Periodic Table Trends

Periodic Table Trends

Atomic Radius

• Decreases from left to right across a period due to increased nuclear charge and decreased shielding
• Increases down a group due to increased shielding and decreased nuclear charge
• Atomic radius is smallest at the top right of the periodic table (fluorine) and largest at the bottom left (cesium)

Electronegativity

• Increases from left to right across a period due to increased nuclear charge and decreased shielding
• Decreases down a group due to increased shielding and decreased nuclear charge
• Electronegativity is highest at the top right of the periodic table (fluorine) and lowest at the bottom left (cesium)

Ionization Energy

• Increases from left to right across a period due to increased nuclear charge and decreased shielding
• Decreases down a group due to increased shielding and decreased nuclear charge
• Ionization energy is highest at the top right of the periodic table (helium) and lowest at the bottom left (cesium)

Electron Affinity

• Increases from left to right across a period due to increased nuclear charge and decreased shielding
• Decreases down a group due to increased shielding and decreased nuclear charge
• Electron affinity is highest at the top right of the periodic table (chlorine) and lowest at the bottom left (cesium)

Metallic Character

• Decreases from left to right across a period due to increased nuclear charge and decreased shielding
• Increases down a group due to increased shielding and decreased nuclear charge
• Metallic character is highest at the bottom left of the periodic table (cesium) and lowest at the top right (fluorine)

Reactivity

• Increases from left to right across a period due to increased nuclear charge and decreased shielding
• Decreases down a group due to increased shielding and decreased nuclear charge
• Reactivity is highest at the top right of the periodic table (fluorine) and lowest at the bottom left (cesium)

Blocks of the Periodic Table

• s-block: elements in the first two columns of the periodic table, characterized by the filling of the s subshell
• p-block: elements in the last six columns of the periodic table, characterized by the filling of the p subshell
• d-block: elements in the middle of the periodic table, characterized by the filling of the d subshell
• f-block: elements at the bottom of the periodic table, characterized by the filling of the f subshell

Periodic Table Trends

Atomic Radius

• Decreases from left to right across a period due to increased nuclear charge and decreased shielding, resulting in a smaller radius
• Increases down a group due to increased shielding and decreased nuclear charge, resulting in a larger radius
• Fluorine has the smallest atomic radius, while cesium has the largest

Electronegativity

• Increases from left to right across a period due to increased nuclear charge and decreased shielding, making it harder to attract electrons
• Decreases down a group due to increased shielding and decreased nuclear charge, making it easier to attract electrons
• Fluorine has the highest electronegativity, while cesium has the lowest

Ionization Energy

• Increases from left to right across a period due to increased nuclear charge and decreased shielding, making it harder to remove electrons
• Decreases down a group due to increased shielding and decreased nuclear charge, making it easier to remove electrons
• Helium has the highest ionization energy, while cesium has the lowest

Electron Affinity

• Increases from left to right across a period due to increased nuclear charge and decreased shielding, making it easier to gain electrons
• Decreases down a group due to increased shielding and decreased nuclear charge, making it harder to gain electrons
• Chlorine has the highest electron affinity, while cesium has the lowest

Metallic Character

• Decreases from left to right across a period due to increased nuclear charge and decreased shielding, resulting in a less metallic character
• Increases down a group due to increased shielding and decreased nuclear charge, resulting in a more metallic character
• Cesium has the highest metallic character, while fluorine has the lowest

Reactivity

• Increases from left to right across a period due to increased nuclear charge and decreased shielding, making elements more reactive
• Decreases down a group due to increased shielding and decreased nuclear charge, making elements less reactive
• Fluorine is the most reactive element, while cesium is the least reactive

Blocks of the Periodic Table

• s-block: elements in the first two columns, characterized by the filling of the s subshell
• p-block: elements in the last six columns, characterized by the filling of the p subshell
• d-block: elements in the middle, characterized by the filling of the d subshell
• f-block: elements at the bottom, characterized by the filling of the f subshell

Quiz about the trends in atomic radius and electronegativity across the periodic table. Learn how these properties change across periods and groups.