Meet the Element Families of the Periodic Table (2024)

Updated on October 27, 2019

Element Families

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. Element groups, on the other hand, are collections of elements categorized according to similar properties. Because element properties are largely determined by the behavior of valence electrons, families and groups may be the same. However, there are different ways of categorizing elements into families. Many chemists and chemistry textbooks recognize five main families:

5 Element Families

1. Alkali metals
2. Alkaline earth metals
3. Transition metals
4. Halogens
5. Noble gases

9 Element Families

Another common method of categorization recognizes nine element families:

1. Alkali Metals: Group 1 (IA) - 1 valence electron
2. Alkaline Earth Metals: Group 2 (IIA) - 2 valence electrons
3. Transition Metals: Groups 3-12 - d and f block metals have 2 valence electrons
4. Boron Group or Earth Metals: Group 13 (IIIA) - 3 valence electrons
5. Carbon Group or Tetrels: - Group 14 (IVA) - 4 valence electrons
6. Nitrogen Group or Pnictogens: - Group 15 (VA) - 5 valence electrons
7. Oxygen Group or Chalcogens: - Group 16 (VIA) - 6 valence electrons
8. Halogens: - Group 17 (VIIA) - 7 valence electrons
9. Noble Gases: - Group 18 (VIIIA) - 8 valence electrons

Recognizing Families on the Periodic Table

Columns of the periodic table typically mark groups or families. Three systems have been used to number families and groups:

1. The older IUPAC system used Roman numerals together with letters to distinguish between the left (A) and right (B) side of the periodic table.
2. The CAS system used letters to differentiate main group (A) and transition (B) elements.
3. The modern IUPAC system uses Arabic numbers 1-18, simply numbering the columns of the periodic table from left to right.

Many periodic tables include both Roman and Arabic numbers. The Arabic numbering system is the most widely accepted today.

Alkali Metals or Group 1 Family of Elements

The alkali metals are recognized as a group and family of elements. These elements are metals. Sodium and potassium are examples of elements in this family. Hydrogen is not considered an alkali metal because the gas does not exhibit the typical properties of the group. However, under the right conditions of temperature and pressure, hydrogen can be an alkali metal.

• Group 1 or IA
• Alkali Metals
• 1 valence electron
• Soft metallic solids
• Shiny, lustrous
• High thermal and electrical conductivity
• Low densities, increasing with atomic mass
• Relatively low melting points, decreasing with atomic mass
• Vigorous exothermic reaction with water to produce hydrogen gas and an alkali metal hydroxide solution
• Ionize to lose their electron, so the ion has a +1 charge

Alkaline Earth Metals or Group 2 Family of Elements

The alkaline earth metals or simply alkaline earths are recognized as an important group and family of elements. These elements are metals. Examples include calcium and magnesium.

• Group 2 or IIA
• Alkaline Earth Metals (Alkaline Earths)
• 2 valence electrons
• Metallic solids, harder than the alkali metals
• Shiny, lustrous, oxidize easily
• High thermal and electrical conductivity
• More dense than the alkali metals
• Higher melting points than alkali metals
• Exothermic reaction with water, increasing as you move down the group; beryllium does not react with water; magnesium reacts only with steam
• Ionize to lose their valence electrons, so the ion has a +2 charge

Transition Metals Element Family

The largest family of elements consists of transition metals. The center of the periodic table contains the transition metals, plus the two rows below the body of the table (lanthanides and actinides) are special transition metals.

• Groups 3-12
• Transition Metals or Transition Elements
• The d and f block metals have 2 valence electrons
• Hard metallic solids
• Shiny, lustrous
• High thermal and electrical conductivity
• Dense
• High melting points
• Large atoms exhibit a range of oxidation states

Boron Group or Earth Metal Family of Elements

The boron group or earth metal family is not as well-known as some of the other element families.

• Group 13 or IIIA
• Boron Group or Earth Metals
• 3 valence electrons
• Diverse properties, intermediate between those of metals and nonmetals
• Best-known member: aluminum

Carbon Group or Tetrels Family of Elements

The carbon group is made up of elements called tetrels, which refers to their ability to carry a charge of 4.

• Group 14 or IVA
• Carbon Group or Tetrels
• 4 valence electrons
• Diverse properties, intermediate between those of metals and nonmetals
• Best-known member: carbon, which commonly forms 4 bonds

Nitrogen Group or Pnictogens Family of Elements

The pnictogens or nitrogen group is a significant element family.

• Group 15 or VA
• Nitrogen Group or Pnictogens
• 5 valence electrons
• Diverse properties, intermediate between those of metals and nonmetals
• Best-known member: nitrogen

Oxygen Group or Chalcogens Family of Elements

The chalcogens family is also known as the oxygen group.

• Group 16 or VIA
• Oxygen Group or Chalcogens
• 6 valence electrons
• Diverse properties, changing from nonmetallic to metallic as you move down the family
• Best-known member: oxygen

Halogen Family of Elements

The halogen family is a group of reactive nonmetals.

• Group 17 or VIIA
• Halogens
• 7 valence electrons
• Reactive nonmetals
• Melting points and boiling points increase with increasing atomic number
• High electron affinities
• Change state as it moves down the family, with fluorine and chlorine existing as gases at room temperature while bromine is a liquid and iodine is a solid

Noble Gas Element Family

The noble gases are a family of nonreactive nonmetals. Examples include helium and argon.

• Group 18 or VIIIA
• Noble Gases or Inert Gases
• 8 valence electrons
• Typically exist as monatomic gases, although these elements do (rarely) form compounds
• Stable electron octet makes nonreactive (inert) under ordinary circ*mstances

Sources

• Fluck, E. "New Notations in the Periodic Table." Pure Appl. Chem. IUPAC. 60 (3): 431–436. 1988. doi:10.1351/pac198860030431
• Leigh, G. J. Nomenclature of Inorganic Chemistry: Recommendations. Blackwell Science, 1990, Hoboken, N.J.
• Scerri, E. R. The periodic table, its story and its significance. Oxford University Press, 2007, Oxford.