Introduction
Discover the most important lessons of the periodic table! The Periodic Table Package provides an integrated collection of four labs and learning activities—two experiments, one demonstration and a POGIL™ activity. Everything you ever wanted to know about chemistry is in the periodic table and in these labs! Since its development more than 135 years ago, the periodic table has become the most recognized symbol of chemistry across the world and an indispensable tool for understanding the chemistry of the elements. Take your students on a virtual tour of the periodic table with Flinn’s Exploring Chemistry™.
Concepts
- Periodic table
- Periodic law
- Acid–base indicator
- Alkali and alkaline earth metals
- Activity series
- Atomic mass
- Physical and chemical properties
- Double replacement reaction
- Ionization energy
- Periodic trends
- Electron configuration
Background
What’s in this Periodic Table Package?
Your package includes chemicals and specialty equipment to perform the lab and learning activities listed. Quantities of chemicals are sufficient for three classes of 30 students working in pairs. Instructions for all activities may be found in The Periodic Table, Volume 4 in the Flinn ChemTopic™ Labs series, which is included in the package. Student handouts for each activity may be reproduced for classroom use. Comprehensive instructions and teacher notes, with real sample data and answers to all questions, are also provided for each activity. All of the lab activities were created under the direction of the Flinn Scientific Curriculum Advisory Board of master teachers, and then tested and retested to optimize safety and success.
The following activities may be performed in any order. One possible lesson plan is described.
- Periodic Activity of Metals (Demonstration)
- It’s in the Cards—Discovering the Periodic Law (Experiment)
- Periodic Trends and the Properties of Elements—The Alkaline Earth Metals (Experiment)
- Cracking the Periodic Table Code (POGIL™ activity)
Experiment Overview
Periodic Activity of Metals
This is a perfect demonstration to capture your students’ attention and provide evidence of elemental trends in the periodic table. The reactions of alkali and alkaline earth metals with water are some of the most exciting of all chemical reactions. Your students will be fascinated when they witness fizzing, boiling, hissing and color production in this demonstration. Take advantage of this fascination by discussing evidence of chemical reactions and comparing trends in metal activity.
It’s in the Cards
A super value! Reinforce the building blocks of the periodic table with this laboratory kit. Your students will have fun re-creating Mendeleev’s discovery of the classification of the elements and the periodic law using a deck of element cards. Properties of the elements are on the cards but their names are missing. The challenge involves arranging the cards based on logical trends of the properties. Materials are completely reusable!
Periodic Trends and the Properties of Elements
This microscale lab will give your students opportunity to explore periodic trends among active metals. First, reactions of magnesium, calcium and aluminum with water and acids will be compared in order to determine the trends in metal activity within a group and across a series. The second part of the experiment involves students identifying an unknown alkaline earth metal based on solubility patterns and tests.
Cracking the Periodic Table Code
Bring your lessons on the periodic table full-circle with this wonderful POGIL™ activity. Students will connect the properties of the elements with their ground state electron configurations.
Materials
Periodic Activity of Metals
Calcium turnings, 2.5 g
Lithium, 2.5 g
Magnesium ribbon, 0.3 m
Phenolphthalein solution, 1%, 30 mL
Sodium, 2 g
Periodic Trends and the Properties of Elements
Aluminum foil, 1 m
Barium chloride solution, 0.1 M, 350 mL
Calcium turnings, 25 g
Calcium chloride solution, 0.1 M, 350 mL
Hydrochloric acid solution, 0.5 M, 200 mL
Magnesium chloride solution, 0.1 M, 140 mL
Magnesium ribbon, 1.25 m
Potassium iodate solution, 0.2 M, 230 mL
Sodium carbonate solution, 1 M, 250 mL
Sodium sulfate solution, 1 M, 230 mL
Strontium chloride solution, 0.1 M, 350 mL
Litmus red test papers, 2 vials
It’s in the Cards
Element Card sets, assorted colors, 6 sets
Teacher Tips
- Each card set consists of 32 element cards. Six sets (assorted colors) are provided for students to work in groups of 4–5 students to identify trends and organize the elements.
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