Ciencia: familia de los elementos

Alberto Castillo
Science H9D
Ms. Monica Gochicoa
29/02/12
Element Groups
The periodic table of elements organizes the elements that make up everything around us into many different categories in order to simplify identification and relate the properties of certain elements. These groups include: alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, transition metals, metalloids, nonmetals, halogens, andnoble gases. The elements are divided into families by order of their properties and number of electrons on the outer energy level, and by periods according to the number of energy levels they have.
Alkali metals are all soft, shiny, and easily manipulated. They are characterized for being highly reactive under regular conditions of pressure and temperature. Alkali metals are composed of all ofthe elements in family one of the periodic table except for hydrogen, which does not act as an alkali metal. Examples of Alkali metals are: lithium, atomic number 3, atomic mass 6.941amu, symbol Li, and electron configuration of 1s2 2s1, lithium is used in fireworks to give color to the explosion; sodium, atomic number 11, atomic mass 22.99amu, symbol Na, and electron configuration of1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1, sodium is used when combined with chlorine as regular table salt; potassium, atomic number 19, atomic mass 39.09amu, symbol K, and electron configuration of 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1, potassium is used to maintain a steady health and a proper body nutrition.
Alkali earth metals are not as soft as alkali metals, and they are also not as reactive. They require more energy to lose an electron and arealso part of the second family of the periodic table. The main difference between alkali earth metals and simply alkali metals are the number of electrons on the outermost level. Examples of alkali earth metals are: beryllium, atomic number 4, atomic mass 9.01amu, symbol Be, and an electron configuration of 1s22s2, beryllium is used in combination with copper in electrical contacts; magnesium,atomic number 12, atomic mass 24.30, symbol Mg, and a configuration of 1s2 2s2 2p6, 3s2, magnesium is used in alloys as part of what makes up an airplane; calcium, atomic number 20, atomic mass 40.07, symbol Ca, and electron configuration of 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2, calcium is used as an antacid for when a person has got stomach problems.
Transition metals are the elements of the periodic tablefrom families 3-12, and are often found in nature as uncombined substances. They are usually found with several different cases of oxidation. Transition metals compose most of the periodic table. Examples of transition metals are: iron, atomic number 26, atomic mass 55.85amu, symbol Fe, and a configuration 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d6, a common use of iron is to use it a structural metal in largeconstructions. mercury, atomic number of 80, atomic mass 200.59amu, symbol Hg, and electron configuration of 1s2 2s2p6 3s2p6d10 4s2p6d10f14 5s2p6d10 6s2, mercury is used in thermometers; cobalt, atomic number 27, atomic mass 58.93amu, symbol Co, electron configuration of 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d7 4s2, cobalt is commonly used to produce the color blue to use in artistic works.
Metalloids arecharacterized for having characteristics of both metals and nonmetals combined into a single element, they are good conductors but not as good as metals. They usually insulate at low temperature and conduct at high temperatures. Examples of metalloids are: boron, atomic number 5, atomic mass 10.811amu, symbol B, and an electron configuration of 1s2 2s2 2p1, a common use of boron is cleaning and antiseptics;silicon, atomic number 14, atomic mass 28.09amu, symbol Si, electron configuration of 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2, a common use of silicon is used in transistors and computer chips; arsenic, atomic number 33, atomic mass 74.92amu, symbol As, electron configuration of 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p3, arsenic is used as a weed-killer.
Nonmetals are elements that do not transmit heat or electricity...