Trends in the Periodic Table

Learning Objectives

the periodic table as an organisational tool to identify patterns and trends in, and relationships between, the structures (including electronic configurations and atomic radii) and properties (including electronegativity, first ionisation energy, metallic/non-metallic character and reactivity) of elements.

Core Charge of an atom is a measure of the attractive force felt by the valence electrons towards the nucleus. The core charge is calculated by subtracting the total number of inner shell electrons from the number of protons in the nucleus.
Electronegativity is the ability of an element to attract electrons towards itself.
Atomic radius can be regarded as the distance from the nucleus to the outermost electrons.
First Ionisation Energy is the energy required to remove one electron from an atom of an element in the gas phase.
Metallic Character. Metals form positive ions by losing electrons and non-metals form negative ions by gaining electrons.
Chemical Reactivity is the ease which an element either gains or loses electrons.
A summary of the trends can be seen below, and written explanations can be found here.

Core Charge

Electronegativity, Ionization Energy and Core Charge

Practising describing each of the trends in the periodic table and why they occur using the key words from this document

Periodic Table Trend Simulation