This PowerPoint lesson explores the chemistry of Group 1 and Group 17 elements, linking periodic trends to reactivity and redox behaviour. Designed for IBDP Chemistry (first assessment 2025), it helps students explain metallic and non-metallic character using ionisation energy, electron affinity and effective nuclear charge.
Group 1 (alkali metals) and Group 17 (halogens) show clear periodic trends that illustrate how atomic structure determines chemical behaviour. Metallic character is defined as the tendency of an element to lose electrons to form positive ions, while non-metallic character refers to the tendency to gain electrons to form negative ions. This lesson connects these definitions directly to first ionisation energy and electron affinity, reinforcing earlier periodicity concepts.
Students examine the reactions of Group 1 metals with water, including balanced equations, redox explanations, observations, and trends in reactivity down the group. The link between decreasing first ionisation energy and increasing reactivity is made explicit. The lesson then develops understanding of halogen displacement reactions, using ionic equations to explain why a more reactive halogen can oxidise halide ions lower in the group. The role of spectator ions is clearly identified to strengthen exam technique.
Periodic trends in metallic and non-metallic behaviour are mapped across and down the periodic table, helping students visualise why metallic character increases towards the bottom left and non-metallic character increases towards the top right.
Starter activities, structured explanations, worked examples, redox analysis, and practice questions are included, making this suitable for classroom delivery, consolidation or revision.
File type included: PowerPoint (.pptx)
Last updated: January 2026 – reactivity explanations strengthened and content checked against the 2025 IB Chemistry syllabus.
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