Periodicity

Recap of previous knowledge

-

Define the following terms: rate of reaction, activation energy, catalyst.

State the collision theory and explain the factors that affect the rate of a reaction
State two methods by which a reaction can be monitored to measure its rate.

Periodicity
Elements are arranged in order of their atomic numbers on the Periodic Table. The 3 rd period elements
will be considered for patterns across periods. This pattern repeats in order periods.
Definition: Periodicity is the repeating patterns in physical and chemical properties of the elements
across periods of the Periodic Table.
Periodicty of physical properties
This involves change in physical properties such as atomic radius, melting point, electrical
conductivity etc across each period of the Periodic Table.
(a) Atomic radii: Atomic radii here are referred to covalent radii although other types of atomic radii
such as van der waals, metallic radii exist.
Definition: Covalent radius is half the distance between the nuclei of two covalently bonded
atoms in a molecule.
On moving across Period 3 from left to right, atomic
radius decreases. This is because:
- the nuclear charge (number of protons in the nucleus)
-

increases
the number of electrons increasing successively by one
are added to the same principal quantum shell (energy
level)
shielding stays roughly the same.
the attraction of the outer electrons to the nucleus thus
increases resulting in a decrease in atomic radius.

(b) Ionic radii: Cations are smaller than their original atoms because
- There is complete loss of outer shell electrons during ion formation
- there is less shielding on outer electrons in cation compared to original atom.
On the other hand, anions are bigger than their original atoms because when they gain an extra
electron(s) into their outer shell,
- nuclear charge remains constant but repulsion between electrons increases.
On moving across Period 3 from left to right, ionic
radius decreases from Na+ to Si4+ because:
- the nuclear charge (number of protons in the nucleus)
increases
- the number of electrons and electron occupying shells
remain the same
- shielding stays roughly the same.
- the attraction of the outer electrons to the nucleus thus
increases resulting in a decrease in atomic radius.
The same explanation goes for the variation P3- to Cl-.

(c) Melting point: Structure and bonding can help to explain the variation in melting point across
period 3 (Na Al).
Period 3
Element type

Na

Mg
Metal

Al

Si
Metalloid

Bonding

Strong metallic bonds

between atoms

Strong covalent
bonds between
atoms

Structure

Giant metallic

Giant covalent

S
Cl
Non-metal
Strong covalent bonds between
atoms and weak VDW forces
between molecules
Simple molecular

- There is complete loss of outer shell electrons during ion formation

- there is less shielding on outer electrons in cation compared to original atom.
On the other hand, anions are bigger than their original atoms because when they gain an extra
electron into their outer shell, nuclear charge remains constant but repulsion between electrons
increases.
On moving across Period 3 from left to right, ionic
radius decreases from Na+ to Si4+ because:
- the nuclear charge (number of protons in the nucleus)
increases
- the number of electrons and electron occupying shells
remain the same
- shielding stays roughly the same.
- the attraction of the outer electrons to the nucleus thus
increases resulting in a decrease in atomic radius.
The same explanation goes for the variation P3- to Cl-.

(d)

In order to explain the trend in conduction of electricity across a period, one needs to know the
structures the elements in the period. Variation of electrical conductivity across a period depends on
- the availability or absence of a sea of free mobile or delocalised electrons
- the number of valence electrons.
Na, Mg and Al are metals and good conductors of electricity. Conductivity increases from Na Al due
to increase in number of valence electrons. The more the valence electrons of a metal, the more the
delocalized electrons contributed by each atom in a metallic lattice for the conduction of electricity.
Therefore, the more available the sea of free mobile electrons, the better the conductivity of an
element.
Silicon is a semi-conductor of electricity because its overlapping atoms provide a band gap with a
reasonable low energy for electron transfer.
P, S and Cl are poor conductors of electricity since they are simple discrete molecules (P4, S8, Cl2 )
with no sea of delocalized electrons.