Periodic Table Chemistry Example 1

Follow the full solution, then compare it with the other examples linked below.

Example 1

easy
Using the periodic table, predict whether silicon (Si) is a metal, nonmetal, or metalloid. Justify your answer.

Solution

  1. 1
    Silicon is in Group 14, Period 3, located along the staircase line (zigzag) dividing metals from nonmetals.
  2. 2
    Elements along this boundary are typically metalloids.
  3. 3
    Silicon exhibits properties of both metals and nonmetals: it has a metallic luster but is a poor conductor (semiconductor).

Answer

Silicon is a metalloid.\text{Silicon is a metalloid.}
The periodic table's organization allows us to predict properties based on an element's position. Metalloids lie along the metal-nonmetal boundary and have intermediate properties.

About Periodic Table

A systematic arrangement of all known chemical elements organized by increasing atomic number into rows (periods) and columns (groups), where elements in the same group.

Learn more about Periodic Table →

More Periodic Table Examples

Example 2 medium

Arrange the following elements in order of increasing atomic radius: [formula], [formula], [formula]

Example 3 easy

Which group of the periodic table contains the noble gases? Why are they chemically inert?

Example 4 medium

An element is in Group 17 and Period 3 of the periodic table. What do the group and period tell you

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