Question

Locate each of the following elements in the periodic table; indicate whether it is a metal, metalloid, or nonmetal; and give the name of the element: (a) \(\mathrm{Ca}\), (b) \(\mathrm{Ti}\), (c) \(\mathrm{Ga},(\mathrm{d}) \mathrm{Th},(\mathrm{e}) \mathrm{Pt},(\mathrm{f}) \mathrm{Se},(\mathrm{g}) \mathrm{Kr}\).

Short answer

(a) Calcium (Ca) is a metal located in Group 2 and Period 4. (b) Titanium (Ti) is a metal located in Group 4 and Period 4. (c) Gallium (Ga) is a metal located in Group 13 and Period 4. (d) Thorium (Th) is a metal located in the actinide series and Period 7. (e) Platinum (Pt) is a metal located in Group 10 and Period 6. (f) Selenium (Se) is a nonmetal located in Group 16 and Period 4. (g) Krypton (Kr) is a nonmetal located in Group 18 and Period 4.

Step-by-step solution

Locate the element in the periodic table

To locate each of the given elements in the periodic table, use the periodic table provided in your textbook or an online resource. Note the element's group, period, and general location within the table, as these will help you identify whether the element is a metal, metalloid, or nonmetal.

Determine whether the element is a metal, metalloid, or nonmetal

Based on the element's location within the periodic table, determine its classification (metal, metalloid, or nonmetal). - Metals: Most elements are metals and are typically found on the left side of the periodic table. They are usually shiny, ductile, and conductive. - Metalloids: Metalloids are located along the dividing line between metals and nonmetals on the periodic table. They have properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals. - Nonmetals: Nonmetals are located on the right side of the periodic table. They are usually dull (not shiny), poor conductors, and less dense than metals.

Identify the element's name

Provide the full name of the element based on the given chemical symbol. (a) Ca: - Location: Group 2 (alkaline earth metals) and period 4. - Classification: Metal - Name: Calcium (b) Ti: - Location: Group 4 and period 4. - Classification: Metal - Name: Titanium (c) Ga: - Location: Group 13 and period 4. - Classification: Metal - Name: Gallium (d) Th: - Location: actinides (f-block) and period 7. - Classification: Metal - Name: Thorium (e) Pt: - Location: Group 10 and period 6. - Classification: Metal - Name: Platinum (f) Se: - Location: Group 16 and period 4. - Classification: Nonmetal - Name: Selenium (g) Kr: - Location: Group 18 (noble gases) and period 4. - Classification: Nonmetal - Name: Krypton

Key concepts

Metals and Nonmetals

Understanding the classification of elements as metals and nonmetals is crucial for students beginning to explore chemistry and the periodic table. Elements can typically be categorized into metals, nonmetals, and metalloids, each with distinctive properties.

Metals make up the majority of elements and are found on the left side and in the center of the periodic table. They are characterized by their shiny appearance, ability to conduct heat and electricity, malleability, and ductility, which allows them to be drawn into wires. Common examples include iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and calcium (Ca).

Nonmetals, on the other hand, are located primarily on the right side of the periodic table and are far less abundant than metals. They are generally dull in appearance, poor conductors of heat and electricity, and brittle in solid form. Oxygen (O), carbon (C), and selenium (Se) are among the nonmetals.

A small group of elements, known as metalloids, exhibit properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals. They can be found along the zigzag line that separates metals and nonmetals on the periodic table and include elements like silicon (Si) and arsenic (As).

Chemical Elements

The basic building blocks of matter are known as chemical elements, and each element is distinguished by the number of protons in its nucleus, leading to a unique atomic number. Chemical elements are organized in the periodic table based on similarities in their chemical properties and their atomic structure.

Every element has a specific symbol, typically consisting of one or two letters derived from its English or Latin name, like hydrogen (H) or sodium (Na, from 'natrium'). Certain elements are essential for life, such as carbon, which is the backbone of all organic compounds, or iron, which is critical for transporting oxygen in the blood.

There are over 100 known chemical elements, each with unique properties that allow them to combine in various ways to form compounds. The study of how these elements react and combine is fundamental to the field of chemistry and is pivotal in the development of new materials and medicines.

Periodic Table Groups and Periods

The periodic table is a tabular arrangement of chemical elements, and its structure is important for understanding elemental properties and behaviors. The table is organized into columns called groups and rows known as periods.

Groups are numbered from 1 to 18 and are sometimes referred to by older names or by characteristics of the elements within the group, such as the halogens in group 17 or the noble gases in group 18. Elements within the same group have similar properties and the same number of electrons in their outermost shell, resulting in common reactivity and chemical behaviors.

Periods, on the other hand, are the seven horizontal rows of the table. Elements in the same period have the same number of atomic orbitals but different properties. Going across a period, the properties of elements gradually change from metallic on the left to nonmetallic on the right, which is clearly demonstrated when identifying elements like calcium (Ca) as metals and selenium (Se) as nonmetals.

Understanding groups and periods helps students predict the types of chemical reactions elements might undergo, and the periodic table's design lets us see trends in atomic radius, electronegativity, and other characteristics essential to the study of chemistry.