Elements chemical similarities

Trace element analysis Trace element analysis is an indirect technique that seeks to infer the sources of sulfur pollution by measuring other chemical elements emitted along with the sulfur. The technique is based on the fact that different pollution sources emit characteristic chemical "signatures" (characteristic amounts and types of chemical elements) that depend on the type of fuel burned. For example, the pollution from coal-fired plants is relatively high in selenium, an element chemically similar to sulfur pollution from oil-fired plants is relatively low in selenium. By measuring the levels of such elements in polluted air, it is in principle possible to infer whether the pollution came predominantly from coal-fired sources (and therefore predominantly from the Midwest) or from oil-fired sources (and therefore chiefly from the Northeast). (A similar technique has been used to trace oil spills, based on the fact that the oil in each ship s hold is a chemically unique mixture). 

The actinide elements are a group of chemically similar elements with atomic numbers 89 through 103 and their names, symbols, atomic numbers, and discoverers are given in Table 1 (1-3) (see Thorium and thorium compounds Uranium and uranium compounds Plutonium and plutonium compounds Nuclear reactors and Radioisotopes). 

Microfilaments and Microtubules. There are two important classes of fibers found in the cytoplasm of many plant and animal ceUs that are characterized by nematic-like organization. These are the microfilaments and microtubules which play a central role in the determination of ceU shape, either as the dynamic element in the contractile mechanism or as the basic cytoskeleton. Microfilaments are proteinaceous bundles having diameters of 6—10 nm that are chemically similar to actin and myosin muscle ceUs. Microtubules also are formed from globular elements, but consist of hoUow tubes that are about 30 nm in diameter, uniform, and highly rigid. Both of these assemblages are found beneath the ceU membrane in a linear organization that is similar to the nematic Hquid crystal stmcture. 

Like the refining of the PGMs, the analysis is compHcated by the chemical similarity of the metals. The techniques used depend on the elements present and their concentration in the sample. For some low grade samples, analysis is preceded by a concentration stage using fire assay with collection into a lead or nickel sulfide button. The individual metals can then be determined. 

Of the remaining 26 undiscovered elements between hydrogen and uranium, 11 were lanthanoids which Mendeleev s system was unable to characterize because of their great chemical similarity and the new numerological feature dictated by the filling of the 4f orbitals. Only cerium, terbium and erbium were established with certainty in 1871, and the others (except promethium, 1945) were separated and identified in the period 1879 -1907. The isolation of the (unpredicted) noble gases also occurred at this time (1894-8). 

The chemical similarities of periodic elements arise because the valence electrons determine most of the chemical properties of molecules. The core electrons are only slightly affected by their chemical environment and act primarily to shield the nuclei. They also provide an effective field for the valence electrons. 

Rare earth (RE) is a generic name for 14 metallic elements of the lanthanide series. These elements have similar chemical propenies and are usually supplied as a mixture of oxides extracted from ores such as bastnaesite or monazite. 

On the basis of observations such as these, we can say that the periodic table is an arrangement of elements, in order of increasing atomic number, in horizontal rows of such a length that elements with similar chemical properties fall directly beneath one another in vertical groups. 

Periodic function A physical or chemical property of elements that varies periodically with atomic number, 152 Periodic Table An arrangement of the elements in rows and columns according to atomic numbers such that elements with similar chemical properties foil in the same column,... 

In earlier chapters we recognized that strong chemical similarities are displayed by elements which are in the same vertical column of the periodic table. The properties which chlorine holds in common with the other halogens reflect the similarity of the electronic structures of these elements. On the other hand, there is an enormous difference between the behavior of elements on the left side of the periodic table and those on the right. Furthermore, the discussions in Chapter 15 revealed systematic modification... 

The most important minerals of the lanthanide elements are monazite (phosphates of La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Sm, as well as thorium oxide) plus cerite and gadolinite (silicates of these elements). Separation is difficult because of the chemical similarity of the lanthanides. Fractional crystallization, complex formation, and selective adsorption and elution using an ion exchange resin (chromatography) are the most successful methods. 

Perhaps the earliest hints of any numerical regularity among the atomic weights of the elements was discovered as early as 1817 by Dobereiner. He was the first to notice the existence of various groups of three elements, subsequently called triads, that showed chemical similarities. In addition, such elements displayed an important numerical relationship, namely that the equivalent weight, or atomic weight, of the middle element is the approximate mean of the values of the two flanking elements in the triad. 

Although the physical properties of the d-block elements are similar, the chemical properties of these elements are so diverse that it is impossible to summarize them fully. We can, however, observe some of the major trends in properties within the d block by considering the properties of certain representative elements, particularly those in the first row of the block. 

Each row is placed below the previous row in a way that places elements with similar chemical properties in the same column of the table. Moving across a row of the periodic table, the elements generally increase in mass and change dramatically in their chemical properties. Moving down a column, mass also increases, but the elements have similar chemical properties. 

Similar electron accessibility generates similar chemical behavior. For example, iodine has many more electrons than chlorine, but these two elements display similar chemical behavior, as reflected by their placement in the same group of the periodic table. This is because the chemistry of chlorine and iodine is determined by the number of electrons in their largest and least stable occupied orbitals 3 S and 3 p for chlorine and 5 S and 5 p for iodine. Each of these elements has seven accessible electrons, and this accounts for the chemical similarities. 

Solid solutions are very common among structurally related compounds. Just as metallic elements of similar structure and atomic properties form alloys, certain chemical compounds can be combined to produce derivative solid solutions, which may permit realization of properties not found in either of the precursors. The combinations of binary compounds with common anion or common cation element, such as the isovalent alloys of IV-VI, III-V, II-VI, or I-VII members, are of considerable scientific and technological interest as their solid-state properties (e.g., electric and optical such as type of conductivity, current carrier density, band gap) modulate regularly over a wide range through variations in composition. A general descriptive scheme for such alloys is as follows [41]. 

Despite his numerous achievements, Mendeleyev is remembered mainly for the periodic table. Central to his concept was the conviction that the properties of the elements are a periodic function of their atomic masses. Today, chemists believe that the periodicity of the elements is more apparent when the elements are ordered by atomic number, not atomic mass. However, this change affected Mendeleyevs periodic table only slightly because atomic mass and atomic number are closely correlated. The periodic table does not produce a rigid rule like Paulis exclusion principle. The information one can extract from a periodic table is less precise. This is because its groupings contain elements with similar, but not identical, physical and chemical properties. 

Atoms in a molecule are joined by bonds. Bonds are formed when the valence or outermost electrons of two or more atoms interact. The nature of the bond between atoms goes a long way toward determining the properties of the molecule. Chapter 5 introduced the two common types of chemical bonds covalent and ionic. Elements with similar electronegativities share electrons and form covalent bonds. But elements with greatly different electronegativities exchange one or more electrons. This is called an ionic bond. 

Periodic table A chart that arranges the elements by atomic number in a way that the vertical columns produce groups of elements with similar valence electron configurations and chemical properties. 

Ion exchange (IX) is a very useful technique for the concentration, the purification and the separation of chemically similar metallic elements present in an aqueous solution. In its most popular form of application, the metal-bearing aqueous solution is passed through a bed of solid organic resin in a particulate form wherein the sorption of the metal ions on the resin takes place by ion-exchange reactions. The pregnant resin is washed free of the entrapped feed solution and then brought into contact with an eluant of suitable composition and volume so that the resin releases the metal ions back to the eluant. The ratio of the volume of the feed and that of the eluant determines the extent of concentration that can be achieved. Purification and separation are achievable if the resin is selective or specific with respect to the metal ions of interest in comparison to impurity ions. 

Solvent extraction is often applied to separate two chemically similar metals such as nickel/ cobalt, adjacent rare earths, niobium/tantalum, zirconium/hafnium, etc. For the purpose of elaboration, the example of the separation of two chemically similar elements such as zirconium and hafnium from their nitrate solution, using TBP as an extractant is considered. The solvent extraction process in this case is chemically constant (K) is given by ... 

The radioactive element is a silvery, shiny, soft metal that is chemically similar to calcium and barium. It is found in tiny amounts in uranium ores. Its radioactivity is a million times stronger that that of uranium. Famous history of discovery (in a shed). Initially used in cancer therapy. Fatal side effects. Small amounts are used in luminous dyes. Radium was of utmost importance for research into the atom. Today its reputation is rather shaky as its decay gives rise to the unpleasant radon (see earlier). In nuclear reactors, tiny amounts of actinium are formed from radium. 

Light-silver-colored element generated from a plutonium isotope (241Pu) by beta decay. Never detected in nature. Chemically similar to Europium. A few tons have been produced throughout the world through regeneration of fuel rods. Americium is a good source of alpha rays. Hence it is suitable to measure thicknesses, as a detector in smoke alarms, and for the activation analysis of the tiniest amounts of substances. 

Silvery, artificial element generated by beta decay from a plutonium isotope (239Pu). Chemically similar to gadolinium. Like Eu and Gd, Am and Cm are difficult to separate. It can be produced in kilogram amounts. The most common isotope is 244Cm with a half-life of 18.1 years. Is used for thermoelectric nuclide batteries in satellites and pacemakers. It is strongly radioactive and hence also suitable for material analysis. 

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