Elements and Periodic Trends
The periodic table organises elements by atomic number and reveals patterns in properties. Year 8 students explore how position in the periodic table predicts an element's physical and chemical behaviour.
What You Need to Know
Key Concept Diagram
Elements in the same period (row) have the same number of electron shells
Elements in the same group (column) have similar chemical properties due to the same number of outer electrons
Metals are on the left and centre; non-metals are on the right; metalloids are in between
Reactivity of metals generally increases down Group 1; reactivity of non-metals generally decreases down a group
Key Vocabulary
Period
A horizontal row in the periodic table; elements in a period have the same number of electron shells
Group
A vertical column in the periodic table; elements in a group have similar chemical properties
Atomic number
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom; determines the element
Metallic character
The degree to which an element behaves as a metal; increases toward the bottom-left of the table
Knowledge Check
Select the correct answer for each question. Click "Check Answer" to see if you are right.
Question 1
Elements in the same group of the periodic table have similar chemical properties because:
Question 2
Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K) are in Group 1. Moving down the group, reactivity:
Question 3
Where are metals found in the periodic table?
Key Concepts Summary
- ●Elements in the same period (row) have the same number of electron shells
- ●Elements in the same group (column) have similar chemical properties due to the same number of outer electrons
- ●Metals are on the left and centre; non-metals are on the right; metalloids are in between
- ●Reactivity of metals generally increases down Group 1; reactivity of non-metals generally decreases down a group