Periodic table scavenger hunt – Answers
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Which element has the atomic number 6? Give its name and symbol.
Open the periodic table (cheminteractive.com/en-GB/periodic-table)
Answer: Carbon, symbol C (atomic number 6)
What is the chemical symbol for sodium?
Answer: Na
What is the atomic number of iron? How many protons does an iron atom therefore have in its nucleus?
Answer: Atomic number 26, therefore 26 protons
Which group is chlorine in? What is the name of this family of elements?
Answer: Group 17 (group VII in older numbering), the halogens
Which period is potassium in? How many electron shells are therefore occupied in a potassium atom?
Answer: Period 4, therefore 4 occupied shells
How many valence electrons does an oxygen atom have?
Answer: 6 valence electrons
Which element is in group 2 and period 3?
Answer: Magnesium, Mg (group 2, period 3)
Which noble gas is in period 2? Which group are the noble gases in?
Answer: Neon, Ne (period 2); the noble gases are in group 18
Which element in period 3 has 3 valence electrons?
Answer: Aluminium, Al (3 valence electrons, period 3)
Open the element page of silicon. How many valence electrons does a silicon atom have?
Element page: Silicon (cheminteractive.com/en-GB/periodic-table/silicon)
Answer: 4 valence electrons
In the exercise “Build an atom”, build a neutral atom with 5 protons. Which element do you get, and how many electrons do you need?
Open the exercise “Build an atom” (cheminteractive.com/en-GB/exercises/build-an-atom)
Answer: Boron, B (atomic number 5), 5 electrons
Sodium and potassium are both in group 1. How many valence electrons does a potassium atom have? Use this number to explain why both metals react with water in a similar, vigorous way.
Answer: 1 valence electron (group 1). Both atoms give up this single outer electron easily, so both alkali metals react with water in a similar, vigorous way.