Elemental Families

A Family Affair

A column on the periodic table is known as a group or family. Elements in the same family exhibit similar chemical properties.

Alkali Metals

Located in the first column
soft
Very reactive
Do not exists in nature in their pure form
Good conductors of heat and electricity

Alkaline Earth Metals

Located in group 2
Also very reactive
Includes many biologically important elements, like calcium and magnesium

Transition Metals

Exhibit all the properties of metals
Have a lot of electrons and can use them in many different ways, such as bonding with other elements in unique ways
Single element can form ions of different charge

Halogens

Located second from the right
Very reactive. In fact, fluorine is the most reactive element.
Form many different salts

Noble gases

Extremely unreactive and do not easily form compounds with other elements
Clear colorless gases
Complete electron configurations
used in neon signs

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