Chapter 4 – Chemistry to Life Connections Forum
After reading and studying your materials for Chapter 4, you should be aware that groups in the periodic table (the vertical columns of elements) all tend to have similar chemical properties. The main group elements (Groups 1-2, and Groups 13-18) are very common on our planet and include elements that are involved in most chemical reactions on this planet. Choose three elements from the main group (one metal, one metalloid, and one nonmetal). Briefly research each one using your text or the internet, and explain how each of these is used or is relevant in human society.
Chapter 4 Discussion: Chemistry to Life Connections
Main group elements are the elements that are found in the s and p blocks of the periodic table. In the periodic table, elements having only one valence electron are included in the Group 1 elements, Group 2 consists of elements that have only two valence electrons in their last shell, and Group 13 has 3 valence electrons in their last shell and it continues to Group 18 which has 8 valence electron in their last shell. Metal and Non-Metals both are included in the main group.
The elements of group 1 are highly reactive. They are instructed to keep under kerosene or oil as they are highly reactive when exposed to air or water. They react quickly with air or water and form alkaline solutions. Hence, they are known as alkali metals (bbc.co.uk, 2022).
One of the active metals of the main group is Sodium which is generally known as Na. It is the second element of the Group 1 metals or alkali metals. It is highly reactive to air and water and therefore is not available in the free state (slideshare.net, 2022).
Among the Non-Metals of the main group elements in my opinion Hydrogen is the most popular one. It is colorless, unscented gas, and indissoluble in water. It is the second most difficult gas to liquefy, the first is helium (eniscuola.net, 2022).
In metalloids, I found the properties of Boron pretty interesting. The properties of Boron are close to that of carbon and silicon chemically. If it reacts with water above the temperature of 100 °C it forms Boric Acid (atsdr.cdc.gov, 2022).
References
atsdr.cdc.gov (2022) CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL INFORMATION accessed from https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp26-c4.pdf [Accessed on 24th 2022]
bbc.co.uk (2022) Group 1 – the alkali metals accessed from https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z3xn82p/revision/1 [Accessed on 24th 2022]
eniscuola.net (2022) Characteristics of hydrogen accessed from https://www.eniscuola.net/en/mediateca/characteristics-of-hydrogen/ [Accessed on 24th 2022]
slideshare.net (2022) Sodium accessed from https://www.slideshare.net/bharat46083610/sodium-86129866 [Accessed on 24th 2022]
