Chapter 11: Problem 4

What is the relationship between the form of the periodic table and the electron configurations of the elements?

Short Answer

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The structure of the periodic table reflects the electron configurations of the elements. The table's rows (periods) correspond to higher energy levels of electrons in the atom. The columns (groups) represent the number of valence electrons in an atom. And, the blocks (s, p, d, and f) correspond to the last orbital that gets filled with electrons.

Step by step solution

- Understand the electron configurations

Electron configuration refers to the arrangement of electrons in an atom's electron cloud. In order to occupy these orbitals with electrons from lowest to highest energy, we follow the Aufbau Principle. Two additional rules we adhere to are Hund’s Rule and the Pauli Exclusion Principle.

- Understand structure of the periodic table

The periodic table is divided into blocks named s, p, d, and f, based on the electron orbitals. The s-block comprises groups 1 and 2 (including hydrogen and helium), p-block comprises groups 13 to 18, d-block comprises transition metals (groups 3 to 12), and the f-block includes the Lanthanides and Actinides series.

- Draw the connections between periodic table and the electron configurations

Each row (or period) in the table corresponds to a higher energy level of an atom's electrons. The groups of the table (the vertical columns) represent the number of valence electrons of an element in the outermost shell of an atom (for instance: group 1 elements have 1 valence electron, group 2 has 2 valence electrons, and so forth). The elements in the same group have similar properties and reactivity, as these are largely determined by the number of valence electrons.

- Conclusion

In conclusion, the electron configuration of an element helps determine its place on the periodic table. The blocks of the periodic table represent the final orbital type that gets filled according to the Aufbau Principle. The periods represent the energy levels of an atom, and the groups represent the number of valence electrons. Therefore, the structure of the periodic table is essentially a graphical representation of the electron configurations of the elements.

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What is the relationship between the form of the periodic table and the electron configurations of the elements?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

- Understand the electron configurations

- Understand structure of the periodic table

- Draw the connections between periodic table and the electron configurations

- Conclusion

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