In chemistry, a family is a group of elements with similar chemical properties. Chemical families tend to be associated with the vertical columns on the periodic table. Examples: Group 18 on the periodic table is also known as the noble gas family or noble gas group.
Full Answer
What does a family mean on the periodic table?
In chemistry, a family is a group of elements with similar chemical properties. Chemical families tend to be associated with the vertical columns on the periodic table.
What are the 9 families in the periodic table?
Jun 17, 2013 · An element family is a set of elements sharing common properties. Elements are classified into families because the three main categories of elements (metals, nonmetals, and semimetals) are very broad. The characteristics of the elements in these families are determined primarily by the number of electrons in the outer energy shell.
What are the families of the periodic table called?
Mar 21, 2020 · In chemistry, a group (also known as a family) is a column of elements in the periodic table of the chemical elements. There are 18 numbered groups in the periodic table; the f-block columns (between groups 3 and 4) are not numbered.
What are the groups and families on the periodic table?
In chemistry, a group (also known as a family) is a column of elements in the periodic table of the chemical elements. There are 18 numbered groups in the periodic table; the f-block columns (between groups 3 and 4) are not numbered.
What is a family in chemistry?
Updated February 14, 2020. In chemistry, a family is a group of elements with similar chemical properties. Chemical families tend to be associated with the vertical columns on the periodic table. The term " family " is synonymous with the term "group". Because the two words have defined different sets of elements over the years, ...
How to identify an element family?
Probably the best way to identify an element family is to associate it with an IUPAC group, but you'll find references to other element families in the literature. At the most basic level, sometimes the families are simply considered the metals, metalloids or semimetals, and nonmetals. Metals tend to have positive oxidation states, high melting and boiling points, high density, high hardness, high density, and be good electrical and thermal conductors. Nonmetals, on the other hand, tend to be lighter, softer, have lower melting and boiling points, and be poor conductors of heat and electricity. In the modern world, this is problematic because whether an element has metallic character or not depends on its conditions. For example, hydrogen can act as an alkali metal rather than a nonmetal. Carbon can act as a metal rather than a nonmetal.
How many electrons are in the valence shell of an element?
These elements have 8 electrons in the valence shell (a complete octet). Group 1 is also known as the alkali metals or the lithium group. Elements in this group have one orbital electron in the outer shell. Group 16 is also known as the oxygen group or chalcogen family.
Why are element groups labelled by number?
Family members share similar chemical and physical properties. An element family is also called an element group. Because of the potential for confusion, the IUPAC prefers element groups be labelled by number rather than name.
What is the primary factor in predicting the types of reactions an element will participate in?
This is because the number of valence electrons is the primary factor in predicting the types of reactions an element will participate in, the bonds it will form, its oxidation state, and many of its chemical and physical properties. Examples: Group 18 on the periodic table is also known as the noble gas family or noble gas group.
What is group 1 on the periodic table?
Note that while families are generally vertical columns on the periodic table, group 1 is called the lithium family rather than the hydrogen family. The f-block elements between groups 2 and 3 (the elements found below the main body of the periodic table) may or may not be numbered. There is controversy over whether group 3 includes lutetium (Lu) ...
Is carbon a metal?
Carbon can act as a metal rather than a nonmetal. Common families include the alkali metals, alkaline earths, transition metals (where the lanthanides or rare earts and actinides may be considered a subset or as their own groups), basic metals, metalloids or semimetals, halogens, noble gases, and other nonmetals.
What is an element family?
An element family is a column of elements on the periodic table. Each member of a family has the same number of valence electrons. Family members share similar chemical and physical properties.
How many groups are there in the periodic table?
In chemistry, a group (also known as a family) is a column of elements in the periodic table of the chemical elements. There are 18 numbered groups in the periodic table; the f-block columns (between groups 3 and 4) are not numbered.
What is a group also known as?
Groups are also known as Families. The families are the names representing each group.
What is a family in chemistry?
In chemistry, a familyis a group of elements with similar chemical properties. Chemical familiestend to be associated with the vertical columns on the periodic table. Examples: Group 18 on the periodic tableis also known as the noble gas familyor noble gas group.
How many groups are there in the periodic table?
In chemistry, a group (also known as a family) is a column of elements in the periodic tableof the chemical elements. There are 18 numbered groups in the periodic table; the f-block columns (between groups 3 and 4) are not numbered.
What is the carbon group?
The carbon group is a periodic table group consisting of carbon (C), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), and flerovium (Fl). In modern IUPAC notation, it is called Group 14. In the field of semiconductor physics, it is still universally called Group IV.
What are the three groups of elements in the periodic table?
The periodic table on the left separates elements into three groups: the metals (green in the table), nonmetals (orange), and metalloids (blue). Most elements are metals. They are usually shiny, very dense, and only melt at high temperatures.
What is period number?
A period number is the number that is given to a group of elements across the periodic table that have made a round from completing its outer electron shell. This pattern usually begins with a Group I element and ending with a Group 8 element. So for example, period I would be from hydrogen to helium.
Why are the vertical columns on the periodic table called groups?
Summary The vertical columns on the periodic table are called groups or families because of their similar chemical behavior. All the members of a family of elements have the same number of valence electrons and similar chemical properties. The horizontal rows on the periodic table are called periods.
What are the elements in the group 3?
This list includes alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, lanthanides, and actinides, as well as sevenelements in groups 3 through 6—aluminum, gallium, indium, thallium, tin, lead, and bismuth.
What are the groups in the periodic table called?
Hence the groups in the Periodic table are also called Families.
Why do group 1 elements have similar chemical properties?
Thus because of the similar outer electrons of group 1 elements, they have similar chemical properties.
Why do elements of the same group have similar chemical properties?
Thus, because of the same number of electrons present in the outermost orbit, elements of the same group show a similar behavior or similar chemical properties.
What happens to the chemical properties of elements if they have the same number of valence electrons?
Now, if the elements have same number of valence electrons, then their chemical properties will be similar.
How many valence electrons does group 1 have?
The elements of group 1 have 1 valence electron.

Names of Element Families
Other Ways of Identifying Element Families
- Probably the best way to identify an element family is to associate it with an IUPAC group, but you'll find references to other element families in the literature. At the most basic level, sometimes the families are simply considered the metals, metalloids or semimetals, and nonmetals. Metals tend to have positive oxidation states, high melting and boiling points, high density, high hardnes…
Element Homologs
- Element homologs are members of the same element family. Because homologous elements share similar electrochemical properties, they can be used to predict the behavior of new elements. This becomes increasing helpful for the superheavy elements, of which only a few atoms have been prepared. However, predictions are not always accurate. The reason is becaus…
Element Family Key Takeaways
- An element family is a column of elements on the periodic table.
- Each member of a family has the same number of valence electrons.
- Family members share similar chemical and physical properties.
- An element family is also called an element group. Because of the potential for confusion, the IUPAC prefers element groups be labelled by number rather than name.
Sources
- Fluck, E. (1988). "New Notations in the Periodic Table" (PDF). Pure Appl. Chem. IUPAC. 60 (3): 431–436. doi:10.1351/pac198860030431
- Leigh, G. J. Nomenclature of Inorganic Chemistry: Recommendations 1990. Blackwell Science, 1990. ISBN 0-632-02494-1.