Exploring the Periodic Table
1. Columns and Rows
The periodic table is divided into three main sections: metals, non-metals, and
metalloids. Elements are further organized into columns which are called families. Like all
families, elements in the same family share similar physical and chemical properties.
The periodic table is also organized by horizontal rows or periods. These elements are
not in the same family but there are patterns based on atomic size and reactivity.
In this activity you will work to find patterns or trends in the elements in the periodic
table.
SUMMARY:
a) What is the name of the columns of the periodic table?
__________________________________________________________________________________
b) How are all the elements in the same column similar?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
c) What is the name of the rows of the periodic table?
__________________________________________________________________________________
2) Solids, Liquids and Gases
Look at the periodic table at the back cover of the textbook. The Key identifies all the
important information about atomic number, atomic mass, the chemical symbol, the state at
room temperature and the ionic charge for each element.
a) Which colour print represents solids? ________________________________________
b) Which colour print represents liquids? _______________________________________
c) Which colour print represents gases? ________________________________________
d) Which elements are gases at room temperature? ______________________________
e) Name two elements that are liquids are room temperature.
Cardinal Ambrozic Science Dept. modified from Nelson Science 9 Concepts and Connections, 2003.
__________________________________________________________________________
3) Metals, Non-Metals and Metalloids
a) Metals have which background colour? ______________________________________
b) On which side of the table do you find metals? _______________________________
c) Non-metals have which background colour?___________________________________
d) On which side of the table do you find non-metals? ___________________________
e) Are most of the elements metals or non-metals?______________________________
f) Metalloids have which background colour? ___________________________________
g) What properties would you expect metalloids to have? _________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
SUMMARY:
h) Most elements are in found in this state at room temperature:________________
i) Identify the names of the different groups found in the periodic table. _____________
____________________________________________________________________________
j) Why are they organized in the same column in the periodic table. ___________________
______________________________________________________________________________
k) Organize these groups from the smallest to the largest group number. ______________
______________________________________________________________________________
4) Chemical Symbols, Atomic Numbers and Atomic Mass
The periodic table gives us information about the element:
19
K
Potassium
39.1
K
Element Symbols usually begin with the first letter of the element’s name.
If there is more than one element that starts with the same letter, the
second letter of the element is also used. The first letter is always
capitalized and the second letter is not.
Examples:
Carbon
Calcium
Oxygen
Osmium
Boron
Beryllium
Hydrogen
Helium
Cardinal Ambrozic Science Dept. modified from Nelson Science 9 Concepts and Connections, 2003.
Potassium
Some symbols come from the Latin name of the element. For example, sodium is actually
Natrium (Na).
a)
Identify other elements that have symbols taken from their Latin name.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Using the Periodic Table:
Use the periodic table to identify important information about the following elements.
Name
Symbol
Atomic Number
Atomic Mass
K
H
Al
N
C
Iodine
Sodium
Sulfur
Helium
Argon
17
8
3
12
5
9.0
19.0
20
28
31
40
Cardinal Ambrozic Science Dept. modified from Nelson Science 9 Concepts and Connections, 2003.
Patterns in the Periodic Table:
Using the words “increase” or “decrease”, describe the following patterns:
1) As you go across from left to right:
a) the atomic number ________________________________________________________
b) Look at periods 1 -7 and identify any exceptions to this pattern.
___________________________________________________________________________
2) As you go across from left to right:
a) the atomic mass _________________________________________________________
b) Look at periods 1 -7 and identify any exceptions to this pattern.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3) The periodic table is organized by ___________________________________
4) Why would Mendeleev choose to organize the periodic table using this property?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Cardinal Ambrozic Science Dept. modified from Nelson Science 9 Concepts and Connections, 2003.