Groups in the Periodic Table

Alkali Metals  Group # 1  1 valence electron  Properties: very soft and shiny, low density (some float in water), most reactive metals, reacts violently with water  Types: all metals  Members: Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs

Alkaline Earth Metals  Group # 2  2 valence electrons  Properties: silver, more dense than group 1, very reactive but less than group 1  Types: all metals  Members: Be, Mg, Ca, Sr

Transition metals  Groups #3-12  1 or 2 valence electrons  Properties: less reactive than group 1 or 2, properties can vary  Types: all metals  Members: Fe, Au, Ag, Ni, Cu, Co

Lanthanides and Actinides  Groups #3-12 (part of transition metals)  1 or 2 valence electrons  Properties: Lanthanides: shiny and reactive Actinides: radioactive  Types: all metals  Members: Lanthanides: La Actinides: Ac, U, Pu

Boron  Group # 13  3 valence electrons  Properties: reactive, solid at room temp  Types: 1 metalloid, 4 metals  Members: B, Al, Ga, In

Carbon  Group # 14  4 valence electrons  Properties: reactivity varies, solids at room temp  Types: 1 nonmetal, 2 metalloid, 2 metals  Members: C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb

Nitrogen  Group # 15  5 valence electrons  Properties: reactivity varies, all but Nitrogen are solids at room temp  Types: 2 nonmetal, 2 metalloid, 1 metals  Members: N, P, As, Sb

Oxygen  Group # 16  6 valence electrons  Properties: reactive, all but Oxygen are solids at room temp  Types: 3 nonmetals, 1 metalloid, 1 metals  Members: O, S, Se, Te

Halogens  Group # 17  7 valence electrons  Properties: most reactive nonmetals, react with alkali metals  Types: all nonmetals  Members: F, Cl, Br, I

Noble Gases  Group # 18  8 valence electrons (He has 2)  Properties: unreactive, do not combine with other elements, colorless, odorless gas at room temp  Types: all nonmetals  Members: He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe