E s s e n t i a l C h e m i s t r y f o r C a m b r i d g e I G C S E ® 2 nd E d i t i o n

Unit 12 The Periodic Table

SUMMARY QUESTIONS:
1 Alkali; soft; melting; darker; less; middle; high; coloured; oxidation
2 Chlorine – green poisonous gas
Bromine – reddish-brown liquid
Lithium – the least reactive of the alkali metals
Neon – an unreactive gas
Potassium – catches fire when reacts with water
Iron – metal with very high melting point
3 Any four of:
Transition metal Alkali metal
more than 1 oxidation state only one oxidation state in compounds
forms coloured compounds compounds are usually white / colourless
high melting and boiling points fairly low melting and boiling points
high densities low densities
good catalysts poor or not catalysts
4 (a) Melting points and boiling points decrease down the Group; density generally increases
down the Group.
(b) Melting points and boiling points increase down the Group; density increases down the
Group; colour gets darker down the group.
5 Lithium fizzes slowly on the surface of the water and moves around slowly. Potassium moves
rapidly on the surface of the water, melting into a liquid ball – it fizzes violently and the
hydrogen produced catches fire (violet flame) – it may eventually explode.
6 (a) Sodium + water → sodium hydroxide + hydrogen
(b) Sodium + chlorine → sodium chloride
(c) Chlorine + potassium iodide → iodine + potassium chloride
7 (a) 2Li + 2H2O → 2LiOH + H2
(b) Br2 + 2NaI → 2NaBr + I2
8 Increases from Groups I to III as more delocalised electrons. Groups IV to 0 do not conduct
since they do not have delocalised electrons / mobile electrons.
9 Chlorine reacts with potassium bromide because chlorine is above bromine in the reactivity
series so can displace bromine from its compounds. Bromine does not react with potassium
chloride because bromine is below chlorine in the reactivity series so cannot displace chlorine
from its compounds.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
1 D An alkaline solution is formed
2 B Have variable oxidation states
3 (a) (i) ALLOW: between 20 °C and 45 °C (actual is 39 °C)
(ii) ALLOW: between 830 °C and 1000 °C (actual is 883 °C)
(b) Rubidium is more reactive
(c) Any three of:
Moves on surface of water; goes into a ball; fizzes or bubbles; (hydrogen) catches fire or
violet flame; explodes.

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 E s s e n t i a l C h e m i s t r y f o r C a m b r i d g e I G C S E ® 2 nd E d i t i o n

(d) (i) Litmus / universal indicator; goes blue

(ii) Potassium + water → potassium hydroxide + hydrogen
4 (a) Proton number
(b) Period 3
(c) (i) F and Cl
(ii) Ne and Ar
(iii) Li and Na (ALLOW: Mg)
(iv) B
(v) O with any of B / C / N / F / Cl
(d) (i) As an inert atmosphere / lasers / light bulbs. ALLOW: in eye surgery
(ii) As an inert atmosphere / lasers / advertising lights
5 (a) Simple molecular (chlorine) and atomic structures (argon); weak attractive forces between
particles / molecules (chlorine) or atoms (argon). NOT: weak forces between atoms for chlorine.
(b) Has 8 electrons in its outer shell / has full outer electron shell; so cannot gain or lose electrons.
(c) Has two atoms in its molecule.
(d) Cl2 ; 2
(e) (i) Order of reactivity with sodium is Cl>Br>I; some correct reference to the reactivity
series or gain of electrons or oxidising ability, e.g. chlorine gains electrons most readily
/ iodine gains electron least readily / chlorine is the best oxidising agent / chlorine is
highest in the reactivity series. NOTE: for the second mark not all the halogens need be
mentioned.
(ii) 2Na + Br2 → 2NaBr
6 (a) All the elements in Period 3 have 2 electrons in their innermost shell and 8 electrons in the
second shell; the number of electrons in the third shell increases by 1; as you go across the
period, starting with 1 in group 1, 2 in group 2 etc.
(b) As the number of electrons in outer shell increases metallic character decreases; Non-metallic
character increases with increasing number of electrons in outermost shells. Group 1 metals
are the most metallic with 1 electron in outer shell / group 8 or 0 are the least metallic.
(c) Colour gets darker / correct colours given; reactivity decreases.
(d) (i) Bromine does not react with potassium chloride because bromine is below chlorine in
the reactivity series.
(ii) Br2(aq) + 2KI(aq) → 2KBr(aq) + I2(aq)
(iii) Cl2 + 2OH− → Cl− + ClO− + H2O
7 (a) (i) Any two of:
The outer electrons are more easily lost in strontium; the outer electrons in strontium
are further from the nucleus; there are more shells of electrons between the outer
electrons and the nucleus in strontium. ACCEPT: reverse arguments for calcium.
(ii) Any two of:
Outer electron more easily lost in rubidium; the rubidium has a smaller nuclear charge;
the outer electrons are further away from the nucleus in rubidium. ALLOW: rubidium
has only one electron to lose when it reacts but strontium has two. ACCEPT: reverse
arguments for strontium.
(b) (i) Any two of:
Bubbles; heat given off; calcium granules / powder moves around / solution turns cloudy.
(ii) Ca + 2H2O → Ca(OH) + H2
(c) Barium / radium / correct symbols

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