Element Families of the Periodic Table

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

Updated on October 27, 2019

Elements may be 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.

Chemical element Families

Element families

Chemical element families are indicated by numbers located at the top of the periodic table.

Todd Helmenstine

An element family is a set of elements sharing mutual properties. Elements are classified into families because the iii chief categories of elements (metals, nonmetals, and semimetals) are very broad. The characteristics of the elements in these families are determined primarily past the number of electrons in the outer energy shell. Element groups, on the other hand, are collections of elements categorized according to similar properties. Considering element properties are largely determined by the behavior of valence electrons, families and groups may exist the same. However, there are different ways of categorizing elements into families. Many chemists and chemical science textbooks recognize five main families:

5 Chemical element Families

  1. Alkali metals
  2. Element of group i earth metals
  3. Transition metals
  4. Halogens
  5. Noble gases

9 Element Families

Another common method of categorization recognizes nine element families:

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

Recognizing Families on the Periodic Table

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

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

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

Alkali Metals or Group 1 Family unit of Elements

Alkali metal element family

The highlighted elements of the periodic table belong to the alkali metal element family unit.

Todd Helmenstine

The brine metals are recognized equally a grouping and family of elements. These elements are metals. Sodium and potassium are examples of elements in this family. Hydrogen is non considered an alkali metal because the gas does not exhibit the typical properties of the group. However, under the right conditions of temperature and pressure level, hydrogen tin be an alkali metal.

  • Grouping ane or IA
  • Alkali Metals
  • one valence electron
  • Soft metal solids
  • Shiny, lustrous
  • High thermal and electrical conductivity
  • Low densities, increasing with atomic mass
  • Relatively depression melting points, decreasing with atomic mass
  • Vigorous exothermic reaction with water to produce hydrogen gas and an alkali metal hydroxide solution
  • Ionize to lose their electron, then the ion has a +one accuse

Alkaline Earth Metals or Group two Family of Elements

The alkaline earth element family

The highlighted elements of this periodic table belong to the alkali metal world element family. Todd Helmenstine

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

  • Grouping two or IIA
  • Alkaline Earth Metals (Alkaline Earths)
  • 2 valence electrons
  • Metallic solids, harder than the alkali metals
  • Shiny, lustrous, oxidize hands
  • Loftier thermal and electrical conductivity
  • More dense than the alkali metals
  • College melting points than brine metals
  • Exothermic reaction with water, increasing equally y'all move down the group; beryllium does not react with water; magnesium reacts just with steam
  • Ionize to lose their valence electrons, so the ion has a +two charge

Transition Metals Element Family

Transition metal element family

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

The largest family of elements consists of transition metals. The middle of the periodic tabular array contains the transition metals, plus the 2 rows beneath 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 metallic solids
  • Shiny, lustrous
  • Loftier thermal and electrical electrical conductivity
  • Dumbo
  • High melting points
  • Large 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 unit is not too-known as some of the other chemical element families.

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

Carbon Group or Tetrels Family unit of Elements

The carbon family of elements

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

The carbon group is fabricated up of elements called tetrels, which refers to their power to acquit a charge of 4.

  • Group 14 or IVA
  • Carbon Group or Tetrels
  • 4 valence electrons
  • Various properties, intermediate betwixt those of metals and nonmetals
  • All-time-known member: carbon, which commonly forms 4 bonds

Nitrogen Group or Pnictogens Family of Elements

The nitrogen family of elements

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

The pnictogens or nitrogen grouping is a meaning chemical element family unit.

  • Group xv or VA
  • Nitrogen Grouping or Pnictogens
  • 5 valence electrons
  • Diverse properties, intermediate between those of metals and nonmetals
  • Best-known fellow member: nitrogen

Oxygen Grouping or Chalcogens Family unit of Elements

The oxygen family of elements

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

The chalcogens family is besides known as the oxygen group.

  • Group 16 or VIA
  • Oxygen Grouping or Chalcogens
  • 6 valence electrons
  • Diverse properties, irresolute from nonmetallic to metallic as y'all motion downwards the family unit
  • Best-known member: oxygen

Halogen Family of Elements

The halogen element family

The highlighted elements of this periodic table vest to the element of group vii element family. Todd Helmenstine

The halogen family is a group of reactive nonmetals.

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

Element of group 0 Chemical element Family

The noble gas element family

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

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

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

Sources

  • Fluck, East. "New Notations in the Periodic Tabular array." Pure Appl. Chem. IUPAC. threescore (3): 431–436. 1988. doi:10.1351/pac198860030431
  • Leigh, G. J. Nomenclature of Inorganic Chemistry: Recommendations. Blackwell Scientific discipline, 1990, Hoboken, Northward.J.
  • Scerri, Due east. R. The periodic table, its story and its significance. Oxford University Printing, 2007, Oxford.