Copyright © 2013 Allison Barkman (Texas Science Gal). All rights reserved by author. Permission to copy for single classroom use only. Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only.

Mystery

Periodic

Table

By: Texas Science Gal

Copyright © 2013 Allison Barkman. All rights reserved by author. Permission to copy for single classroom use only.

Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only.

Copyright © 2013 Allison Barkman (Texas Science Gal). All rights reserved by author. Permission to copy for single classroom use only. Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only.

Thank you so much for downloading my Mystery Periodic Table Worksheet.

When I was teaching 8th grade and we were covering the periodic table, I had some students who loved

to get ahead and would end up bored or distaracted. For this particular topic I remembered something

similar to what I had done in a college chemistry class. I modified the idea some so it would be

appropriate for a middle school. I am really big about having puzzles in my classroom and I thought this

could not only solve my problem of my student getting ahead, but it could also be for extra credit or an

assessment for my students who were on track.

For a general classroom I would hand out the blank worksheet and allow students to use their notes to

fill in some of symbols they know. Now this puzzle is a little tricky because they cannot just look at a

periodic table to answer it. They have to use the individual traits of the elements and match those with

the arbitrary letters that are given (The numbers are listed to give a problem number for grading, and

the letters is what goes onto the periodic table). Students would be allowed to use the periodic table as

the placements are the same, but it is the letters that are different.

I gave the students one letter to start with, so it is a little like sudoku since they are given one and must

then figure out the remaining group. So I gave my students the letter "C" which has 4 protons as it is on

the list. The students will then need to look up at the groups of letters at the top and then they will see

in that this family has a C,W, and J. Since they know C is already answered, they know the remaining

two must be W and J. They will then need to look at the characteristics. J says that it loses two

electrons in a chemical reaction, well both J and W lose two. So then the student could look at W and

see that it is the largest (mass) alkaline earth metal listed. So W would be at the bottom of the family

thereby leaving J to be in the middle.

There are other clues and characteristics that may not need the extensive problem solving that

particular problem was, such has 'H is the most abundant element in the Earth's atmosphere'. Ideally

most students will know that nitrogen is the most abundant, so the student could look at their periodic

table, find Nitrogen and locate it on their worksheet and answer it that way.

This is definitely a group discussion worksheet and is definitely open note, but it requires a lot more

thought and processing to answer the questions. Plus since the students are constantly being exposed to

the traits of the elements and their location they will, ideally, be able to identify the groups, determine

the groups and families, and meet many more core standards. For an extension you could require the

students to name the arbitrary letters with the actual element and symbols. Just an idea. :)

Hope it works well in your classroom and again thank you for downloading!

Ms. Barkman (Texas Science Gal)

Copyright © 2013 Allison Barkman (Texas Science Gal). All rights reserved by author. Permission to copy for single classroom use only. Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only.

Mystery Periodic Table

The following elements belong to the same family as they are grouped below. The letters are not necessarily in order and they do not represent the normal symbols for the elements. The letters represent actual elements on the periodic table.

BRAG, ZIT, XLV, CWJ, DUH, FEM, NOY, PQSK Directions: You are to arrange the symbols into the correct periods and families. ** Remember hydrogen is not part of family IA**

1. A has one less proton then a noble gas. 2. B is the largest alkali metal listed. 3. C has a total of 4 protons. 4. E gains 2 electrons in a reaction and can cause iron to rust. 5. F has two unpaired electrons in its energy level. 6. G is an alkali metal with the least number of electrons. 7. H is the most abundant element in Earth’s atmosphere. 8. Ions of the element I are found in table salt (NaCl) 9. J loses two electrons in a chemical reaction. 10. K is the largest noble gas. 11. L has 3 electrons in the 3rd energy level. 12. N has 4 electrons in the 4th energy level. 13. M has more electrons than the other elements in its family. 14. Q is the smallest and least reactive in its family. 15. R is an alkali metal. 16. S is larger than the element carbon. 17. T is the smallest non-metal other than noble gases. 18. U is in period 4. 19. V has the smallest mass listed in its group. 20. W is the largest alkaline earth metal listed. 21. Y is in every living

organism on earth. 22. Z is a halogen.

Copyright © 2013 Allison Barkman (Texas Science Gal). All rights reserved by author. Permission to copy for single classroom use only. Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only.

Mystery Periodic Table Key

The following elements belong to the same family as they are grouped below. The letters are

not necessarily in order and they do not represent the normal symbols for the elements. The

letters represent actual elements on the periodic table.

BRAG, ZIT, XLV, CWJ, DUH, FEM, NOY, PQSK

Directions: You are to arrange the symbols into the correct periods and families.

** Remember hydrogen is not part of family IA**

1. A has one less proton then a noble gas. 2. B is the largest alkali metal listed. 3. C has a total of 4 protons. 4. E gains 2 electrons in a reaction and can cause iron to rust. 5. F has two unpaired electrons in its energy level. 6. G is an alkali metal with the least number of electrons. 7. H is the most abundant element in Earth’s atmosphere. 8. Ions of the element I are found in table salt (NaCl) 9. J loses two electrons in a chemical reaction. 10. K is the largest noble gas. 11. L has 3 electrons in the 3rd energy level. 12. N has 4 electrons in the 4th energy level. 13. M has more electrons than the other elements in its family. 14. Q is the smallest and least reactive in its family. 15. R is an alkali metal. 16. S is larger than the element carbon. 17. T is the smallest non-metal other than noble gases. 18. U is in period 4. 19. V has the smallest mass listed in its group. 20. W is the largest

alkaline earth metal listed.

21. Y is in every living organism on earth.

22. Z is a halogen.

Copyright © 2013 Allison Barkman (Texas Science Gal). All rights reserved by author. Permission to copy for single classroom use only. Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only.

Credits

www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Clipart-Factory

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Gracies-Graphics

©BrownCow Creatives

{www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Emily-Brown}