Periodic Law Puzzle

Introduction
The Periodic Law
The present organization of the elements is a product of the first periodic
table published by Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869. The amazing accuracy of his
predictions had been very important to chemists in this century. However, the basis
of his arrangement was the atomic masses of the elements. This approach proved
incorrect, as it would have placed some elements in a family with dissimilar
properties. Henry Moseley rearranged the table on the basis of the atomic numbers
of the elements. In accordance with Moseleys revision, the periodic law states: the
properties of the elements are periodic functions of their atomic number.
Each of the 118 known elements has their own set of characteristic
properties. These range from solid to gas, lustrous to dull, low to high melting points,
various colored, and so on, The elements are arranged within the periodic table into
groups or families (vertical columns) and periods or rows (horizontal rows), This
arrangement reflects the periodic or repeating nature of the properties of the
elements.

Objectives
In this exercise, you will
Arrange the elements in Groups 1,2 and
13-18 according to a list of clues and
your knowledge of periodic properties.
Predict the missing properties of each
element based on location in the table .
Explain the trends of properties on
families and periods.

Procedure:
1. Work in a group, with not more than four (4) people, to solve this puzzle.
2. Use your Surfaces to look at the clues, on Slide 5.
3. Use one (1) Surface to solve the puzzle: by dragging the periodic table boxes
on Slide 6 to the correct (according to the clues) position on the puzzle. To
do this you will need to edit this powerpoint file, not slideshow view.
4. Answer the questions on Slide 7. You can type the answers directly on the
slide. Plot your graph on Slide 8 (you can use Excel, copy-paste the graph
to that slide).

5.Submit your file, including all your names in the filename.

Periodic Table Puzzle
Activity_dmendeleev,aeinsten,shawking,rfeynman.pptx
Email it when you are finished to: mcoleman@livingston.org
Due 11:59pm, Friday 29 October 2016
4

CLUES: The following sets of elements belong together in Groups:

ZRD,

PSIF,

JXBE,

LHT,

QKA,

J has an atomic number three times that of T

U has a total of six electrons

WOV,

GUN,

YMC

X has an atomic number one higher than F

L is an alkaline earth element with an atomic mass of

40

Y is a metalloid

O is a halogen

The atomic mass of T is more than that of H

B has ten protons

Q has an atomic mass 2 times that of A

O has an atomic number larger than V

Atoms of I are larger than those of S

M has an atomic number one less that of A

The electrons of atom N are distributed over three

energy levels

The atomic radius of K is the largest of the set

F2A is a compound with a density = 1.0g/cm3

P is less dense than S
S is an alkali metal
E is a noble gas
W is a liquid
Z has the smallest atomic mass in its set

D has the largest atomic mass of its set

C has five electrons in its outer energy level
F is a gas
S has a very bright orange flame color.

KEY
:

Conclusions:
1. Examine your completed table. What general observations can be made of trends within rows and groups for the
following properties? You will need to use the key in the top right corner of the table.
a. density
Within a period, density peaks in the middle. Within a group, as atomic number goes up, density increases.
b. atomic radii
Within a period, as atomic number goes up, atomic radius decreases. Within a group, as atomic number goes up,
radius increases.
c. melting point
Throughout the periodic table, there is no trend for melting point, it mostly depends on the state of matter of the
element at room temperature.
2. Use your table to predict the density of elements B and K.
B- 0.00099 g/mL K- 4.1386
3. What determines an elements position on the periodic table?
Its atomic number and various physical and chemical properties.
4.

On the Slide 9, plot a graph of atomic radius vs. atomic number for elements 1 18. You will find data from
Wikipedia on Slide 8. Why is radius considered a periodic property?
The trend for atomic radius is that within a period, as atomic number goes up, radius decreases.
5.

The radius of a nonmetal is defined as half the distance between nuclei of identical atoms that are bonded
together in a covalent bond.
a. Based on this definition, why do you think there isnt a measured value for Helium and for Neon in the chart?
As helium and neon are noble gases, they cannot covalently bond with other atoms, and so there is no distance
between covalently bonded nuclei.

200
RADIUS
(pm)

100

5
20

10
ATOMIC NUMBER

15
9