periodic table trends definition chemistry

Therefore, magnesium has 10 core electrons from its 1 s 2, 2 s 2, and 2 p 6 orbitals. Where Z is the nuclear charge (equal to the number of protons), and S is the screening constant which can be approximated to the number of non-valence or “core” electrons.įor example: try to approximate the effective nuclear charge of magnesium.įirst, we must determine the electron configuration of magnesium to determine the number of core electrons: The effective nuclear charge is always less than the actual nuclear charge, and can be roughly estimated using the following equation: This net nuclear charge felt by valence electrons is known as its effective nuclear charge, Z eff (pronounced “zed-effective”). Valence electrons are simultaneously attracted to the positive charge of the nucleus and screened (repelled) by the negative charges of other electrons. Many of the periodic properties of atoms depend on electron configuration in particular, the valence electrons and their level of attraction to the nucleus. There may be a few points where an opposite trend is seen, but there is an overall trend when considered across a whole row or down a whole column of the periodic table. There is no other tool in science that allows us to judge relative properties of a class of objects like this, which makes the periodic table a very useful tool. The variation of properties versus position on the periodic table is called periodic trends. One of the reasons the periodic table is so useful is because its structure allows us to qualitatively determine how some properties of the elements vary versus their position on the periodic table. Be able to state how certain properties of atoms vary based on their relative position on the periodic table.

Periodic table trends definition chemistry