2.1.2
Trends in the Periodic Table
Atomic Radius
Atomic Radius
There are key trends in atomic radius as we go across periods and when we go down groups.


Periodic trend
Periodic trend
- Atomic radius decreases along a period.
- This is because the number of protons in the nucleus increases across the period.
- As you add protons, you also add electrons. But these are all being added to the same shell, so this does not affect the radius.
- So each electron feels a stronger attraction to the nucleus and is held closer.


Periodic example
Periodic example
- In Period 3, sulfur has a smaller atomic radius than phosphorus.
- Sulfur has one more electron but still only fills up the same shell (3p) as phosphorus, so the radius is not affected.
- But sulfur has one more proton than phosphorus - this does affect the radius.
- Sulfur has a greater nuclear charge because of having more protons.
- This pulls the electrons closer.
- This means the atomic radius is smaller.


Group trend
Group trend
- Atomic radius increases down a group.
- This is because the number of electron shells increases down a group.
- Each subsequent electron shell is further from the nucleus.
- This effect outweighs the increase in proton number down the group.


Group example
Group example
- In Group 2, magnesium has a larger radius than beryllium.
- Magnesium has more electrons than beryllium and they occupy an additional electron shell.
- The extra electron shell is further from the nucleus.
- So the atomic radius is larger.
Ionisation Energy
Ionisation Energy
We see trends in ionisation energy across the periods and down the groups of the periodic table.


Periodic trend
Periodic trend
- Ionisation energy increases along a period.
- This is because the electrostatic attraction of each electron to the nucleus increases.
- The attraction increases because the proton number increases.


Periodic example
Periodic example
- In Period 3, chlorine has a greater nuclear charge than sulfur because it has a greater proton number.
- So the electrostatic charge between electrons and the nucleus in chlorine will be greater.
- So the ionisation energy is greater.


Group trend
Group trend
- Ionisation energy decreases down a group.
- This is because the outer electron is further from the nucleus down the group.
- The electrostatic attraction of the outer electron to the nucleus decreases down the group.


Group example
Group example
- In Group 2, magnesium is below beryllium.
- Magnesium fills up an extra electron shell than beryllium.
- This means an electron is further from the nucleus in magnesium and so the electrostatic attraction is less.
- So the ionisation energy of magnesium is lower than beryllium.
Melting Points
Melting Points
There are clear trends in the melting points across periods and down groups in the periodic table. We look at Period 3 to see this trend.


Structure on melting point
Structure on melting point
- For metals:
- The greater the number of valence electrons, the greater the melting point.
- For covalent compounds:
- Molecular solids have low melting points.
- Giant covalent structures have relatively high melting points.
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Period trend
Period trend
- As you move along a period, you go from metals to giant covalent structures, to molecular solids.
- Using our knowledge of melting points of different structures from the previous slide:
- The melting points increase, peak sharply, and then decrease.
- We will look at Period 3 to showcase this trend.
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Na, Mg, Al
Na, Mg, Al
- These all have metallic structures.
- Melting point and boiling point increase from Na to Al.
- This is because each element donates one more electron to the sea of free electrons.
- The electrostatic attractions are greater, so the melting point rises.


Si
Si
- Silicon has the highest melting point.
- This is because it has a giant covalent structure.
- To melt silicon, you must break strong covalent bonds, which requires a lot of energy.
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
P, S, Cl, Ar
P, S, Cl, Ar
- These elements are simple molecules.
- They are held together by Van der Waals forces.
- Sulfur has the highest melting point of the four because it exists as molecules of S8.
- This means it has a lot of electrons per molecule, so has stronger Van der Waals attractions.
- By contrast, P exists as P4 and Cl exists as Cl2.
1Physical Chemistry
1.1Atoms, Molecules & Stoichiometry
1.2Atomic Structure
1.2.1Fundamental Particles
1.2.2Isotopes & Mass Number
1.2.3Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals
1.2.4Electron Configuration
1.2.5Ionisation Energy
1.2.6Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies
1.2.7Trends of Ionisation
1.2.8Specific Impacts on Ionisation Energies
1.2.9Electron Affinity
1.2.10End of Topic Test - Atomic Structure
1.2.11A-A* (AO2/3) - Atomic Structure
1.3Chemical Bonding
1.3.1Ionic Bonding
1.3.2Covalent & Dative Bonding
1.3.3Shapes of Molecules
1.3.4Intermolecular Forces
1.3.5Intermolecular Forces 2
1.3.6Electronegativity
1.3.7Bond Length, Bond Energy, & Bond Polarity
1.3.8Metallic Bonding
1.3.9Physical Properties
1.3.10End of Topic Test - Bonding
1.3.11A-A* (AO2/3) - Bonding
1.4States of Matter
1.5Chemical Energetics
1.6Electrochemistry
1.7Equilibria
1.7.1Dynamic Equilibrium & Le Chatelier
1.7.2Kc
1.7.3Kp
1.7.4pH
1.7.5The Ionic Product of Water
1.7.6Weak Acids & Bases
1.7.7Introduction to Solubility Equilibria
1.7.8Solubility Equilibria Calculations
1.7.9Free Energy of Dissolution
1.7.10pH and Solubility
1.7.11Common-Ion Effect
1.7.12End of Topic Test - Kp & Electrochemistry
1.7.13A-A* (AO2/3) - Electrochemical Cells
1.8Partition Coefficient
1.9Reaction Kinetics
1.9.1Collision Theory
1.9.2Orders, Rate Constants & Equations
1.9.3Rate Graphs
1.9.4Rate Determining Step
1.9.5Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution
1.9.6Catalysts
1.9.7Homogeneous Catalysts
1.9.8Heterogeneous Catalysts
1.9.9End of Topic Test - Kinetics
1.9.10End of Topic Test - Rate Equations
1.9.11A-A* (AO2/3) - Rate Equations
2Inorganic Chemistry
2.1The Periodic Table
2.2Group 2
2.3Group 17
2.4Transition Metals
3Organic Chemistry & Analysis
3.1Introduction to Organic Chemistry
3.2Hydrocarbons
3.2.1Fractional Distillation
3.2.2Cracking
3.2.3Combustion
3.2.4Chlorination
3.2.5End of Topic Test - Alkanes
3.2.6Introduction to Alkenes
3.2.7Reactions of Alkenes
3.2.8Polymerisation Reactions
3.2.9End of Topic Test - Alkenes
3.2.10Arenes
3.2.11Evidence for Structure of Arenes
3.2.12Reactions of Benzene
3.2.13End of Topic Test -Arenes
3.3Halogen Derivatives
3.4Hydroxy Compounds
3.5Carbonyl Compounds
3.6Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives
3.7Nitrogen Compounds
3.8Polymerisation
3.9Analytical Techniques
3.9.1Chromatography
3.9.2High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
3.9.3Gas Chromatography
3.9.4IR Spectroscopy
3.9.5Uses of IR Spectroscopy
3.9.6Mass Spectrometry
3.9.7Mass Spectrometry Analysis
3.9.8Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
3.9.9Carbon-13 NMR
3.9.10Proton NMR I
3.9.11Proton NMR II
3.9.12End of Topic Test - Analytical Techniques
3.9.13A-A* (AO2/3) - Analytical Techniques
Jump to other topics
1Physical Chemistry
1.1Atoms, Molecules & Stoichiometry
1.2Atomic Structure
1.2.1Fundamental Particles
1.2.2Isotopes & Mass Number
1.2.3Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals
1.2.4Electron Configuration
1.2.5Ionisation Energy
1.2.6Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies
1.2.7Trends of Ionisation
1.2.8Specific Impacts on Ionisation Energies
1.2.9Electron Affinity
1.2.10End of Topic Test - Atomic Structure
1.2.11A-A* (AO2/3) - Atomic Structure
1.3Chemical Bonding
1.3.1Ionic Bonding
1.3.2Covalent & Dative Bonding
1.3.3Shapes of Molecules
1.3.4Intermolecular Forces
1.3.5Intermolecular Forces 2
1.3.6Electronegativity
1.3.7Bond Length, Bond Energy, & Bond Polarity
1.3.8Metallic Bonding
1.3.9Physical Properties
1.3.10End of Topic Test - Bonding
1.3.11A-A* (AO2/3) - Bonding
1.4States of Matter
1.5Chemical Energetics
1.6Electrochemistry
1.7Equilibria
1.7.1Dynamic Equilibrium & Le Chatelier
1.7.2Kc
1.7.3Kp
1.7.4pH
1.7.5The Ionic Product of Water
1.7.6Weak Acids & Bases
1.7.7Introduction to Solubility Equilibria
1.7.8Solubility Equilibria Calculations
1.7.9Free Energy of Dissolution
1.7.10pH and Solubility
1.7.11Common-Ion Effect
1.7.12End of Topic Test - Kp & Electrochemistry
1.7.13A-A* (AO2/3) - Electrochemical Cells
1.8Partition Coefficient
1.9Reaction Kinetics
1.9.1Collision Theory
1.9.2Orders, Rate Constants & Equations
1.9.3Rate Graphs
1.9.4Rate Determining Step
1.9.5Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution
1.9.6Catalysts
1.9.7Homogeneous Catalysts
1.9.8Heterogeneous Catalysts
1.9.9End of Topic Test - Kinetics
1.9.10End of Topic Test - Rate Equations
1.9.11A-A* (AO2/3) - Rate Equations
2Inorganic Chemistry
2.1The Periodic Table
2.2Group 2
2.3Group 17
2.4Transition Metals
3Organic Chemistry & Analysis
3.1Introduction to Organic Chemistry
3.2Hydrocarbons
3.2.1Fractional Distillation
3.2.2Cracking
3.2.3Combustion
3.2.4Chlorination
3.2.5End of Topic Test - Alkanes
3.2.6Introduction to Alkenes
3.2.7Reactions of Alkenes
3.2.8Polymerisation Reactions
3.2.9End of Topic Test - Alkenes
3.2.10Arenes
3.2.11Evidence for Structure of Arenes
3.2.12Reactions of Benzene
3.2.13End of Topic Test -Arenes
3.3Halogen Derivatives
3.4Hydroxy Compounds
3.5Carbonyl Compounds
3.6Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives
3.7Nitrogen Compounds
3.8Polymerisation
3.9Analytical Techniques
3.9.1Chromatography
3.9.2High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
3.9.3Gas Chromatography
3.9.4IR Spectroscopy
3.9.5Uses of IR Spectroscopy
3.9.6Mass Spectrometry
3.9.7Mass Spectrometry Analysis
3.9.8Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
3.9.9Carbon-13 NMR
3.9.10Proton NMR I
3.9.11Proton NMR II
3.9.12End of Topic Test - Analytical Techniques
3.9.13A-A* (AO2/3) - Analytical Techniques
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