Reading the periodic table
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Middle School Physical Science › Reading the periodic table
In this image of the periodic table, the LEAST reactive elements are found:
on the right side of the table
on the left side of the table
on the bottom of the table
at the top of the table
Explanation
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.
The periodic table is divided into rows and columns called:
"groups" and "periods"
"groups" and "columns"
"periods" and "rows"
"rows" and "orbitals"
Explanation
The periodic table is divided into "groups" and "periods".
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 right side
on the far left side
on the "new periodic table"
in the middle
Explanation
Your element belongs on the far right. The elements there are usually gases in their natural state and are not very reactive.
The chemical symbol for the element show above is:
Ga
Gallium
G
31
Explanation
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.
Based on the image above, elements in the bottom half of the periodic table have:
higher atomic masses because they have more protons and neutrons
higher atomic masses because they have more electrons
higher electronegativity because of the reactivity
smaller atomic radii because of the reactivity
Explanation
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.
What is the atomic mass of the element in this image?
16
31
none of these
6
Explanation
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.
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 reactive
called the Noble Gases and are very stable
Explanation
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.
What is an appropriate estimate of the atomic mass of Neon?
20 amu
10 amu
5 amu
30 amu
Explanation
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.
The number 10 on this image of the element, Neon, represents:
the number of protons and the atomic number
the atomic number only
the atomic mass and the atomic number
both the number of protons and the atomic mass
Explanation
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.
The periodic table is organized in rows and columns that group elements. Using the periodic table, we can observe general trends in:
reactivity and electronegativity
ionization
atomic mass and atomic radius
all choices are correct
Explanation
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.