Middle School Physical Science : Reading the periodic table
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : The Periodic Table
What is the atomic mass of the element in this image?
none of these
31
16
6
none of these
The answer is none of these. The number on this image is the atomic number, or the number of protons. The atomic mass of this element is not listed, but is calculated by adding the mass of the protons plus the mass of the neutrons, so none of the other answer choices are plausible.
Example Question #22 : Middle School Physical Science
In this image of the periodic table, the LEAST reactive elements are found:
on the bottom of the table
on the right side of the table
on the left side of the table
at the top of the table
on the right side of the table
The elements on the right side of the periodic table have more electrons in the outermost ring of their electron clouds, therefore they are less reactive.
Example Question #23 : Middle School Physical Science
The number 10 on this image of the element, Neon, represents:
the atomic number only
the atomic mass and the atomic number
the number of protons and the atomic number
both the number of protons and the atomic mass
the number of protons and the atomic number
The answer is the number of protons and the atomic number. The number of protons will always equal the atomic number, but the atomic mass is the number of protons plus the number of neutrons, which we cannot see in this image.
Example Question #4 : The Periodic Table
Aha! You've discovered a new element! Your new element exists as a gas in its natural state, and is very stable. Your element most likely belongs where on the periodic table?
on the far left side
on the far right side
in the middle
on the "new periodic table"
on the far right side
Your element belongs on the far right. The elements there are usually gases in their natural state and are not very reactive.
Example Question #5 : The Periodic Table
The periodic table is divided into rows and columns called:
"periods" and "rows"
"groups" and "columns"
"rows" and "orbitals"
"groups" and "periods"
"groups" and "periods"
The periodic table is divided into "groups" and "periods".
Example Question #24 : Middle School Physical Science
The chemical symbol for the element show above is:
31
Ga
G
Gallium
Ga
The image shows that the chemical symbol is "Ga" and the chemical's full name is Gallium. Chemical symbols are shorthand for elements on the periodic table and consist of one capital letter, and sometimes one or two lowercase letters.
Example Question #25 : Middle School Physical Science
What is an appropriate estimate of the atomic mass of Neon?
10 amu
20 amu
5 amu
30 amu
20 amu
The answer is 20 amu. The atomic mass of an element is equal to the mass of all the protons plus the mass of all the neutrons. Most of the elements on the periodic table have about the same number of protons and neutrons, which both have a mass of 1 amu. Because we know the atomic number, 10, is equal to the number of protons, we can make a reasonable assumption that the atomic mass of Neon is close to 20 atomic mass units.
Example Question #26 : Middle School Physical Science
Based on the image above, elements in the bottom half of the periodic table have:
smaller atomic radii because of the reactivity
higher atomic masses because they have more electrons
higher electronegativity because of the reactivity
higher atomic masses because they have more protons and neutrons
higher atomic masses because they have more protons and neutrons
The elements at the bottom of the periodic table have higher atomic masses. The atomic mass is determined by the number of protons and neutrons because electrons have an atomic mass of 0 amu.
Example Question #27 : Middle School Physical Science
The elements in the 1st column on the periodic table from Hydrogen down to Francium are:
called the Alkali Metals, and are very reactive
called the Alkali Metals and are very stable
called the Noble Gases and are very stable
called the Noble Gases and are very reactive
called the Alkali Metals, and are very reactive
The answer is "called the Alkali Metals and are very reactive." These elements are on the left side of the periodic table because they are highly reactive metals with a few free electrons in their orbitals. Elements with free electrons have a tendency to share electrons and combine with other elements easily.
Example Question #28 : Middle School Physical Science
The periodic table is organized in rows and columns that group elements. Using the periodic table, we can observe general trends in:
atomic mass and atomic radius
reactivity and electronegativity
all choices are correct
ionization
all choices are correct
The answer is all of the above because the periodic table allows us to observe general trends in reactivity, electronegativity, atomic mass, atomic radius, and ionization.
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