What does the group number tell you?

The number of outer-shell electrons.

What does the period number tell you?

The number of occupied electron shells.

Why do elements in the same group react in similar ways?

They have the same number of outer electrons.

An element has the arrangement 2,8,6. State its atomic number, group and period.

Atomic number 16, Group 6, period 3.

What are the properties of metals?

Shiny, malleable, and good conductors of heat and electricity.

What are the properties of non-metals?

Dull, brittle when solid, and poor conductors.

An element on the boundary between metals and non-metals with properties of both.

Why is silicon useful in computer chips?

It is a semiconductor, so its conductivity can be controlled.

Organisation of the periodic tableIB MYP Chemistry: Flashcards

Card 1 of 140 of 14 known

Question

In what order are the elements arranged in the periodic table?

Tap or press Space to reveal

Tap card or press Space to flip

See all 14 cards

In what order are the elements arranged in the periodic table?: Increasing atomic number.
What is a group?: A vertical column of the periodic table.
What is a period?: A horizontal row of the periodic table.
What does the group number tell you?: The number of outer-shell electrons.
What does the period number tell you?: The number of occupied electron shells.
Why do elements in the same group react in similar ways?: They have the same number of outer electrons.
An element has the arrangement 2,8,6. State its atomic number, group and period.: Atomic number 16, Group 6, period 3.
Where are metals found in the periodic table?: On the left and in the middle.
Where are non-metals found in the periodic table?: On the right.
What are the properties of metals?: Shiny, malleable, and good conductors of heat and electricity.
What are the properties of non-metals?: Dull, brittle when solid, and poor conductors.
What is a metalloid?: An element on the boundary between metals and non-metals with properties of both.
Name two metalloids.: Silicon and germanium.
Why is silicon useful in computer chips?: It is a semiconductor, so its conductivity can be controlled.

Exam questions on Organisation of the periodic table

A teacher is explaining to her class how the elements are organised in the periodic table. The elements are laid out in rows and columns, and she wants the students to understand what decides where each element goes.
Explain why elements in the same group have similar chemical properties.2 marks
A technician has four unlabelled samples to sort. Sample W is a shiny solid that conducts electricity well and can be hammered into thin sheets. Sample X is a dull yellow solid that is brittle and does not conduct electricity. Sample Y is a shiny solid that is brittle and conducts electricity only poorly. Sample Z is a colourless gas at room temperature.
Explain, using the information given, why sample X is classified as a non-metal.2 marks
Two unknown elements, P and Q, have the electron arrangements 2,8,5 and 2,8,8,2 respectively. Students are given a periodic table and asked to work out the position of each element from its electron arrangement.
State the atomic number, the group and the period of element P.3 marks

See the full worksheet

Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).