Chemical Periodicity

Sandra Perante
Rica Mae Reyes
Aradhell Romasanta
Joshua Salud
De La Salle University- Dasmarias
Dasmarias, Cavite Philippines
ABSTRACT
Chemical periodicity, the main focus of this activity was demonstrated by using reagents and materials given.
All the sample elements that differ in their attributes namely, color, appearance, solubility and physical state
and reactions to red and blue litmus paper can be observed quickly. Chemical reactions of elements involve
changes in their valence electron such as removal, addition or sharing to have a more stable configuration.
The periodicity of elements determines their group in the periodic table according to their electronic
configuration.
INTRODUCTION
Periodicity simply the word used to describe the way or properties of an elements change across a period.
Chemical periodicity stems from the valance electronic configurations of the elements. This arrangement of
elements in the order of increasing atomic number with the elements having similar properties placed in
vertical columns is known as the periodic table. Chemical reactions of the elements are involve in changing
the valence electron such as addition, removal or sharing electrons to make it stable or balance. For
example, the Group IA or the alkali metals are the reactive elements, meaning it is easy for alkali metals to
react by losing one electron because the energy needed to remove is low. Elements that belong to the same
group often exhibit similarities in the physical and chemical properties because they have the same type of
arrangement of electrons in the edge of their atoms. In the other hand, elements found in the same
horizontal have the same energy but cannot be expected to behave chemically in similar ways.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Reagents from Group IA and IIA elements namely Li2CO3, Na2CO3, K2CO3, MgCO3, CaCO3, and BaCO3 are
placed in separate test tubes. Their characteristics like physical state, appearance and color was identified.
Each samples were mixed with water to test their solubility.
Secondly, reagents from group IVA elements were also observed for the same characteristics as mentioned
above except for testing their solubility.
Lastly,the metal oxides of group IIA specifically, MgO and CaO were placed in different test tubes with 10mL
H2O. Both were observed and tested with red and blue litmus paper. Both reagents showed same results the
red litmus paper turned red proving that both reagents are bases and not acid.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Given samples of elements from Group IA and IIA (Li2CO3, Na2CO3, K2CO3, MgCO3, CaCO3, and BaCO3)
were observed and tested in accordance to their state, color, appearance and solubility to water. Results are
shown in the table below
Compound

Physical State

Color

Appearance

Solubility in Water

Li2

Solid

White

Crystalline

Soluble

Na2

Solid

White

Powdery

Soluble

K2

Solid

White

Granulated

Soluble

MgCO

Solid

White

Powdery

Insoluble

CaCO

Solid

White

Powdery

Insoluble

Compound

Physical State

Color

Appearance

Solubility in Water

BaCO

Solid

White

Powdery

Soluble

table 1. Group IA and IIA elements

On table 2, elements from Group IVA or Carbon group was observed. Based on observation we can state
that their physical characteristics vary largely compared to the first sets of compounds within the same group
observed.
Sample

Physical state

Color

Appearance

Solid

Black

Irregularly shaped;
powdery

Si

Solid

Dirty white

Powdery

Sn

Solid

Silver

Smooth; irregularly
shaped

Pb

Solid

Black

Matte texture; granulelike; irregularly shaped

table 2. Group IVA elements

Lastly, on table 3 Metal Oxides of GroupIIA (MgO and CaO) were tested in accordance of their solubility in
water and observed their color reactions to blue and red litmus paper. the table below shows the results.

Compound

Solubility in water

Reaction to Blue
Litmus Paper

Reaction to Red Litmus

Paper

MgO

Insoluble

No change

turned to blue

CaO

Insoluble

No change

turned to blue

table 3. Group IIA Metal Oxides

MgO + H2O Mg(OH)2

CaO + H2O Ca(OH)2
figure1. Balanced chemical equation

Basing this activity as reference, Physical attributes of the given samples may vary simply because the
similarities of this elements are based on their properties within groups that are due to chemical periodicity
which stems from the valence electrons of atoms, while their differences are from the uniqueness of their
atomic structure.
As for the Metal oxide samples given, its reaction to red and blue litmus paper shows that they are both
bases. As for their reaction, from Metal oxide turning to Metal Hydroxides, Elements located in the same
group exhibit similar chemical properties because of the same number of valence electrons, because the
number of valence electrons largely determines the chemical behavior of the elements.
We can conclude that our conduction of the experiment was a success as there were just minor mistakes
done in data gathering and observation and our results appeared to be accurate to the right answers.
References:
(1) Chang, R.,Chemistry. 6th ed. NY: WBC Mc Graw Hill, 1998
(2) Samonte, J., & Figueroa, L. (2014). GENERAL CHEMISTRY Laboratory Manual (4th ed., p. 119).
Quezon City: C&E Pub.