Red Cliffs Secondary College
Year 8 Science
Elements Assignment
Name: __________________
Work your way through the questions below. Present your answers on separate loose leaf paper in a
neat and easy to understand format.
Part A - Mythology
The elements in the table below were named after gods, goddesses and mythological characters. For
element find its correct symbol and god / goddess or character it was named after.
Element
Gold
Niobium
Cobalt
Vanadium
Titanium
Tantalum
Promethium
Symbol
God / goddess / character
Each of these elements was named because of a characteristic which reminded the ancient Greeks
or Romans of one of their gods. Niobium for example is named after Niobe the daughter of Tantalus
in Greek mythology. (Tantalum is just below Niobium on the periodic table and they both have
similar properties)
Choose two other elements in the table and find out why they were named after a god / goddess or
character.
Part B – Famous Scientists
Each of the following elements was named after a person. Choose two elements and find out;



Curium
Who was that person?
What was his / her nationality?
What (briefly) did that person contribute to science?
Fermium
Lawrencium Einsteinium
Mendelevium Nobelium
Rutherfordium
Part C - Appearance
Quite a few elements have been named for their colour or appearance. Find the origin of the
elements from the list below, then tabulate (make a table) their names, symbols and the origin of the
name.
Chlorine
Indium
Platinum
Rubidium
Iodine
Iridium
Rhodium
Silver
Part D - My Element
Choose an element not studied in the previous sections and use the Internet to answer the following.
Question
1. What is your element? (Give its symbol as well)
2. What is its atomic number?
3. What is a proton?
4. How many protons does an atom of your
element contain?
5. What is an electron?
6. How many electrons does an atom of your
element contain?
7. Is your element a solid, liquid or gas at room
temperature?
8. Describe the colour of your element.
9. What is your elements density? Would it float
or sink in water?
10. What is the melting and boiling points of your
element?
11. How did your element get its name?
12. Who discovered your element and when was it
discovered?
13. Give three places where your element might be
used.
14. Give the formula of two compounds that
contain your element?
Answer