History of the periodic table | Combined science | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

How many elements are shown in the periodic table? Give your answer in numerical digits (e.g. 10).

'118' ✓
Match the definitions for 'group' and 'period,' and then match the named elements to their respective group or period numbers.

group

⇔

vertical column in the periodic table ✓

period

⇔

horizontal row in the periodic table ✓

neon

⇔

period 2 ✓

potassium

⇔

Group 1 ✓

alumnium

⇔

period 3 ✓

chlorine

⇔

Group 7 ✓
Which of the following information is shown for each element on the periodic table?

atomic symbol ✓

boiling point

atomic (proton) number ✓

density

relative atomic mass ✓
Put the following elements in order of increasing atomic number, starting with the smallest.

1

⇔

boron

2

⇔

magnesium

3

⇔

sulfur

4

⇔

copper

5

⇔

tin

6

⇔

tungsten

7

⇔

francium
Which of the following are properties of a substance?

atomic mass ✓

atomic (proton) number ✓

melting point ✓

number of electrons ✓

conductor of electricity or heat ✓
Match the following elements to the correct information.

sodium

⇔

11 protons, 11 electrons and 12 neutrons ✓

arsenic

⇔

33 protons, 33 electrons and 42 neutrons ✓

calcium

⇔

Group 2 and period 4 ✓

barium

⇔

period 6 and Group 2 ✓

silicon

⇔

period 3 and Group 4 ✓

argon

⇔

Group 0 and period 3 ✓

Exit quiz

Which of the following scientists is credited with the development of the modern periodic table?

Newton

Dalton

de Chancourtois

Mendeleev ✓

Einstein
True or false? The elements in the modern periodic table are arranged according to their atomic number and electronic structures.

True ✓

False
Which of the following was the significant observation made by John Newlands regarding the periodicity of elements?

Elements with similar properties repeated every 5th element.

Elements with similar properties appeared in threes or triads.

Elements repeated in a telluric spiral.

Elements with similar properties repeated every 8th element. ✓
Match up Newland's actions to their outcome to explain why his periodic table was not accepted by the scientific community.

repeated a pattern every 8th element

⇔

only some similar elements were grouped together e.g. Li, Na and K ✓

did not leave gaps

⇔

assumed all elements had been discovered ✓

ordered elements by atomic weight

⇔

dissimilar elements were grouped together e.g. O, S and Fe ✓

put two elements in the same position

⇔

needed to double up elements to fit the repeating pattern ✓
Which of the following improvements did Mendeleev make to Newland's periodic table that led to Mendeleev's table being accepted by the scientific community?

He left gaps for elements yet to be discovered. ✓

He predicted the properties of elements yet to be discovered. ✓

He added in the noble gases.

He did not order all elements by atomic weight, e.g. tellurium and iodine. ✓

He ordered elements using both the atomic weight and their properties. ✓
Order the following scientists and their methods for organising elements in the periodic table, starting with the earliest and ending with the most recent.

1

⇔

Dalton - arranged elements by atomic weight only.

2

⇔

Dobereiner - arranged elements by atomic weight in groups of 3, called triads.

3

⇔

de Chancourtois - arranged elements by atomic weight in a telluric spiral.

4

⇔

Newlands - arranged elements by atomic weight and repeated every 8th.

5

⇔

Mendeleev - arranged elements by atomic weight and properties but left gaps.

Worksheet

Loading worksheet ...

Presentation

Loading presentation ...

Video

Lesson Details

Key learning points

Dalton (1803) arranged known elements in order of atomic weights.
Newlands (1865) noticed that every eighth element, in order of atomic mass, repeated similar properties.
Mendeleev swapped the order of atomic weights in order to fit elements better into groups of similar properties.
Mendeleev’s periodic table had gaps and he predicted missing elements that were later found.
Mendeleev was not aware of isotopes, so was unable to explain why the ordering by atomic weight was not always correct.

Common misconception

Pupils often believe that the when the periodic table was devised, scientists knew about the subatomic particles.

Emphasise when the subatomic particles were discovered in comparison to when Mendeleev devised his periodic table.

Keywords

Isotope - An atom of an element with the same number of protons, but different mass numbers due to different numbers of neutrons.
Atomic weight - The historical name for atomic mass, i.e. the ratio of the mass of an atom compared to a standard.
Relative atomic mass - The mean mass of an atom compared to 1/12 of the mass of a carbon–12 atom.
Dmitri mendeleev - A scientist who devised the periodic table of elements.