Groups in the Periodic Table

What Groups in the Periodic Table covers

Groups in the Periodic Table is examined in Paper 4, Chemistry 2. It covers the groups of the periodic table, and the alkali metals, reactions of the alkali metals with water, the pattern in alkali metal reactivity and why it happens, physical properties of the halogens, the test for chlorine, and halogens reacting with metals, hydrogen halides, and explaining halogen reactivity, displacement reactions of the halogens and group 0: the noble gases.

The 8 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• The groups of the periodic table, and the alkali metalsWhere the alkali metals, halogens and noble gases sit and their outer electrons, why a group shares properties, why group 1 are called alkali metals, and their softness and low melting points.Open →
• Reactions of the alkali metals with waterWhat is seen when lithium, sodium and potassium meet water, the hydroxide and hydrogen formed, the balanced equations, the universal indicator colour, and the squeaky pop test.Open →
• The pattern in alkali metal reactivity and why it happensThe order of lithium, sodium and potassium, predictions for rubidium and caesium, and why reactivity rises down group 1 through atom size, shielding and the loss of the outer electron.Open →
• Physical properties of the halogensThe colours and states of chlorine, bromine and iodine, iodine's purple vapour, the trends in melting point, boiling point, colour and density down group 7, and predicting the properties of fluorine and astatine.Open →
• The test for chlorine, and halogens reacting with metalsThe damp litmus test for chlorine and why bleaching confirms it, metal halides as ionic compounds, iron and sodium reacting with chlorine and their equations, and predicting the products of other halogens with metals.Open →
• Hydrogen halides, and explaining halogen reactivityHydrogen chloride, bromide and iodide and their acidic solutions, why halogen reactivity decreases down group 7 in terms of atom size and shielding, how this contrasts with group 1, and predicting the reactivity of fluorine.Open →
• Displacement reactions of the halogensThe rule for halogen displacement, the order chlorine, bromine, iodine, the colours seen with potassium bromide and potassium iodide solutions, the balanced equations, and predicting when no displacement happens, including for astatine.Open →
• Group 0: the noble gasesWhy the noble gases are inert, their electron arrangements, the uses of helium, argon and neon that follow from inertness and low density, and the trends in boiling point and density down group 0.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Groups in the Periodic Table further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Alkali metals vs Halogens

  Alkali metals: group 1 elements, soft and very reactive, with one outer electron. Halogens: group 7 elements, reactive with seven outer electrons, forming 1− ions.

• Noble gases vs Alkali metals

  Noble gases: group 0 elements with full outer shells, which do not react. Alkali metals: group 1 elements with one outer electron, which react vigorously with water.

• Chlorine vs Bromine

  Chlorine: pale green gas, the most reactive of the three halogens studied. Bromine: red-brown liquid at room temperature, less reactive than the element above it.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   Which group of the periodic table contains the alkali metals?

   Model answer

   The alkali metals are the elements of group 1, the column on the far left of the periodic table.

2. 2

   How many electrons are in the outer shell of an alkali metal atom?

   Model answer

   An alkali metal atom has one electron in its outer shell.

3. 3

   Why are chlorine, bromine and iodine all classified as halogens?

   Model answer

   Their atoms all have seven electrons in the outer shell, which places them together in group 7.

4. 4

   Where in the periodic table are the noble gases found, and what is special about their electron arrangement?

   Model answer

   They occupy group 0 on the far right, and their atoms have a full outer shell of electrons.

5. 5

   Why do elements in the same group of the periodic table have similar chemical properties?

   Model answer

   They have the same number of electrons in the outer shell, and the outer electrons decide how an element reacts.

6. 6

   For an element in the main columns of the periodic table, what does its group number tell you about its atoms?

   Model answer

   The group number gives the number of outer-shell electrons, except in group 0 where the outer shell is full.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Groups in the Periodic Table revision questions

What does Groups in the Periodic Table cover in Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry?

8 subtopics: the groups of the periodic table, and the alkali metals, reactions of the alkali metals with water, the pattern in alkali metal reactivity and why it happens, physical properties of the halogens, the test for chlorine, and halogens reacting with metals, hydrogen halides, and explaining halogen reactivity, displacement reactions of the halogens and group 0: the noble gases. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Groups in the Periodic Table organised?

By the Edexcel 1SC0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.