Exercise 3

The Periodic Law

According to the periodic law, the properties of the elements are a periodic function of
their atomic numbers. This means that if the elements are arranged in the order of increasing
atomic number, elements with similar physical and chemical properties occur at periodic
intervals.

The periodicity of properties can be better understood if the values for a property
(atomic volume, boiling point, melting point, atomic radius, etc.) are plotted against the atomic
numbers. Using the following data plot the curve for atomic volume and atomic number, using
the longer axis for the atomic numbers.

Atomic Number Name Symbol Atomic Volume ( ml/g -atom)

1 Hydrogen H 14.0
2 Helium He 29.2
3 Lithium li 13.0
4 Beryllium Be 4.9
5 Boron B 4.4
6 Carbon C 6.2
7 Nitrogen N 14.0
8 Oxygen O 14.3
9 Fluorine F 16.7
10 Neon Ne 18.0
11 Sodium Na 23.6
12 Magnesium Mg 14.1
13 Aluminum Al 10.0
14 Silicon Si 11.4
15 Phosphorus P 17.0
16 Sulfur S 16.4
17 Chlorine Cl 14.2
18 Argon Ar 28.4
19 Potassium K 44.7
20 Calcium Ca 25.9
21 Scandium Sc 14.8
22 Titanium Ti 10.7
23 Vanadium V 8.5
24 Chromium Cr 7.6
25 Manganese Mn 7.4
26 Iron Fe 7.1
27 Cobalt Co 6.8
28 Nickel Ni 6.7
29 Copper Cu 7.1
30 Zinc Zn 9.2
31 Gallium Ga 11.8
32 Germanium Ge 13.3
33 Arsenic As 13.0
34 Selenium Se 18.5
35 Bromine Br 24.9
36 Krypton Kr 38.5
37 Rubidium Rb 55.8
38 Strontium Sr 34.5
39 Yttrium Y 23.5
40 Zirconium Zr 14.2
41 Niobium Nb 11.0
42 Molybdenum Mo 10.6
43 Technetium Tc
44 Ruthenium Ru 8.4
45 Rhodium Rh 8.5
46 Palladium Pa 8.7
47 Silver Ag 10.2
48 Cadmium Cd 13.0
49 Indium In 16.1
50 Tin Sn 16.3
51 Antimony Sb 18.2
52 Tellurium Te 21.2
53 Iodine I 25.7
54 Xenon Xe 29.0

List the names of the elements that occupy the maximum points. Is there any relationship
between these elements? (Check with your periodic table.)

Describe the trend of the graph from Li (3) to Ne (10); from Na (11) to Ar (18). Compare.

Describe the trend of the graph from K (19) to Kr (36); from Rb (37) to Xe (54). Compare.

Can you explain from the graph the meaning of the statement, the atomic volumes of the
elements are a periodic function of their atomic numbers?