Create A Periodic Table! ____________________
NAME
You probably have classification systems for many things in your life, such as your
clothes, your books, and your music. One of the most important classification systems in science
is the Periodic Table of the Elements, first published by Dimitri Mendeleev in 1869. In this lab
you will develop your own classification system for a collection of ordinary objects. You will
analyze trends in your system and compare your system with the periodic table of the elements,
then write up your findings in a lab report.
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Materials
Bag of objects
20 squares of paper
Metric balance
Metric ruler
2 sheets of graph
paper
Procedure
1.) Your group will receive a bag of objects. Your bag is
missing one item. Examine the items carefully. Describe
the missing object in as many ways as you can. Be sure to
include the reasons why you think the missing object has
these characteristics. Use this to create your hypothesis
(If – then – because).
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2.) Lay the paper squares out on your lab station so that you have a grid of five rows of four
squares each.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
3.) Arrange your objects on the grid in a logical order. (YOU must decide what order is logical!)
You should end up with one blank square for the missing object.
4.) Describe the basis for your arrangement.
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5.) Measure the mass (g) and diameter (mm) of each object, and record your results in the
appropriate square. Each square (except the empty one) should have one object and two
written measurements on it. For the diameter of nails and screws, measure the overall
LENGTH.
6.) Examine your pattern again. Factoring in diameter and mass, does the order in which your
objects are arranged still make sense? Explain.
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7.) Rearrange the squares and their objects if necessary to improve your arrangement. Describe
the basis for the new arrangement. If, however, you still think your original arrangement is
best, leave it and write “best as is”.
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8.) Working across the rows, number the squares 1 to 20. When you get to the end of the row,
continue numbering in the first square of the next row.
Analyze the Results
9.) Make a graph of mass (y-axis) versus object number (x-axis). Label each axis and put a title
on the graph.
10.) Now make a graph of diameter (y-axis) versus object number (x-axis).
11.) Think about these ideas: How is your arrangement similar to the real periodic table of the
elements? How is it different?
** Dimitri Mendeleev created a periodic table of known elements and predicted
characteristics of missing elements. How is your experiment similar to Mendeleev’s work?
Incorporate these ideas into your written lab report.
Writing your lab report
Write the following in report form, as per the new “Writing a Lab Report” guidelines. It
is recommended to use one paragraph per section. Remember to include the concepts/answer the
questions from number 11.
Title: “Create a Periodic Table”
Introduction:
- State your problem (The group must __ __ __ __ __, then make __ __ __ __ __.)
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Background knowledge: what do you know about classification and organization
systems that helps you here?
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Write your hypothesis ( If – then – because!!)
Materials:
- Include tools and their purposes.
Procedure:
- “First the group did………”
- “Next they ………..”
- “Step 3 ………….”
- Etc., etc…..
Results and Data:
- Include mass and diameter tables (if you created tables)
- Include the 2 graphs (You MUST have these!)
- Remember to put tables and graphs AFTER the written content of the report!
- This would be a good place to include the concepts/questions from #11!
Conclusion:
- Was your hypothesis supported?
- Relate your conclusion back to your initial problem!