Elements and The Periodic Table

Developed by SEPUP

Kit No. 109S

• Elements do not break down under ordinary laboratory reactions involving such treatments as heating, exposure to electrical current, or reaction with acids
• There are more than 115 chemical elements that combine in a multitude of ways to produce compounds with different characteristic properties
• Elements have characteristic physical and chemical properties. Substances often are placed in categories or groups if they react in similar ways; metals are an example of such a group
• Students develop descriptions based on evidence
• Studying Mendeleev provides insights into scientific inquiry and the nature of science

This kit contains two activities. In Activity 1, students compare preselected data on physical and chemical properties of 14 elements and sort the elements into groups based on common properties. Then they compare their classifications with groups – or families – of elements as defined by scientists. In Activity 2, students are introduced to the Periodic Table of the Elements and read about its history and organization. The reading introduces the difference between elements and compounds as well as atoms, molecules, and chemical formulas.