Group 15 elements chemical behavior

Polonium resembles tellurium, the element above it in the same Group, in chemical behavior. 

To be sure, the three refractory non-metals carbon, boron and silicon are so strikingly similar in their elemental form that even the older chemistry included them in a limited group. Their chemical behavior, however, showed hardly any recognizable similarities. 

Hafnium [7440-58-6] Hf, is in Group 4 (IVB) of the Periodic Table as are the lighter elements zirconium and titanium. Hafnium is a heavy gray-white metallic element never found free in nature. It is always found associated with the more plentiful zirconium. The two elements are almost identical in chemical behavior. This close similarity in chemical properties is related to the configuration of the valence electrons, and for zirconium and... 

Silicon (3), which resembles metals in its chemical behavior, generally has a valence of +4. In a few compounds it exhibits a +2 valence, and in silicides it exists as a negative ion and largely violates the normal valency rules. Silicon, carbon, germanium, tin, and lead comprise the Group 14 (IVA) elements. Silicon and carbon form the carbide, SiC (see Carbides). Silicon and germanium are isomorphous and thus mutually soluble in all proportions. Neither tin nor lead reacts with silicon. Molten silicon is immiscible in both molten tin and molten lead. 

The halogens are a family of elements appearing on the right side of the periodic table, in the column just before the inert gases. The elements in this group—fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine—show some remarkable similarities and some interesting trends in chemical behavior. The similarities are expected since the... 

The periodic table is a useful way to organize chemical properties. To help you see the patterns, the periodic table on the inside front cover of this book highlights the various groups of elements. As you learn more about chemical structure and behavior, you will discover the principles that account for similarities and differences in the chemical behavior of the elements. 

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. 

The valence electron configuration explains why groups define chemical families that exhibit similar chemical properties. Because it is the valence electrons that determine an element s chemical behavior, and groups have similar valence electron configurations, then elements in the same group display similar chemical behavior. The electron configuration also explains the... 

Generally, die chemical behavior of bismuth parallels that of arsenic and antimony, but bismuth is the most metallic of the group. Bismuth is not soluble in cold H2S04 or cold HC1, but is attacked by these acids when hot and also hy cold aqua regia. Elemental bismuth is not attacked by cold alkalies. The metal is soluble in HNO3 and forms nitrates. When heated with chlorine, bismuth yields a chloride. 

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