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Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry

Topic 9
The Periodic Table:
Chemical Periodicity

Topic 9 follows Period 3 from sodium to argon. The periodic trends page covers atomic and ionic radius, melting point, conductivity and ionisation energy (9.1). Five new pages cover the chemistry of the elements and their compounds (9.2): the reactions of the elements with oxygen, chlorine and water and the oxidation numbers of the oxides and chlorides; the structure, bonding and melting points of the oxides; their behaviour with water, acids and bases, including the amphoteric Al₂O₃ and Al(OH)₃; the chlorides with water and deducing bonding from properties; and predicting the properties and position of unknown elements (9.3).

Exam Paper
Papers 1 & 2
9701 AS Level
Learning Outcomes
9.1.1 – 9.3.2
37 learning outcomes
Sub-topics
8 lessons
Revision notes available
Exam Board
Cambridge
9701 (2025 onwards)

Revision Notes

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Summary Map

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Summary maps

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Illustration of a summary map: compounds joined by reaction arrows
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Ionisation Energies Map

Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry · Topic 1 Ionisation energy and 9.1 Period 3

The whole section on one A4 page: ionisation energies and their four factors, successive IEs, trends, and Period 3 melting points and conductivity.

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Illustration of a summary map: compounds joined by reaction arrows
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Periodicity Map

Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry · Topic 9 The Periodic Table: chemical periodicity

All of Topic 9 on one A4 page: Period 3 reactions, oxidation numbers, oxides and chlorides with water, bonding and predicting properties.

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Specification

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9.1.1

  1. a

    describe qualitatively (and indicate the periodicity in) the variations in atomic radius of the elements in Period 3

    Revise
  2. b

    describe qualitatively (and indicate the periodicity in) the variations in ionic radius of the elements in Period 3

    Revise
  3. c

    describe qualitatively (and indicate the periodicity in) the variations in melting point of the elements in Period 3

    Revise
  4. d

    describe qualitatively (and indicate the periodicity in) the variations in electrical conductivity of the elements in Period 3

    Revise

9.1.2

  1. a

    explain the variation in melting point in terms of the structure and bonding of the elements

    Revise
  2. b

    explain the variation in electrical conductivity in terms of the structure and bonding of the elements

    Revise

9.2.1

  1. a

    describe, and write equations for, the reactions of the elements with oxygen (to give Na2O, MgO, Al2O3, P4O10, SO2)

    Revise
  2. b

    describe, and write equations for, the reactions of the elements with chlorine (to give NaCl, MgCl2, AlCl3, SiCl4, PCl5)

    Revise
  3. c

    describe, and write equations for, the reactions of the elements with water (Na and Mg only)

    Revise

9.2.2

  1. a

    state and explain the variation in the oxidation number of the oxides (Na2O, MgO, Al2O3, P4O10, SO2 and SO3 only) in terms of their outer shell (valence shell) electrons

    Revise
  2. b

    state and explain the variation in the oxidation number of the chlorides (NaCl, MgCl2, AlCl3, SiCl4, PCl5 only) in terms of their outer shell (valence shell) electrons

    Revise

9.2.3

  1. a

    describe, and write equations for, the reaction, if any, of the oxide Na2O with water including the likely pH of the solution obtained

    Revise
  2. b

    describe, and write equations for, the reaction, if any, of the oxide MgO with water including the likely pH of the solution obtained

    Revise
  3. c

    describe, and write equations for, the reaction, if any, of the oxide Al2O3 with water including the likely pH of the solution obtained

    Revise
  4. d

    describe, and write equations for, the reaction, if any, of the oxide SiO2 with water including the likely pH of the solution obtained

    Revise
  5. e

    describe, and write equations for, the reaction, if any, of the oxide P4O10 with water including the likely pH of the solution obtained

    Revise
  6. f

    describe, and write equations for, the reaction, if any, of the oxide SO2 with water including the likely pH of the solution obtained

    Revise
  7. g

    describe, and write equations for, the reaction, if any, of the oxide SO3 with water including the likely pH of the solution obtained

    Revise

9.2.4

  1. a

    describe, explain, and write equations for, the acid/base behaviour of the oxide Na2O

    Revise
  2. b

    describe, explain, and write equations for, the acid/base behaviour of the oxide MgO

    Revise
  3. c

    describe, explain, and write equations for, the acid/base behaviour of the oxide Al2O3, including amphoteric behaviour in reactions with acids and bases (sodium hydroxide only)

    Revise
  4. d

    describe, explain, and write equations for, the acid/base behaviour of the oxide P4O10

    Revise
  5. e

    describe, explain, and write equations for, the acid/base behaviour of the oxide SO2

    Revise
  6. f

    describe, explain, and write equations for, the acid/base behaviour of the oxide SO3

    Revise
  7. g

    describe, explain, and write equations for, the acid/base behaviour of the hydroxide NaOH

    Revise
  8. h

    describe, explain, and write equations for, the acid/base behaviour of the hydroxide Mg(OH)2

    Revise
  9. i

    describe, explain, and write equations for, the acid/base behaviour of the hydroxide Al(OH)3, including amphoteric behaviour in reactions with acids and bases (sodium hydroxide only)

    Revise

9.2.5

  1. a

    describe, explain, and write equations for, the reaction of the chloride NaCl with water including the likely pH of the solution obtained

    Revise
  2. b

    describe, explain, and write equations for, the reaction of the chloride MgCl2 with water including the likely pH of the solution obtained

    Revise
  3. c

    describe, explain, and write equations for, the reaction of the chloride AlCl3 with water including the likely pH of the solution obtained

    Revise
  4. d

    describe, explain, and write equations for, the reaction of the chloride SiCl4 with water including the likely pH of the solution obtained

    Revise
  5. e

    describe, explain, and write equations for, the reaction of the chloride PCl5 with water including the likely pH of the solution obtained

    Revise

9.2.6

  1. 9.2.6

    explain the variations and trends in 9.2.2, 9.2.3, 9.2.4 and 9.2.5 in terms of bonding and electronegativity

    Revise

9.2.7

  1. a

    suggest the types of chemical bonding present in the chlorides from observations of their chemical and physical properties

    Revise
  2. b

    suggest the types of chemical bonding present in the oxides from observations of their chemical and physical properties

    Revise

9.3.1

  1. 9.3.1

    predict the characteristic properties of an element in a given group by using knowledge of chemical periodicity

    Revise

9.3.2

  1. 9.3.2

    deduce the nature, possible position in the Periodic Table and identity of unknown elements from given information about physical and chemical properties

    Revise