Overview of Periodic Table
- Alkali Metals (Group 1) : All group 1 metals have one
valence electron. When they form ions, they will have a charge of 1+. Group 1
alkali metals are highly reactive and will react vigorously with water.
- Alkali Earth Metals (Group
2): All group 2 metals have two
valence electrons. When they form ions, they will have a charge of 2+. Group 2
alkaline earth metals are highly reactive and will react with water.
- Transition Metals (Groups
3–10, d block): Transition metals are famous
for the colored salts and colored solutions they form. Many gems contain numerous
transition metals. It is hard to predict the charge of a transition metal ion
because the transition metals have multiple oxidation states. One transition
metal, Hg, exists as a liquid at room temperature.
- Halogens (Group 17): Halogens (salt formers) have
seven valence electrons and form ions with a charge of 1−. The halogens exist
in three phases at room temperature. Fluorine is a pale-yellow gas, chlorine is
a green gas, bromine is a brown-orange liquid, and iodine is a purple solid.
- Noble (Inert) Gases (Group
18): Noble gases have a full outer
shell and will not react to form ions or share electrons.
- Lanthanides and Actinides (f
Block): These elements have their
valence electrons located in the f orbitals and are radioactive in nature.
