THE
ALIEN PERIODIC TABLE
CHALLENGE
Earth scientists have made radio contact with intelligent life on a
distant planet called Chykogon. One of this alien planet’s languages is being
translated, and scientific information has begun to be exchanged!!
Chykogon seems to be composed of many of the same elements as are
found on Earth, but the inhabitants of the planet (called Chykogonians) have
different names and symbols for the elements. The alien scientists do not
know our names for the elements or how to classify them, but they have sent
a transmission with data on the known chemical and physical properties of 30
elements. Strangely, but luckily, there are no transition or rare earth
elements on the alien planet, which means their periodic table only shows the
elements in Groups 1-2, 13-18.
As a scientist who has been studying about chemistry, you have been
asked to help sort out what is known about the alien elements and to arrange
them onto a blank periodic table. Once this table is organized, scientists on
both planets will understand each other better and will be able to work to
share scientific information and make new discoveries.
PROCEDURE
1. Examine the data from the Chykogonian transmission that describe the chemical and
physical properties of the 30 elements.
2. Place the elements in their proper position on the blank periodic table.
3. Complete the summary questions and challenge.
DATA
1. The noble gases are Bombal (Bo), Wobble (Wo), Jeptum (J), and Logon (L). Among
these gases, Wobble has the greatest atomic mass. Bombal has only 2 valence
electrons. Logon is lighter than Jeptum.
2. The alkali metals are Xtalt (X), Byyou (By), Chow (Ch), and Quackzil (Q). Of these
metals, Chow has the lowest atomic mass. Quackzil is in the same period as Wobble.
3. Apstrom (A), Vulcania (V), and Kratt (Kt) are nonmetals whose atoms typically need
to gain or share one electron in order to reach a full outer energy level of 8 electrons.
Vulcania is in the same period as Quackzil and Wobble.
4. The metalloids (noted by a * on your table) are Ernst (E), Highho (Hi), Terriblum (T),
and Sississ (Ss). Sissis is the metalloid with the greatest atomic mass. Ernst is the
metalloid with the lowest atomic mass. Highho and Terriblum are in Group 14.
Terriblum has more protons than Highho. Yazzer (Yz) touches the zigzag line, but it’s
a metal, not a metalloid.
5. The lightest element of all is called Pfsst (Pf). The heaviest element in the group of 30
elements is Eldorado (El).
6. The chemical makeup of the alien planet’s oceans seems to be about the same as
Earth’s oceans. When sea water is distilled, the liquid that is boiled off and then
condensed has been shown to have molecules consisting of two atoms of Pfsst (Pf)
and one atom of Nuutye (Nu). The solid left behind after distillation consists mainly of
a crystal made up of the elements Byyou (By) and Kratt (Kt).
7. The element Doggone (D) has only 4 protons in its atom.
8. Floxxit (Fx) is a black crystal and has 4 electrons in its outermost energy level. It is
known to make very valuable jewels that Earth women adore and is the major
component of a fuel burned for energy on Earth.
9. Rhaatrap (R) and Doadeer (Do) are metals in the fourth period, but Rhaatrap has
more electrons than Doadeer.
10. Magnificon (M), Goldy (G), and Sissis are all members of Group 15. Goldy has fewer
total electrons than Magnificon.
11. Urrp (Up), Oz (Oz), and Nuutye (Nu) all gain 2 electrons when they react. Nuutye has
the same properties as a gas found in Earth’s atmosphere. Oz has a lower atomic
number than Urrp.
12. The element Anatom (An) has atoms with a total of 49 electrons.
13. Zapper (Z) and Pie (Pi) lose two electrons when the react. Zapper loses them from its
third energy level while Pie loses them from its 5th.
SUMMARY
1. The list below is of the first 30 elements. Put the Chykogon names of the elements in
the box that corresponds to the earth element.
Earth
Hydrogen
Helium
Lithium
Beryllium
Boron
Carbon
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Fluorine
Neon
Sodium
Magnesium
Aluminum
Silicon
Phosphorus
Chykogon
Earth
Sulfur
Chlorine
Argon
Potassium
Calcium
Gallium
Germanium
Arsenic
Selenium
Bromine
Krypton
Rubidium
Strontium
Indium
Tin
Chykogon
2. Were you able to place some elements on the periodic table with just a single clue?
a. Give an example of how you did.
3. Why did you need multiple clues to place some elements on the table?
a. Explain your answer with an example.
4. Why could you use clues about atomic mass to place elements on the table, even though
the table is based on atomic number?
Going Further
1. Notice that Period 5 is incomplete on the alien periodic table. Create names and
symbols for each of the missing elements. Then compose a series of clues that would
allow another student to identify these elements. Make your clues as precise as
possible.
a.
b.
c.
d.
THE ALIEN PERIODIC TABLE CHALLENGE
1
18
1
2
2
3
4
5
13
14
15
16
17
*
*
*
*
a.
b.
c.
d.