Question

Locate the following elements in the periodic table, give the corresponding name for each, and classify them according to group (i.e., halogen, noble gas, alkali metal, etc.). (a) \(\mathrm{Ti}\) (b) \(\mathrm{Te}\) (c) Se (d) \(\mathrm{Sc}\) (e) \(\mathrm{At}\) (f) \(\mathrm{Ar}\)

Short answer

Ti - Titanium (Transition metal), Te - Tellurium (Metalloid), Se - Selenium (Non-metal), Sc - Scandium (Transition metal), At - Astatine (Halogen), Ar - Argon (Noble gas).

Step-by-step solution

Identifying the Element Ti

"Ti" is the chemical symbol for the element Titanium. It is located in Group 4 of the periodic table and is classified as a transition metal.

Identifying the Element Te

"Te" represents the element Tellurium. It is found in Group 16 of the periodic table and is classified as a metalloid.

Identifying the Element Se

"Se" stands for the element Selenium. It is located in Group 16 of the periodic table and is classified as a non-metal.

Identifying the Element Sc

"Sc" is the chemical symbol for Scandium. This element is found in Group 3 and is classified as a transition metal.

Identifying the Element At

"At" represents the element Astatine. It is situated in Group 17 on the periodic table and is classified as a halogen.

Identifying the Element Ar

"Ar" is the chemical symbol for Argon. It is located in Group 18 and is classified as a noble gas.

Key concepts

Chemical Elements

Chemical elements are pure substances that consist of a single type of atom. They cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. In chemistry, an element is identified by its unique number of protons in the nucleus, known as its atomic number. Atoms of an element have the same number of protons.
Elements are represented by symbols, usually derived from their Latin or Greek names, like "Ti" for Titanium or "Ar" for Argon. The periodic table is an organized chart of all known chemical elements, arranged by increasing atomic numbers.

• Atomic Number: Number of protons in an element.
• Element Symbol: One or two-letter abbreviation of its name.
• Unique Properties: Defined by position on the periodic table.

Element Classification

Elements are classified based on shared properties and are organized into categories on the periodic table. These categories help in understanding the properties and behaviors of different elements. Several major classifications include:

• Metals: Generally good conductors of heat and electricity. Tend to lose electrons in chemical reactions.
• Non-metals: Poor conductors of heat and electricity. Tend to gain electrons in reactions.
• Metalloids: Have properties of both metals and non-metals and often act as semiconductors.

Elements within the same group or column in the periodic table often exhibit similar chemical behaviors due to their similar electron configurations, contributing to their specific classification.

Transition Metals

Transition metals are elements that are found in the central block of the periodic table, specifically in groups 3 through 12. These metals are characterized by a few key traits:

• Variable Oxidation States: Transition metals can form various ions by losing different numbers of electrons.
• Colored Compounds: Many transition metals form colored compounds, which can be used in dyes and pigments.
• High Melting Points and Densities: They are typically high-density materials with high melting points, like Titanium (Ti) and Scandium (Sc).

These metals are often used in industrial applications and alloys due to their strength, durability, and resistance to corrosion.

Non-metals

Non-metals are found on the right side of the periodic table and have unique characteristics that distinguish them from metals:

• Poor Conductors: They do not conduct heat or electricity well.
• Forming Negative Ions: Non-metals tend to gain electrons, forming negative ions in chemical reactions.
• Diverse Forms: Non-metals can exist in various states such as gasses (e.g., Argon, Ar), liquids, or solids (e.g., Selenium, Se).

These elements are crucial in many biological and physical processes and include essential components such as Oxygen (O), Nitrogen (N), and Carbon (C).

Metalloids

Metalloids have properties that are intermediate between metals and non-metals. They are located on a zig-zag line separating metals and non-metals on the periodic table. Metalloids exhibit characteristics such as:

• Semiconductor Properties: They can conduct electricity better than non-metals but not quite as well as metals, making them useful in electronics.
• Combination of Properties: They have mixed properties, which might include metallic luster but brittle structure, as seen with Tellurium (Te).
• Important Industrial Uses: Utilized in the production of electronics, glasses, and alloys.

The most common metalloids include Silicon (Si), Boron (B), and Arsenic (As), essential for technological advancements like semiconductors.