Chemical element Families of the Periodic Table

Elements are grouped into families in the periodic table. Digital Art / Getty Images

Updated on Oct 27, 2019

Elements may exist categorized co-ordinate to element families. Knowing how to identify families, which elements are included, and their properties helps predict behavior of unknown elements and their chemic reactions.

Element Families

Element families

Element families are indicated past numbers located at the pinnacle of the periodic table.

Todd Helmenstine

An element family unit is a set of elements sharing common properties. Elements are classified into families considering the three main categories of elements (metals, nonmetals, and semimetals) are very wide. The characteristics of the elements in these families are determined primarily by the number of electrons in the outer energy shell. Chemical element groups, on the other hand, are collections of elements categorized according to similar properties. Because element backdrop are largely determined by the beliefs of valence electrons, families and groups may be the aforementioned. However, there are dissimilar means of categorizing elements into families. Many chemists and chemistry textbooks recognize five main families:

5 Element Families

  1. Alkali metals
  2. Alkaline earth metals
  3. Transition metals
  4. Halogens
  5. Noble gases

nine Element Families

Another common method of categorization recognizes nine chemical element families:

  1. Brine Metals: Grouping ane (IA) - i valence electron
  2. Alkaline Earth Metals: Group 2 (IIA) - 2 valence electrons
  3. Transition Metals: Groups 3-12 - d and f block metals have ii valence electrons
  4. Boron Group or Earth Metals: Group 13 (IIIA) - 3 valence electrons
  5. Carbon Group or Tetrels: - Grouping 14 (IVA) - 4 valence electrons
  6. Nitrogen Group or Pnictogens: - Group 15 (VA) - 5 valence electrons
  7. Oxygen Grouping or Chalcogens: - Group 16 (VIA) - 6 valence electrons
  8. Halogens: - Group 17 (VIIA) - vii valence electrons
  9. Noble Gases: - Group 18 (VIIIA) - 8 valence electrons

Recognizing Families on the Periodic Table

Columns of the periodic table typically marker groups or families. Three systems have been used to number families and groups:

  1. The older IUPAC system used Roman numerals together with letters to distinguish betwixt the left (A) and right (B) side of the periodic table.
  2. The CAS system used letters to differentiate main group (A) and transition (B) elements.
  3. The modern IUPAC system uses Standard arabic numbers ane-18, simply numbering the columns of the periodic table from left to right.

Many periodic tables include both Roman and Arabic numbers. The Arabic numbering organization is the most widely accepted today.

Brine Metals or Group 1 Family of Elements

Alkali metal element family

The highlighted elements of the periodic tabular array belong to the alkali metallic element family.

Todd Helmenstine

The brine metals are recognized as a group and family of elements. These elements are metals. Sodium and potassium are examples of elements in this family. Hydrogen is not considered an alkali metallic because the gas does not exhibit the typical properties of the group. However, under the correct weather condition of temperature and pressure level, hydrogen can be an alkaline metal.

  • Group i or IA
  • Alkali Metals
  • 1 valence electron
  • Soft metallic solids
  • Shiny, lustrous
  • Loftier thermal and conductivity
  • Low densities, increasing with diminutive mass
  • Relatively low melting points, decreasing with atomic mass
  • Vigorous exothermic reaction with water to produce hydrogen gas and an alkali metallic hydroxide solution
  • Ionize to lose their electron, and so the ion has a +1 charge

Alkaline World Metals or Group ii Family of Elements

The alkaline earth element family

The highlighted elements of this periodic tabular array belong to the alkaline globe chemical element family. Todd Helmenstine

The alkaline earth metals or simply alkaline earths are recognized equally an important group and family of elements. These elements are metals. Examples include calcium and magnesium.

  • Grouping two or IIA
  • Element of group i World Metals (Alkaline metal Earths)
  • 2 valence electrons
  • Metal solids, harder than the brine metals
  • Shiny, lustrous, oxidize easily
  • Loftier thermal and conductivity
  • More dense than the alkali metals
  • College melting points than brine metals
  • Exothermic reaction with water, increasing as you move down the group; beryllium does not react with water; magnesium reacts only with steam
  • Ionize to lose their valence electrons, so the ion has a +2 charge

Transition Metals Element Family

Transition metal element family

The highlighted elements of this periodic table belong to the transition element element family. The lanthanide and actinide series below the body of the periodic tabular array are transition metals, too. Todd Helmenstine

The largest family of elements consists of transition metals. The center of the periodic table contains the transition metals, plus the 2 rows below the body of the table (lanthanides and actinides) are special transition metals.

  • Groups 3-12
  • Transition Metals or Transition Elements
  • The d and f block metals have 2 valence electrons
  • Difficult metal solids
  • Shiny, lustrous
  • Loftier thermal and electrical electrical conductivity
  • Dumbo
  • High melting points
  • Big atoms exhibit a range of oxidation states

Boron Grouping or Earth Metal Family of Elements

The boron family on the periodic table

These are the elements belonging to the boron family. Todd Helmenstine

The boron group or globe metal family is not equally well-known equally some of the other element families.

  • Group xiii or IIIA
  • Boron Grouping or Earth Metals
  • three valence electrons
  • Diverse properties, intermediate between those of metals and nonmetals
  • Best-known member: aluminum

Carbon Group or Tetrels Family of Elements

The carbon family of elements

The highlighted elements vest the carbon family of elements. These elements are collectively known as the tetrels. Todd Helmenstine

The carbon group is made upward of elements called tetrels, which refers to their ability to carry a charge of iv.

  • Group 14 or IVA
  • Carbon Grouping or Tetrels
  • 4 valence electrons
  • Diverse properties, intermediate between those of metals and nonmetals
  • Best-known member: carbon, which ordinarily forms 4 bonds

Nitrogen Grouping or Pnictogens Family of Elements

The nitrogen family of elements

The highlighted elements belong to the nitrogen family. These elements are collectively known every bit pnictogens. Todd Helmenstine

The pnictogens or nitrogen group is a pregnant element family.

  • Group 15 or VA
  • Nitrogen Group or Pnictogens
  • five valence electrons
  • Various backdrop, intermediate between those of metals and nonmetals
  • Best-known fellow member: nitrogen

Oxygen Group or Chalcogens Family of Elements

The oxygen family of elements

The highlighted elements vest to the oxygen family unit. These elements are called chalcogens. Todd Helmenstine

The chalcogens family unit is also known as the oxygen group.

  • Group xvi or VIA
  • Oxygen Group or Chalcogens
  • 6 valence electrons
  • Diverse properties, changing from nonmetallic to metallic as you motility down the family
  • All-time-known member: oxygen

Halogen Family of Elements

The halogen element family

The highlighted elements of this periodic table belong to the halogen element family. Todd Helmenstine

The halogen family is a group of reactive nonmetals.

  • Group 17 or VIIA
  • Halogens
  • vii valence electrons
  • Reactive nonmetals
  • Melting points and boiling points increase with increasing atomic number
  • High electron affinities
  • Change land equally it moves down the family unit, with fluorine and chlorine existing as gases at room temperature while bromine is a liquid and iodine is a solid

Element of group 0 Element Family

The noble gas element family

The highlighted elements of this periodic table belong to the noble gas chemical element family unit. Todd Helmenstine

The noble gases are a family of nonreactive nonmetals. Examples include helium and argon.

  • Group 18 or VIIIA
  • Noble Gases or Inert Gases
  • 8 valence electrons
  • Typically exist equally monatomic gases, although these elements do (rarely) grade compounds
  • Stable electron octet makes nonreactive (inert) nether ordinary circumstances

Sources

  • Fluck, E. "New Notations in the Periodic Table." Pure Appl. Chem. IUPAC. 60 (iii): 431–436. 1988. doi:10.1351/pac198860030431
  • Leigh, G. J. Nomenclature of Inorganic Chemical science: Recommendations. Blackwell Science, 1990, Hoboken, N.J.
  • Scerri, E. R. The periodic tabular array, its story and its significance. Oxford University Press, 2007, Oxford.

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