Science 9

Chemistry: The Periodic Table

Title: Getting To Know You

Background: Our universe contains over 100 hundred known chemical elements with a fascinating range of properties: color, shape, mass, reactivity, shininess, odor, state - the list goes on and on. Memory alone is not enough to organize and keep track of all this data so Chemists use the Periodic Table to help them. It is organized into columns (groups) and rows (Periods) and each element has its own spot in the Table. Where an element is in the Table tells us about its properties and, how they compare with those of the surrounding elements. In general, a metal is a material that is solid, has a high melting point, is shiny, is malleable (bendable), will conduct electricity well, and will conduct heat well. In contrast, most non-metals may be solids, liquids or gases, are dull, are not malleable, and are poor conductors of electricity and heat. To start learning about the Periodic Table, we must become familiar with some of the more common elements and their properties. First, go to the following site to print the Periodic Table: http://chemlab.pc.maricopa.edu/periodic/printable.gif Now, you need a list of the chemical elements so go to: http://www.iee.et.tu-dresden.de/~wernerr/grammar/elements.html and print the list of chemical elements you see there. If you wish to print your list of chemical elements from a Canadian site, go to the University of British Columbia web page at: http://www.cs.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/nph-pertab/list/bynumber The print outs of the Periodic Table and the chemical elements list, and the information in this Background will help you answer the following questions.

Process: Answer the following questions.

1. In a very general way, the Periodic Table resembles what geometric shape?

2. a) What is the proper name for a column? b) for a row?

3. a) So, the Periodic table has how many Periods? b) how many groups?

4. There are how many chemical elements listed in the Periodic Table?

5. What are the two main sections of the table?

6. There are how many elements in each section?

7. For each of the following elements, write the symbols and atomic numbers:

a) hydrogen b) oxygen c) iron d) copper e) tin f) carbon g) lead h) iodine i) sulphur

j) helium k) chlorine l) nitrogen m) mercury n) nickel o) neon

8. a) Generally, how does the atomic number change as you move to each new element down a group?

b) How about as you move to each new element across a row?

9. a) In which section of the Periodic table do we find most of the gaseous elements?

b) How about the solid elements?

10. Write the names and symbols of the chemicals with the following atomic numbers:

1, 3, 4, 10, 17, 23, 34, 45, 52, 60 and 90.

11. Name, give the symbol and atomic number for any ten metals.

12. Now, the same for five non-metals.

13. Contrast metallic and non-metallic properties.