IGCSE CHEMISTRY

SECTION 2 LESSON 1
 Content

The iGCSE
Section 1 Principles of Chemistry
Chemistry
course Section 2 Chemistry of the Elements

Section 3 Organic Chemistry

Section 4 Physical Chemistry

Section 5 Chemistry in Society

 Content

Section 2
a) The Periodic Table
b) Group 1 Elements
Chemistry c) Group 7 Elements
of the d) Oxygen and Oxides
Elements e) Hydrogen and Water
f) Reactivity Series
g) Tests for ions and gases
 Content

Lesson 1
a) The Periodic Table
2.1 understand the terms group and period
2.2 recall the positions of metals and non-metals in the
Periodic Table

a)The
2.3 explain the classification of elements as metals or non-
metals on the basis of their electrical conductivity and

Periodic
the acid-base character of their oxides
2.4 understand why elements in the same group of the

Table
Periodic Table have similar chemical properties
2.5 understand that the noble gases (Group 0) are a family of

b) Group 1
inert gases and explain their lack of reactivity in terms of
their electronic configurations.

elements b) Group 1 elements — lithium, sodium and

potassium
2.6 describe the reactions of these elements with water and
understand that the reactions provide a basis for their
recognition as a family of elements
2.7 describe the relative reactivities of the elements in Group 1
2.8 explain the relative reactivities of the elements in Group 1
in terms of distance between the outer electrons and
the nucleus.
The Periodic Table
The Periodic Table
Groups
The Periodic Table

Groups
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (0)
 The Periodic Table

Periods
 The Periodic Table

1
2
3
Periods 4
5
6
7
 The Periodic Table
Noble
Alkali gases
metals Alkaline
Halogens
Earth
metals

Transition metals
The Periodic Table
Sn = tin Group 4 Period 5
The Periodic Table

Non-metals

Metals
 The Periodic Table
The chemical elements are
arranged in order of increasing
atomic number
 The Periodic Table
Elements in the same group have
the same number of electrons in
their outermost shell. This is the
same as the group number
 The Periodic Table
Elements in the same period have
the same number of shells. This is
the same as the period number
Metals and non-metals
 Metals and non-metals
More than ¾ of the elements in
the Periodic Table are metals
 Metals and non-metals
More than ¾ of the elements in
the Periodic Table are metals

So what
defines a
metal?
Metals and non-metals
Metals, such as gold, are
good electrical conductors.
This is because they have a
giant structure in which
electrons in the highest
energy level are free to
move through the entire
structure.
Metals and non-metals
Metals, such as gold, are
good electrical conductors.
This is because they have a
giant structure in which
electrons in the highest
energy level are free to
move through the entire
structure.
Non-metals, such as sulphur,
are very poor conductors of
electricity, or do not
conduct at all.
 Metals and non-metals
Both metals and non-metals form oxides.

For example: copper oxide CuO

sulphur dioxide SO2

 Metals and non-metals
Both metals and non-metals form oxides.

For example: copper oxide CuO

sulphur dioxide SO2

Oxides of metallic elements are bases,

those which dissolve in water form alkalis.
 Metals and non-metals
Both metals and non-metals form oxides.

For example: copper oxide CuO

sulphur dioxide SO2

Oxides of metallic elements are bases,

those which dissolve in water form alkalis.

Oxides of non-metallic elements tend to

be acids.
 Metals and non-metals
Metallic elements Non-metallic
elements
Combine with oxygen to form oxides

Oxides of metallic Many non-metallic

elements are oxides are gases,
solids some are liquids
and some solids
Oxides of metallic
elements are all
bases

Bases soluble in Some bases are Most dissolve in Some are

water are called insoluble water to form insoluble and
alkalis acids neutral
 Metals and non-metals
Non-metal oxides as acids:

Sulphur dioxide + Water  Sulphurous

acid

SO2 + H2O  H2SO3

 Metals and non-metals
Metal oxides as bases:

Base + Acid  Salt + Water

eg. CuO + H2SO4  CuSO4 + H2O

Groups and chemical properties
 The Group Number tells you how many
electrons there are in the outer shell
(orbit) of an element.
For example, oxygen is in Group 6, so has
6 electrons in its outermost shell (2:6)
 The Period Number
tells you how many
shells (orbits) there
are around the
nucleus.
For example, Calcium
is in Period 4, so will
have 4 shells around
the nucleus
 The Period Number
tells you how many
shells (orbits) there
are around the
nucleus.
For example, Calcium
is in Period 4, so will
have 4 shells around
the nucleus
Groups and chemical properties
why do elements in the same group of the
Periodic Table have similar chemical properties
Groups and chemical properties
why do elements in the same group of the
Periodic Table have similar chemical properties

It’s all to do with

their electronic
configuration.
Groups and chemical properties
why do elements in the same group of the
Periodic Table have similar chemical properties

It’s all to do with

their electronic
configuration.

In order to be
stable, atoms need
a full outer shell of
electrons
Groups and chemical properties
Elements in the same group have the
same number of electrons in their
outermost shell
Groups and chemical properties
Atoms need to lose or gain electrons in
order to become stable
Groups and chemical properties
Metals lose their outer electron or
electrons when they react, and non-
metals gain
Groups and chemical properties
The fewer electrons that need to be
lost or gained, the more reactive the
element
Groups and chemical properties
The fewer electrons that need to be
lost or gained, the more reactive the
element
Groups and chemical properties

Non-metals
Groups and chemical properties
Group 1 elements lose one electron to become stable
Groups and chemical properties
Group 1 elements lose one electron to become stable
Group 2 elements lose two electrons to become stable
Groups and chemical properties
Group 1 elements lose one electron to become stable
Group 2 elements lose two electrons to become stable
Group 3 elements lose three electrons to become stable
Groups and chemical properties
Group 5 elements gain three electrons to become stable
Group 6 elements gain two electrons to become stable
Group 7 elements gain one electron to become stable
Groups and chemical properties
The fewer electrons that need to be
lost or gained, the more reactive the
element
Groups and chemical properties
Group 1 are the Group 7 are the
most reactive most reactive non-
metals metals
Groups and chemical properties
What about the elements in
Group 8 (0) ? Why are they
so unreactive?
Groups and chemical properties
What about the elements in
2 Group 8 (0) ? Why are they
so unreactive?
2:8
Look at their electron
configurations – can you see
2:8:8
why they don’t react?
Groups and chemical properties
What about the elements in
2 Group 8 (0) ? Why are they
so unreactive?
2:8
Look at their electron
configurations – can you see
2:8:8
why they don’t react?

They already have full outer shells of

electrons, so they don’t need to lose or gain
any more. This is why they are called the
inert gases. They don’t usually react.
(They are also know as the rare or noble
gases)
 Content

Lesson 1
a) The Periodic Table
2.1 understand the terms group and period
2.2 recall the positions of metals and non-metals in the
Periodic Table

a)The
2.3 explain the classification of elements as metals or non-
metals on the basis of their electrical conductivity and

Periodic
the acid-base character of their oxides
2.4 understand why elements in the same group of the

Table
Periodic Table have similar chemical properties
2.5 understand that the noble gases (Group 0) are a family of

b) Group 1
inert gases and explain their lack of reactivity in terms of
their electronic configurations.

elements b) Group 1 elements — lithium, sodium and

potassium
2.6 describe the reactions of these elements with water and
understand that the reactions provide a basis for their
recognition as a family of elements
2.7 describe the relative reactivities of the elements in Group 1
2.8 explain the relative reactivities of the elements in Group 1
in terms of distance between the outer electrons and
the nucleus.
Group 1 – The Alkali Metals
Group 1 – The Alkali Metals
Alkali metals have a low density.
The first three are less dense
than water, and as a consequence
they float.
Group 1 – The Alkali Metals
Alkali metals have a low density.
The first three are less dense
than water, and as a consequence
they float.

Melting points and boiling points

decrease as we go down the group
Group 1 – The Alkali Metals
Alkali metals have a low density.
The first three are less dense
than water, and as a consequence
they float.

Melting points and boiling points

decrease as we go down the group

Reactivity increases as we go
down the group
 Group 1 – The Alkali Metals
Alkali metals have a low density.
The first three are less dense
than water, and as a consequence
they float.

Melting points and boiling points

decrease as we go down the group
All alkali metals
react with non- Reactivity increases as we go
metals to form down the group
ionic compounds.
 Group 1 – The Alkali Metals
Alkali metals have a low density.
The first three are less dense
than water, and as a consequence
they float.

Melting points and boiling points

decrease as we go down the group
They all lose
one electron to Reactivity increases as we go
form a metal ion down the group
with the charge
+1
 Group 1 – The Alkali Metals
Alkali metals have a low density.
The first three are less dense
than water, and as a consequence
they float.

Melting points and boiling points

decrease as we go down the group
They all lose Reactivity increases as we go
one electron to down the group
form a metal ion
with the charge Ionic compounds are white solids
+1 which form colourless solutions
 Group 1 – The Alkali Metals
Reaction with water
The alkali metals react with water to produce
soluble hydroxides (alkalis) and hydrogen.

eg. Potassium + Water  Potassium + Hydrogen

hydroxide

2K(s) + 2H2O(l)  2KOH(aq) + H2(g)

 Group 1 – The Alkali Metals
Reaction with water
The alkali metals react with water to produce
soluble hydroxides (alkalis) and hydrogen.

eg. Potassium + Water  Potassium + Hydrogen

hydroxide

2K(s) + 2H2O(l)  2KOH(aq) + H2(g)

2Na(s) + 2H2O(l)  2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)

 Group 1 – The Alkali Metals
Reaction with water
Going down the group, the alkali metals become
more reactive, and react more vigorously with
water. They float, may melt and the hydrogen
gas produced may ignite

Lithium reacts gently, sodium more violently, and

potassium so violently that it melts and bursts
into flames.
Group 1 – The Alkali Metals
Reaction with water
Group 1 – The Alkali Metals
Why does the
reactivity increase
going down the group?
Group 1 – The Alkali Metals
Why does the It’s all to do with the
reactivity increase number of shells around
going down the group? the nucleus!
Group 1 – The Alkali Metals
Why does the It’s all to do with the
reactivity increase number of shells around
going down the group? the nucleus!

2:1 Going down the group

the atomic radius gets
bigger due to extra full
2:8:1 shells of electrons.
The outer electron is
further from the
2:8:8:1 nucleus and so less
strongly held.
Group 1 – The Alkali Metals
Why does the It’s all to do with the
reactivity increase number of shells around
going down the group? the nucleus!

2:1 This means that the

outer electron is more
easily lost, the +1 ion is
2:8:1 more easily formed, and
so the elements are
more reactive going
2:8:8:1 down the group.
 End of Section 2 Lesson 1

In this lesson we have covered:

The Periodic Table

Group 1 – The Alkali Metals