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Chapter-5-Periodic-Classification-Of-Elements/: Dobereiner's Triads
Chapter-5-Periodic-Classification-Of-Elements/: Dobereiner's Triads
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chapter-5-periodic-classification-of-elements/
Early Models of Periodic Table
Dobereiner’s Triads
Dobereiner arranged a group of three elements with similar properties in the order of increasing
atomic masses and called it a triad. He showed that the atomic mass of the middle element is
approximately the arithmetic mean of the other two. But, Dobereiner could identify only following
three triads from the elements known at that time.
H Li Be B C N O
F Na Mg Al Si P F
Cl K Ca Cr Ti Mn Fe
Alkali Metals
The elements in the first group, lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), caesium
(Cs), and francium (Fr) are called alkali metals.
They were given the name because they all react with water to form alkalis.
The alkali metals are all shiny, soft, highly reactive solids at standard temperature and pressure and
readily lose their outermost electron to form cations with charge +1.
Number of valence electrons = 1
They are all shiny, silvery-white, somewhat reactive hard solids at standard temperature and
pressure. They lose two electrons from their outermost shell to form cations with charge +2.
Halogens
The elements in the seventeenth group (F, Cl, Br, I and As) are called halogens and exist as
diatomic molecules. The symbol ‘X’ is often used generically to refer to any halogen.
They were given the name halogen, from the Greek words, Hal- (“salt”) and -gen (“to produce”),
because they all produce a wide range of salts on reacting with metals.
The halogens exist at room temperature in all three states of matter: Solid- Iodine, Astatine. Liquid-
Bromine. Gas- Fluorine, Chlorine.
Noble Gases
The elements in the eighteenth group, helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe),
and the radioactive radon (Rn) are called noble gases.
They are all odourless, colourless and monatomic gases with very low chemical reactivity.
Since their valence shell is considered to be “full”, they have little tendency to participate in chemical
reactions.
When discovered and identified, scientists thought they are exceedingly rare, as well as chemically
inert, and therefore these gases were also given the names ‘rare’ or ‘inert’ gases.
Metals
Metals are electropositive as they form bonds by losing electrons.
Nonmetals
Nonmetals are electronegative as they form bonds by gaining electrons.
For example – Boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, tellurium, and polonium.
Variation of Valency
Valency of an element can be calculated from the electronic configuration in two ways –
All the elements of a group have the same number of valence electrons. Therefore, they all have the
same valency.
Variation of Electronegativity
Along the period – Electronegativity increases as the tendency to gain electrons in the valence shell
increases due to increasing nuclear charge.
Down the group – As the distance between the nucleus and valence shell increases, nuclear pull
decreases. This decreases the tendency of an atom to gain an electron, hence electronegativity
decreases.
Why Classification?
Without the classification of elements, it would be extremely difficult and time-consuming to
individually study the chemistry of all the elements. Hence, to simplify and systematize the study of
elements and their compounds, they are classified into groups and periods.