CHEMICAL PERIODICITY

Marian Franciesca A. Santos Clarissa Somera De La Salle University-Dasmarias Dasmarias, Cavite Philippines

ABSTRACT

The chemical periodicity is the focus of the experimental procedure. Chemical reactions of elements involve changes in their valence electron such as removal, addition or sharing to have a more stable configuration. The periodicity of elements determines their group in the periodic table according to their electronic configuration. The reagents used for the experimental procedure are Li 2CO2, Na2CO3, K2CO3, MgCO3, CaCO3,C, Si, Sn, Pb, MgC, CaO and BaCO3. The group IA, and IIA elements namely Li2CO2, Na2CO3, K2CO3, MgCO3, CaCO3 and BaCO 3 placed in a container , observed and tested for their solubility in water. The group IVA elements are also observed to identify their physical state, color and appearance. The metal oxides were tested with litmus paper to determine if they are an acid or a base, In the first procedure, the Na2CO3 and K2CO3 are the only elements that showed solubility in water. The group IVA elements are accurately identified based on their state, color and appearance. The last experimental procedure showed that the MgO and Cao are both bases.

INTRODUCTION Each element in the periodic table reacts in a different way. Those with precise configuration are group together to make it easier for the students to find a certain element. The periodic table helps the students uncover the facts behind the big world of chemistry. It is serves as an amulet that guides the student to the right way of naming, finding, and solving for a certain element. The elements in the periodic table are grouped by the names: Group IA as alkali metals, group IIA as alkaline-earth metals, Group IIIA as boron family, Group IVA as carbon family, Group VA as nitrogen family, Group VIA as Chalcogens and Group VIIA as Halogens. The elements starting from the upper left part of the table to the right part have increasing trend and the ones in the topmost part to the bottom part also have an increasing trend. The horizontal rows in the periodic table are called periods and the vertical columns are called families. The elements in the periodic table are arranged in order of increasing atomic number. The atomic number (number of protons) is located right above the element symbol. Periodicity means pattern of repeating orders. This paved way to Mendeleevs discovery of the periodic table which illustrates the arrangement of elements according to their atomic mass.

MATERIALS AND METHODS The reagents from Group IA and IIA elements namely Li2CO2, Na2CO3, K2CO3, MgCO3, CaCO3 and BaCO3 are placed in different test tubes. Their physical state, appearance and color were identified. The students also tested their solubility in water. The students also did the same thing to the reagents from group IVA elements except for not testing their solubility in water. In the group IIA metal oxides. The MgO and CaO were placed in different test tubes with 10mL H2O. Both were observed and tested with red and blue litmus paper. Both reagents showed same results the red litmus paper turned red proving that both reagents are bases and not acid. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS The results of the experimental procedures are recorded in the tables below. The reagents used in the experiment exhibited accurate results. Table 1 shows the results of the first experimental procedure. The reagents from Group IA and IIA elements namely Lithium Carbonate, Sodium Carbonate, Potassium Carbonate, Magnesium Carbonate, Calcium Carbonate and Barium Carbonate showed precise results. Their physical state was solid, colors are all white and their appearances are all powdery. Two of the elements are soluble and the others are all insoluble. Refer to the table below.
TABLE 1. GROUP IA AND GROUP IIA ELEMENTS

COMPOUND

PHYSICAL STATE

COLOR

APPEARANCE

SOLUBILITY IN WATER insoluble soluble soluble insoluble insoluble insoluble

Li2CO3 NA3CO3 K2CO3 MgCO3 CaCO3 BaCO3

solid solid solid solid solid solid

white white white white white white

powdery powdery powdery powdery powdery powdery

Table 2 shows the results of the second experimental procedure. All the elements in this experiment have same state but they vary in color and appearance.

TABLE 2. SOME GROUP IVA ELEMENTS

SAMPLE C Sn Si

PHYSICAL STATE solid solid solid

COLOR black silver white

APPEARANCE granules metallic fine powder

Pb

solid

Gray

stone-like

Table 3 shows the result from the last experimental procedure. The MgO and CaO have the same effect on the litmus paper. The students determined that both elements were bases.
TABLE 3. SOME GROUP IIA METAL OXIDES

COMPOUND MgO CaO

SOLUBILITY IN WATER Insoluble insoluble

REACTION TO BLUE LITMUS PAPER None None

REACTION TO RED LITMUS PAPER turned blue(base) turned blue(base)

Here is the balanced chemical equation for the oxides and water: MgO + H2O = Mg(OH)2 CaO + H2O = Ca(OH)2

The overall result of the experimental procedure was a success. The results showed accuracy to the right answers. The group IA , IIA , and IVA were observed and tested accurately. Group IA and IIA elements exhibit almost the same state but differs in color and appearance. The given IVA elements were determined as bases and the balanced chemical equation of the given metal oxides was shown.

REFERENCES Chang, R,Chemistry . 6 ed. NY: WBC Mc Graw Hill, 1998 The periodicity of Elements retrived on Jan. 16 at http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/theth

periodicity-of-chemical-elements.html

Samonte, Joseph L.; Figueroa, Lolibeth V. General Chemistry Laboratory Manual 3 C&EPublishing, Inc. 200

rd

Edition