(a) On moving across a period, nuclear pull increases because of the increase in atomic number, and thus, the atomic size decreases. Hence, elements cannot lose electrons easily. Hence, Group 17 elements are strong non-metals, while Group 1 elements are strong metals.
(b) On moving across a period, nuclear pull increases because of the increase in atomic number, and thus, the atomic size decreases. Hence, elements cannot lose electrons easily. Hence, Group 17 elements are strong non-metals, while Group 1 elements are strong metals. Down a group, the atomic size increases and the nuclear charge also increases. The effect of an increased atomic size is greater as compared to the increased nuclear charge. Therefore, metallic nature increases as one moves down a group, i.e. they can lose electrons easily.
(c) The atomic size of halogens is very small. The smaller the atomic size, the greater the electron affinity, because the effective attractive force between the nucleus and the valence electrons is greater in smaller atoms, and so the electrons are held firmly.
(d) The reducing property depends on the ionisation potential and electron affinity of the elements. In a period, from left to right in a horizontal row of the periodic table, the atomic size decreases and the nuclear charge increases, so the electron affinity and ionisation energy both increase. Hence, the tendency to lose electrons decreases across the period from left to right and thus the reducing property also decreases across the period from left to right.
The electron affinity and ionisation potential decreases along the group from top to bottom. Hence, the tendency to lose electrons increases, and thus, the reducing property also increases along the group from top to bottom.
(e) In a period, the size of an atom decreases from left to right. This is because the nuclear charge, i.e. the atomic number increases from left to right in the same period, thereby bringing the outermost shell closer to the nucleus. Therefore, considering the third period given above, it has been found that sodium is the largest in size, while chlorine is the smallest.