

Protons are located in the nucleus with neutrons & have a positive charge. The role of protons are to identify an element, the proton determines the type of element the atom will become. To find protons in a periodic table, you need to find an element's atomic number. That atomic number will tell you the amount of protons in the element. Protons also help make 

atoms neutral, they cancel out the amount of electrons to make the charge 0. For example, if

there are 8 electrons in a atom, 

there would need to be 8 

protons to make a neutral atom

Info about Metals, Nonmetals &

Metalloids in a Periodic Table

metals are located on the left side of the periodic table & are lustrous, conduct electricity, ductile and malleable. Non-metals are located on the right, but there is one at the top of group 1 on the left side. Non-metals are bad conductors, have poor thermal conductivity & can be brittle when solid. Metalloids are the stairs located between

the metals and non-metals. 

Metalloids are a mix of metals

and nonmetals, they have a 

metallic appearance & can be 

brittle, but also fair conductors.

                  Valence Electrons 

Valence electrons are the outermost electrons on a atom. You can find them by using a bohr model & place the electrons in by using the rule of octets. Valence electrons determine the reactivity of the element. If a energy shell is full or empty, then the element is nonreactive, for example group 18. Group 1 is more reactive than all other groups because they only have one valence electron. Elements start to get less reactive when 

looking from left to right on a 

periodic table. Group 17 is the 2nd 

least reactive group because it has the

most valence electrons between 

group 1 & group 17.

      Family names on                  the Periodic Table 

- Alkaline Metals            - Pnictogens/Nitrogens

- Alkaline Earth Metals - Chalcogens/Oxygens

- Transition Metals        - Halogens

- Boron Family                - Noble Gases

- Carbon Family

                       Alkali Metals

All metals located in group one of the periodic table are Alkali metals. Since alkali metals only have one valence electron, they are the most reactive out of all other elements. Examples of Alkali Metals are Lithium, Sodium, Potassium and Francium. Alkali Metals can be used in everyday life. For example, Potassium is used as a medication to prevent low blood levels of potassium. Sodium can be used to make table salt, soap, and detergent. Lithium can be used to make lithium- ion batteries that can be used for portable electronics. Alkali metals have a shiny surface and are a soft metal. These metals also must be stored in oil to keep them from tarnishing. 

                            Examples

                  Alkaline Earth Metals

Alkaline earth metals are located in group two of the periodic table and have two valence electrons for every element. and melting points. Examples of Alkaline earth metals are Magnesium, Beryllium, Calcium, and Barium. Alkaline Metals can be used in everyday life. For example, Beryllium can be used to make springs, and tools such as wrenches. Calcium can be used to make chalk, and limestone. Magnesium can be used to make heat-resistant bricks for fireplaces, furnaces and many other things that are used in everyday households. Alkaline earth metals have a silver color and are soft metals. These metals also conduct electricity well and have a high melting/boiling point.

                            Examples

                   Transition Metals 

Transition metals are located in groups 3-12 ("d-block") and mostly have 1-2 valence electrons. Examples of transition metals are Scandium, Titanium, Vanadium, and Chromium. Titanium can be used to make jet engines, spacecraft, body armor and more. Scandium can be used to make bicycle frames, fishing rods, and golf iron shafts. Vandiam can be used to make armour plates, axles, tools and piston rods. Transition metals can conduct electricity and have density, high melting points and high boiling points. One property of transition metals is that they have two or more oxidation states.  

                            Examples 

                       Boron Family 

The Boron family is located in group 13, which means they have 3 valence electrons. Since Boron is a metalloid, it has a mixture of metal and nonmetal properties. Element examples from the Boron family are Boron, Aluminum, Thallium, and Gallium. Boron can be used to make eye drops, mild antiseptics, and washing powder. Aluminum can be used to make cans, utensils, aluminum foil, and window frames. Thallium can be used to make photoresistors and even pesticide because of it’s odorless and tasteless properties. Boron is a poor conductor and is black colored, while the metals in the family are good conductors and have a silver-colored surface 

                            Examples