THE STRUCTURE OF ATOM AND PERIODIC TRENDS (CH 7)

In the SparkNote on the Periodic table we discussed a number of simple periodic trends. In this section we will discuss a number of more complex trends, the understanding of which relies on knowledge of atomic structure.

Before getting into these trends, we should engage a quick review and establish some terminology. As seen in the previous section on the octet rule, atoms tend to lose or gain electrons in order to attain a full valence shell and the stability a full valence shell imparts. Because electrons are negatively charged, an atom becomes positively or negatively charged as it loses or gains an electron, respectively. Any atom or group of atoms with a net charge (whether positive or negative) is called an ion. A positively charged ion is a cation while a negatively charged ion is an anion.

In the modern periodic system of horizontal rows are called periods and upright rows are called groups. The number of periods in the periodic system there are 7 and marked with numbers:• Period 1 is referred to as the period is very short and contains 2 elements• Period 2 is referred to as short a period and contains 8 elements• Period 3 is referred to as short a period and contains 8 elements• Period 4 called the period length and contains 18 elements• Period 5 called the period length and contains 18 elements• Period of six called the period is very long and contains 32 elements, in this period there are elements of the Lanthanide element number 58 to number 71 and placed on the bottom• Period 7 is referred to as the period is not yet complete because it may increase the number of elements that occupy it again, until now contains 24 elements. In this period there is a row of elements called Actinides, that is, elements numbered 90 to 103 and the number placed on the bottom.
The number of groups in the periodic system are 8 and marked with Roman numerals. There are two major categories, namely class A (main group) and class B (class transitions). Group B is located between groups IIA and IIIA groups.
The names of the classes to the element of class A• Group IA alkali group called• Group IIA alkaline earth group called• Type IIIA called boron golonga• Group IVA called carbon groups• Group VA called nitrogen group• VIA Group called the oxygen group• Group VIIA group called halogens• Group VIIIA group called noble gases
In the period 6 class IIIB there are 14 elements that are very similar, the lanthanide elements. In the period 7 also apply the same thing and called the actinide elements. Both series of elements called transition elements inside.
The elements of the lanthanide and actinide belonged IIIB, included in thegroup because it has very similar properties.
Among the elements of group IIA and IIIA are ten column elements of group B. These elements are called transition elements. The term transition means the transition, ie the transition from block to block p s. Transition elements are defined as elements that have subshell d or f subshell partially filled. For example, copper has the electron configuration [Ar] 3d10 4S1. Transition elements contained in the d-block elements are having an unfilled d subshell full. As a result, the transition elements have several distinctive properties, namely:
1. All the elements of the transition metal is hard to boiling point and high melting point.2. Each transition elements have multiple oxidation states, except for group IIB and IIIB elements. For example, vanadium, has the oxidation state of +2 to +5.3. Compounds of transition elements are usually colored and paramagnetic. All of the properties due to the configuration of electrons in d orbitals is not fully charged

Now we are ready to discuss the periodic trends of atomic size, ionization energy, electron affinity, and electronnegativity.

Atomic Size (Atomic Radius)

The atomic size of an atom, also called the atomic radius, refers to the distance between an atom's nucleus and its valence electrons. Remember, the closer an electron is to the nucleus, the lower its energy and the more tightly it is held.

Moving Across a Period

Moving from left to right across a period, the atomic radius decreases. The nucleus of the atom gains protons moving from left to right, increasing the positive charge of the nucleus and increasing the attractive force of the nucleus upon the electrons. True, electrons are also added as the elements move from left to right across a period, but these electrons reside in the same energy shell and do not offer increased shielding.

Moving Down a Group

The atomic radius increases moving down a group. Once again protons are added moving down a group, but so are new energy shells of electrons. The new energy shells provide shielding, allowing the valence electrons to experience only a minimal amount of the protons' positive charge.

Cations and Anions

Cations and anions do not actually represent a periodic trend in terms of atomic radius, but they do affect atomic radius, and so we will discuss them here.

A cation is positively charged, meaning that it is an atom that has lost an electron or electrons. The positive charge of the nucleus is thus distributed over a smaller number of electrons and electron-electron repulsion is decreased, meaning that the electrons are held more tightly and the atomic radius is smaller than in the normal neutral atom. Anions, conversely, are negatively charged ions: atoms that have gained electrons. In anions, electron-electron repulsion increases and the positive charge of the nucleus is distributed over a large number of electrons. Anions have a greater atomic radius than the neutral atom from which they derive.

Ionization Energy and Electron Affinity

The process of gaining or losing an electron requires energy. There are two common ways to measure this energy change: ionization energy and electron affinity.

Ionization Energy

The ionization energy is the energy it takes to fully remove an electron from the atom. When several electrons are removed from an atom, the energy that it takes to remove the first electron is called the first ionization energy, the energy it takes to remove the second electron is the second ionization energy, and so on. In general, the second ionization energy is greater than first ionization energy. This is because the first electron removed feels the effect of shielding by the second electron and is therefore less strongly attracted to the nucleus. If a particular ionization energy follows a previous electron loss that emptied a subshell, the next ionization energy will take a rather large leap, rather than follow its normal gently increasing trend. This fact helps to show that just as electrons are more stable when they have a full valence shell, they are also relatively more stable when they at least have a full subshell.

Ionization Energy Across a Period

Ionization energy predictably increases moving across the periodic table from left to right. Just as we described in the case of atomic size, moving from left to right, the number of protons increases. The electrons also increase in number, but without adding new shells or shielding. From left to right, the electrons therefore become more tightly held meaning it takes more energy to pry them loose. This fact gives a physical basis to the octet rule, which states that elements with few valence electrons (those on the left of the periodic table) readily give those electrons up in order to attain a full octet within their inner shells, while those with many valence electrons tend to gain electrons. The electrons on the left tend to lose electrons since their ionization energy is so low (it takes such little energy to remove an electron) while those on the right tend to gain electrons since their nucleus has a powerful positive force and their ionization energy is high. Note that ionization energy does show a sensitivity to the filling of subshells; in moving from group 12 to group 13 for example, after the d shell has been filled, ionization energy actually drops. In general, though, the trend is of increasing ionziation energy from left to right.

Ionization Energy Down a Group

Ionization energy decreases moving down a group for the same reason atomic size increases: electrons add new shells creating extra shielding that supersedes the addition of protons. The atomic radius increases, as does the energy of the valence electrons. This means it takes less energy to remove an electron, which is what ionization energy measures.

Electron Affinity

An atom's electron affinity is the energy change in an atom when that atom gains an electron. The sign of the electron affinity can be confusing. When an atom gains an electron and becomes more stable, its potential energy decreases: upon gaining an electron the atom gives off energy and the electron affinity is negative. When an atom becomes less stable upon gaining an electron, its potential energy increases, which implies that the atom gains energy as it acquires the electron. In such a case, the atom's electron affinity is positive. An atom with a negative electron affinity is far more likely to gain electrons.

Electron Affinities Across a Period

Electron affinities becoming increasingly negative from left to right. Just as in ionization energy, this trend conforms to and helps explain the octet rule. The octet rule states that atoms with close to full valence shells will tend to gain electrons. Such atoms are located on the right of the periodic table and have very negative electron affinities, meaning they give off a great deal of energy upon gaining an electron and become more stable. Be careful, though: the nobel gases, located in the extreme right hand column of the periodic table do not conform to this trend. Noble gases have full valence shells, are very stable, and do not want to add more electrons: noble gas electron affinities are positive. Similarly, atoms with full subshells also have more positive electron affinities (are less attractive of electrons) than the elements around them.

Electron Affinities Down a Group

Electron affinities change little moving down a group, though they do generally become slightly more positive (less attractive toward electrons). The biggest exception to this rule are the third period elements, which often have more negative electron affinities than the corresponding elements in the second period. For this reason, Chlorine, Cl, (group VIIa and period 3) has the most negative electron affinity.

Electronegativity

Electronegativity refers to the ability of an atom to attract the electrons of another atom to it when those two atoms are associated through a bond. Electronegativity is based on an atom's ionization energy and electron affinity. For that reason, electronegativity follows similar trends as its two constituent measures.

Electronegativity generally increases moving across a period and decreases moving down a group. Flourine (F), in group VIIa and period 2, is the most powerfully electronegative of the elements. Electronegativity plays a very large role in the processes of Chemical Bonding.