Elements and their symbols
Task 1
It is very useful to know the symbols for the first twenty elements in the periodic table.
Use the periodic table to complete the table. The first one has been done for you.
atomic mass
atomic number
Atomic
number
1
Name of element
Hydrogen
Symbol
H
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
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Elements and their symbols
Task 2
It is useful to know the symbols of some of the metal elements in the periodic table.
Use the periodic table to complete the table.
Atomic
number
Name of element
Symbol
Lithium
11
Mg
Aluminium
19
Ca
22
Manganese
26
Co
Ni
Copper
30
47
Sn
74
79
Mercury
Pb
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Elements and their symbols
Task 3
A. Using your Periodic table try to write five words using the symbols for the elements.
For example BeAr is beryllium and argon.
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B. Can you write your whole name or part of your name using chemical symbols?
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C. Write a short sentence using chemical symbols. Then write it out in full replacing the
symbols with the names of the elements. Give your partner the full version and ask
them to decipher it to find out the original message.
Symbol sentence
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
Sentence using elements names
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D. Decipher the secret message hidden in the code.
boron-radium-iodine-nitrogen-yttrium / fluorine-oxygen-xenon-sulfur /
tungsten-iodine-selenium / titanium-phosphorus: lithium-sulfur-telleriumnitrogen & thorium-iodine-nitrogen-potassium / oxygen-fluorine-telluriumnitrogen!
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Elements and their symbols
Answers
Task 1
Atomic
number
Name of element
Symbol
1
Hydrogen
H
2
Helium
He
3
Lithium
Li
4
Beryllium
Be
5
Boron
B
6
Carbon
C
7
Nitrogen
N
8
Oxygen
O
9
Fluorine
F
10
Neon
Ne
11
Sodium
Na
12
Magnesium
Mg
13
Aluminium
Al
14
Silicon
Si
15
Phosphorus
P
16
Sulfur
S
17
Chlorine
Cl
18
Argon
Ar
19
Potassium
K
20
Calcium
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Ca
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Elements and their symbols
Task 2
Atomic
number
Name of element
Symbol
3
Lithium
Li
11
Sodium
Na
12
Magnesium
Mg
13
Aluminium
Al
19
Potassium
K
20
Calcium
Ca
22
Titanium
Ti
25
Manganese
Mn
26
Iron
Fe
27
Cobalt
Co
28
Nickel
Ni
29
Copper
Cu
30
Zinc
Zn
47
Silver
Ag
50
Tin
Sn
74
Tungsten
W
79
Gold
Au
80
Mercury
Hg
82
Lead
Pb
Task 3
D. B-Ra-I-N-Y F-O-Xe-S W-I-Se Ti-P: Li-S-Te-N & Th-I-N-K O-F-Te-N
Brainy foxes’ wise tip: Listen and think often.
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