My First Crack Experiment

My First Crack.

The following are observations of the relationships between Atomic mass, Electronegativity and First Ionization energy. These observations have indicated certain trends which have been used to hypothesis the existence of an unknown element in the 7th group of the periodic table between Bromine (Br) and Astatine (At).

Most elements behave similarly in the way that they attempt to achieve their most stable state possible. This is achieved through the loss or gain of electrons in their valance shells in order for them to achieve a full valance shell at either the previous or subsequent energy level, which gives them the same chemical properties as those of group 8, the noble gases.

Ionization occurs when an element in its most "basic" state (as it appears on the periodic table), either gains or loses one or more electrons in order to achieve a full valance shell. The energy required to remove an electron from its valance shell is called "ionization energy" (Ev).

The lower the ionization energy required to remove electrons from their valance shell the more readily the atom will become a cation. A cation is a positively charged ion or an element which has lost one or more electrons giving it an overall positive charge.

Conversely elements on the right hand side (or groups five to seven) have a higher ionization energy due to the fact that their valance shells are more full than empty, and generally are known to gain electrons instead of losing them in turn forming anions (which are negatively charged ions), the opposite of a cation. Group four due to its evenly balanced valance shells are more versatile in the way in which they can either gain or lose electrons quite readily and become either anions or cations