Periodic Table

Subject: Science

Overview

A periodic table is a scientific chart that categorizes elements based on their atomic weight. Dmitri Mendeleev created a periodic table to support this classification, which he called Mendeleev's Periodic Law. This law states that the physical and chemical properties of elements are periodic functions of their atomic weight. However, after further investigation, it was discovered that atomic number, not atomic weight, determines an element's qualities. This led to the creation of the modern periodic table, which has seven periods, eighteen groups, and seven sessions. The table is divided into 18 categories, with metalloids in the center, non-metals on the right, and metals on the left. The elements are categorized into blocks based on their electronic structure, with subshells in the K, L, M, and N shells. The increasing energies of the subshells determine their order, which is based on those energies.

A periodic table is a scientific table designed for the study of elements that arranges elements with similar qualities in one group and elements with differing properties in other groups.Russian scientist Dmitri Mendeleev created a periodic table to support the scientific classification of elements according to their atomic weight. Based on his research, he developed a periodic law for the categorization of elements. Mendeleev's Periodic Law is the name given to this law. It says, "The physical and chemical properties of elements are the periodic functions of their atomic weight."

It indicates that the physical and chemical characteristics of the elements repeat on a regular basis when they are placed in the ascending order of their atomic weights. Elements with like attributes are arranged in a vertical column, while those with dissimilar attributes are arranged in a horizontal row between them. In this manner, the periodic table—a categorization chart for elements—is created. In a periodic table, the horizontal rows are referred to as periods and the vertical columns as groups.

Modern Periodic Table

Mendeleev believed that an element's atomic weight was its essential characteristic. The periodic table had several intricacies when the elements were arranged according to their atomic weights. Certain elements, like the three isotopes of carbon, C-12, C-13, and C-14, have more than one atomic weight. They have atomic weights of 12, 13, and 14, in that order. Isotopes are variations of an element with distinct atomic weights.While the number of neutrons in an atom might vary, the number of protons in an atom is always constant, resulting in the formation of isotopes. Since the atomic weight was the basis for creating Mendeleev's periodic table, distinct spots should be allocated for identical isotopes. But instead of designating distinct places for each element's isotope, he had merely allotted one spot for each element. Similarly, certain additional characteristics of the elements were beyond the scope of his periodic law. Following the in-depth investigation, scientists continued their quest for a new periodic table law and demonstrated that atomic weight is not an essential property of elements.

In this sense, atomic number rather than atomic weight determines an element's qualities, as English scientist Henry Moseley found in 1913 AD. On the basis of this, he created the current periodic law. It is possible to express the contemporary periodic law as follows: "The physical and chemical properties of elements are the periodic function of their atomic number."

Using his periodic law as a guide, he created a new periodic table. The lengthy version of the periodic table or the contemporary periodic table are names given to his periodic table. The elements are grouped according to increasing atomic number. Similar characteristics of elements are grouped together in a single vertical column in the contemporary periodic table. In a similar vein, elements are arranged in a horizontal row known as a period as their atomic numbers increase.

Characteristics of Modern Periodic Table

The current periodic table has seven periods. The number of valence shells is the same for elements belonging to the same era. The following is a list of the features of the current periodic table:

  • The current periodic table has the elements listed in increasing order of atomic number.
  • There are eighteen groups and seven sessions.
Period Number of Element Nature of Period
First 2 Very short
Second 8 Short
Third 8 Short
Fourth 18 Long
Fifth 18 Long 
Sixth 32 Very long
Seventh 32 Very long
  • The IUPAC approach has separated the modern periodic table into 18 categories.
  • In the present periodic table, metalloids are preserved in the center, non-metals are grouped on the right, and metals are on the left.
  • Group IA contains alkali metals, Group IIA contains alkaline earth metals, Group IIIB to IIB contains transitional metals, Group VIIA contains halogens, and Group 0 (18) contains noble gases.
  • The lanthanides are a set of 15 elements that range in atomic number from lutetium (Lu), atomic number 71, to lanthanum (La), atomic number 57. In a similar vein, the lanthanides are a collection of 15 elements that range in atomic number from 89 (Actinium, Ac) to 103 (Lr), or Lawrencium. Below the periodic table's main block, they are stored separately.
  • Between metals and nonmetals are the elements from groups IB to VII B and three columns from group VIII B (a total of 10 columns). We refer to these as transition metals.
  • The elements are categorized into blocks that are s, p, d, or f, depending on the sub-shell of their electronic structure.

Electronic Configuration of Elements Based on Subshells

The path in which electrons revolve around the nucleus of an atom is called the orbit or shell. A shell may be divided into one or more subshells. There are one or more orbitals in a subshell. Electrons are found in these orbitals.

Researchers came up with the electronic configuration of elements based on subshells because the electronic configuration of elements based on shells could not explain all of an element's properties. There are 1, 2, 3, and 4 subshells in the K, L, M, and N shells, respectively. The subshell in the K shell is denoted as 1s. Similarly, 2s and 2p are the subshells of L shell, and 3s, 3p, and 3d are the subshells of M shell. 4s, 4p, 4d, and 4f are the subshells of N shell. s, p, d, and f subshells can accommodate a maximum of 2, 6, 10, and 14 electrons, respectively.

Subshell Shell Subshell Total Electrons in Shell
1 K 1s2 2
2 L 2s2,2p6 8
3 M 2s2,2p6,3d10 18
4 N 4s2,4p6,4d10,4f14  32

Aufbau's approach directs the electrical arrangement of components based on subshells. According to Aufbau's principle, electrons are packed into subshells in increasing order of energy. The order of subshells according to their increasing energies is:

1s < 2s < 2p < 3s < 3p < 4s < 3d < 4p < 5s < 4d < 5p < 6s < 4f < 5d < 6p.....

The s, p, d, and f subshells may hold a maximum of 2, 6, 10, and 14 electrons, respectively. Until the first subshell is not entirely filled, the electrons in the second subshell cannot be filled. As a result, electrons ought to be added in the following order:

1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p. 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p...

Things to remember
  • A periodic table is a scientific chart for studying elements, arranged according to their atomic weight.
  • Dmitri Mendeleev, a Russian scientist, created a periodic table to categorize elements based on their atomic weight.
  • Mendeleev's Periodic Law states that the physical and chemical properties of elements are periodic functions of their atomic weight.
  • English scientist Henry Moseley discovered that atomic number, not atomic weight, determines an element's qualities, leading to the creation of the current periodic law.
  • The modern periodic table is grouped according to increasing atomic number, with similar characteristics grouped together in a single vertical column.
  • The IUPAC approach has separated the table into 18 categories, with metalloids in the center, non-metals on the right, and metals on the left.
  • The elements are categorized into blocks based on the sub-shell of their electronic structure.
  • The electronic configuration of elements based on subshells was developed to explain all of an element's properties.

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